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Experts estimate that Americans suffer about one billion colds each year and there is no "cure" for these viruses.
Most healthy individuals get between 3-5 cold viruses every year. The good news is that every healthy person has an immune
system capable of producing cells specifically able to destroy cold viruses. Your body will repsond with symptoms three or
four days after the viral invasion.
Normal symptoms caused by these viruses are any combination of the following:
- scratchy or sore throat
- nasal discharge usually clear or creamy
- stuffy nose
- tenderness around eyes and nose
- sneezing
- fever up to 101° F or 38.3° C
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- tearing or watery eyes
- full or plugged ears
- achiness
- cough-dry or with clear/white mucus
- general tired feeling
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Symptoms usually last 7-10 days but can last as long as two weeks. Antibiotics will not help to
treat a cold. Antibiotics combat only bacterial infections, not viral ones. Unless your cold has led
to a secondary bacterial infection, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, an antibiotic is not only a waste of
money but may expose you unnecessarily to the potential side-effects of these medications. Unnecessary
antibiotics also may lead to the development of antibiotic resistant germs so that your next "real"
bacterial infection may be much harder to treat. Infections such as strep throat do not cause
symptoms of a cold, such as nasal congestion or a cough.
- Wash your hands often to prevent spreading the virus to others. Use disposable tissues for your mucus.
- Rest - your body needs time to recover. Let your body be your guide to how much extra rest you will need.
- Stop smoking and stay away from people who do. You don't need an extra irritant plaguing your respiratory system.
- Drink large quantities of fluids - especially water (2 liters). Stay away from mucus-producing fluids like milk or irritating ones like orange juice. Get your Vitamin C from other foods for a few days.
- Gargle with salt water to help reduce swelling and soreness in the throat. Use 1/2 tsp of salt to about 4 oz. warm water.
- Cough into your sleeve, not into your hand. Covering a cough with your hand enables those germs to be spread to whatever you touch - doorknobs, keyboards, etc.
- Increase humidity in your room and inhale warm, moist air to soothe inflamed mucous membranes. Showers feel great because they help you breathe more easily.
There are NO medicines which will CURE a cold, but there are some that can reduce the symptoms.
| Fever, headache, body aches |
Advil - Take 2 tablets every 4-6 hours. Always
take with food. OR |
| Tylenol - Take 2 tablets every 4-6 hours
for fever or use if allergic to Advil or Aspirin |
| Nasal congestion, sinus congestion
or pressure, pressure in the ears |
Normal saline nasal spray, hot shower, steam over bowl of
hot water - this will loosen mucus.
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| Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) - Take 2 tablets
3 or 4 times daily. May use Advil Cold and Sinus instead of
plan Advil if you need something to relieve headache, aches
or fever as well as the congestion. (note: product not available
through Health Services due to recent legislation. Still available
through drug stores - behind pharmacy counter) |
| Cough - producing phlegm or dry |
Robitussin or Guaicon -
loosens the mucus making the cough less painful. May use formula
with suppressant (DM) if cough is keeping you awake. Robitussin
will also thin your nasal mucus. |
| Note: avoid cold medicines containing antihistimines
(Comtrex, Benadryl) as they cause drowsiness, thicker mucus,
and may prolong your cold symptoms |
- fever over 101° F/38.3° C early in the day OR
- swollen glands, especially glands in back of your neck OR
- throat is red and/or covered with white patches OR
- mucus is brownish or green-colored (if a non-smoker) all day long OR
- painful sinuses - not relieved by blowing your nose
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