What should you not eat when you have a cold?

Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
Updated on December 04, 2024
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When you have a cold, you should avoid eating spicy, overly greasy, and cold food. These foods may worsan coughing symptoms and can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Generally, they are detrimental to the patient's condition. For a cold, it is recommended to have a light diet and eat some fruit appropriately, as well as drink plenty of plain water. Additionally, patients can consume some protein-rich foods, such as lean meat and eggs. Cold is usually a self-limiting illness and often does not require special treatment. Sometimes, just by making the dietary adjustments mentioned, the patient's condition may gradually improve. However, it is important to note that if the symptoms of the cold are severe, appropriate symptomatic treatment is necessary. Also, a minority of cold patients may develop complications such as pneumonia. Therefore, if cold symptoms persist, it is necessary to seek medical consultation to investigate the cause and receive appropriate management.

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How to get better from a cold caused by excessive internal heat?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a cold due to "internal heat" is considered to be caused by a decrease in the body's resistance and exposure to wind-heat. At this time, it is appropriate to take some mildly cool, exterior-releasing medicines to regulate the condition. If at home, one can choose to use Banlangen granules, or make a soup with pears, or drink water boiled with white radish. These can significantly improve the symptoms of a cold due to internal heat. It is also advisable to drink more hot porridge to induce a slight sweat, which can help treat the condition. (Note: Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Does common cold cause dry cough?

In clinical practice, ailments like the common cold, also known as upper respiratory infections, generally occur in patients due to reduced immune function, exposure to cold, or contraction of wind-cold, causing various symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, dry and itchy throat, coughing, and pain. Therefore, as with the previous infection, most clinical cases are caused by viral infections. So, when patients suffer from upper respiratory infections, they often experience varying degrees of dry cough, which is very common. Typically, identifying the specific infecting pathogen causing the common cold and providing symptomatic treatment can lead to a full recovery within about a week. For severe dry cough symptoms, appropriate cough suppressant medications can be used for symptomatic treatment.

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The difference between influenza and the common cold

Influenza, also known as the flu, mainly occurs when the human body is invaded by influenza viruses, resulting in symptoms primarily of coughing, fever, and sore throat. Besides these symptoms, influenza can also present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The body temperature of patients often exceeds 39°C or 40°C. On the other hand, the common cold is mostly caused by rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, EB viruses, or even infections from Haemophilus influenzae, leading to relatively localized lesions. Common symptoms of a cold include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat, and it may not include fever. The prognosis of the common cold is generally better than that of influenza, and it is less likely to lead to severe complications.

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What should I do if I have a cold and my nose is itchy?

Itchy nose due to cold is caused by viral infection leading to swelling of the nasal mucosa, which causes symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing. One should choose to take vitamin supplements and drugs that suppress gland secretion for symptomatic treatment. It is also recommended to drink plenty of hot water and maintain a suitable indoor temperature and humidity. Dietary considerations should include avoiding spicy foods like chili peppers, seafood, overly sour, cold, or spicy foods. During the acute phase, under the guidance of a doctor, one may choose to take vitamin C tablets, cetirizine hydrochloride dispersible tablets for symptomatic treatment. If accompanied by fever symptoms with a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, acetaminophen tablets can be taken for fever reduction. The main principle of treatment is symptomatic treatment, drinking plenty of water, and it may also be combined with antiviral medication therapy.

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Can a cold caused by wind-cold result in a fever?

In cases of mild wind-cold common cold, fever usually does not occur. However, severe conditions can lead to symptoms of fever, so it is crucial to treat it promptly to effectively avoid fever symptoms. Treatment can be administered through medication for effective and rapid relief, as well as through regular diet or drinking more warm water, which can effectively expel some of the internal heat from the body through urine, resulting in effective improvement. Dietarily, it is mainly important to avoid stimulating, raw, and cold foods, and it is also necessary to keep warm and avoid getting chilled.