What should you pay attention to when you have a cold with nasal congestion?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on December 22, 2024
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A cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, typically manifests different clinical symptoms depending on its triggering factors. Generally, most patients with a cold exhibit symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing due to a viral infection. Therefore, for such patients, personal hygiene is crucial. Additionally, it is important to ventilate rooms by opening windows and to avoid public places as much as possible to prevent spreading the infection to others with weaker immune systems. These cold sufferers are also advised to avoid spicy and irritating foods. Drinking plenty of water daily and consuming fresh vegetables and fruits high in vitamins is recommended. Consumables like apples, pears, water chestnuts, grapes, and kiwis, which are rich in vitamins and nutrients, should be eaten regularly to help enhance the immune function of these patients.

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What should I do if I have a cold, headache, and vomiting?

After catching a cold, various respiratory symptoms can occur, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, etc. However, there is also a category of patients who, particularly after a viral cold, may exhibit symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and even abdominal pain and diarrhea. These patients are referred to as having a "gastrointestinal cold." Like the common cold, a gastrointestinal cold is also caused by respiratory virus infections. Therefore, there are no special medications required for treatment; general over-the-counter cold medicines are sufficient. If there is severe vomiting, some antiemetic medication may be used, and drinking some cola boiled with ginger can also be very effective in treating the headaches and vomiting.

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What should a baby eat when they have a cold?

Firstly, the diet should be light, such as offering white rice porridge, mung bean porridge, and red bean porridge, all of which can be consumed. The main point is to consume easily digestible foods. At the same time, you can also eat some fruits, such as apples, bananas, dragon fruit, and watermelon, which are still acceptable to eat. You should avoid spicy, greasy, and irritating foods, as they are not conducive to the recovery of the condition.

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Why drink more hot water when you have a cold?

A cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, commonly occurs in patients due to a decrease in immune function, exposure to cold, or being infected by other viral colds. Typical symptoms in these patients include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and may also include an itchy throat and cough. For cold patients with strong resistance to viral infections, medication may not even be necessary as the cold can completely heal on its own. It is advised that these patients drink more hot water, which can help not only by providing hydration but also can serve to reduce fever in patients with mild fevers. Drinking more water can improve symptoms like nasal congestion and also accelerate the recovery from a cold, as increased water intake boosts metabolism. Therefore, for patients with lowered immune function and viral infections, it is recommended to drink an adequate amount of hot water.

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Symptoms of a stomach cold

The most common symptom of gastroenteritis is vomiting. The presence of pathogens irritates the stomach, causing it to contract and expel its contents. Secondly, diarrhea is a common symptom, primarily due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, which significantly increases secretions and affects absorption functions, leading to faster intestinal movements and resulting in loose stools. Thirdly, the increased intestinal movements can also lead to abdominal pain, along with the diarrhea.

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Symptoms of a heat cold

Heat colds are very common clinically and often occur in the hot summer. The so-called heat cold is mainly from the perspective of Chinese medicine, which divides cold types into heat colds and cold colds. Typically, patients with a heat cold exhibit symptoms such as fever and chills, and during the fever, they may experience headaches and fatigue in their limbs. Some patients may also have nasal congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, often with yellow mucus, as well as sore throat and cough, where the cough usually involves yellow phlegm. These are very common symptoms of a heat cold seen clinically. Therefore, when these symptoms appear in patients, as long as a timely and clear diagnosis is made and some heat-clearing and detoxifying medicines are administered for symptomatic treatment, the discomfort caused by the heat cold can generally be quickly improved.