Can you drink tea when you have a cold?

Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
Updated on February 21, 2025
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It is not recommended to drink tea when having a cold; it is advised that patients drink more plain water instead. Patients also need to maintain a light diet and eat some fruits, and it’s recommended to avoid both tea and carbonated beverages, as well as alcohol. For conditions like the common cold, it is important to avoid staying up late and overexerting oneself. The common cold is usually self-limiting, meaning it will typically resolve on its own as the patient's immune system fights off the illness. However, if the symptoms of a cold are severe, it may be necessary to take medication for symptomatic treatment. It is also important to note that while the common cold is usually self-limiting and does not often lead to serious consequences, complications can sometimes arise. For example, it could lead to acute sinusitis or bacterial pneumonia. If a cold sufferer's symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for proper treatment.

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Can you eat crab when you have a cold?

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What to do when a one-year-old baby has a cold?

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How to determine if it is food stagnation or a cold?

The common cold is characterized by symptoms such as fever, chills, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, headache, and body aches. It is an externally contracted disease that can occur throughout the year but is most common in the winter and spring seasons, and when there is a sudden change in the climate. Overeating mainly results from dietary imbalances, leading to symptoms like loss of appetite, indigestion, bloating or pain in the stomach area, frequent belching, sour regurgitation, or vomiting, and having foul-smelling or irregular stools. This is more common in infants and toddlers, typically occurring after binge eating. Symptoms can suddenly include abdominal bloating, vomiting, or changes in the frequency and nature of bowel movements, without the general signs of an upper respiratory tract infection. If the issue is overeating, the baby may feel relief after passing stools or vomiting; however, if it is a cold, symptoms might include gastrointestinal issues like vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, usually accompanied by mild fever and respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, or coughing. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, the symptoms generally do not alleviate, and the baby would still feel very uncomfortable. Therefore, whether it is overeating or a cold can be determined by analyzing the specific conditions of the child.