How to Get Rid of Common Cold

When cold symptoms appear, you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. It’s difficult to concentrate on your favorite activities when your nose is stuffy and runny, you can’t stop sneezing, and your throat is scratchy.

Perhaps your doctor, a family member, or a friend has told you that there is no cure for the common cold. They are, unfortunately, correct. The common cold can be caused by over 200 viruses, but it is most commonly caused by a group of viruses known as rhinoviruses. 1

There are currently no antiviral medications available that can combat the viruses that cause the common cold. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat the common cold because they are only used to treat bacterial infections.

What’s the good news? You don’t have to suffer through the symptoms as your body fights the cold virus. Over-the-counter medications such as DayQuil SEVERE and NyQuil SEVERE can help alleviate your most severe cold symptoms.

Home Remedies for Cold Symptoms

Drink plenty of water.

Drinking plenty of fluids can thin your mucus and make it easier to drain from your nose and sinuses.

Fluids also help to keep the mucous membranes lubricated, so you can help to eliminate that dryness in your nose.

Warm liquids should be consumed.

When you have a cold, fluids are great, but warm drinks are soothing and make you feel better. By soothing the inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat, medicated hot drinks provide relief for your cough and sore throat symptoms. 4 Dissolve a packet of Vicks FluTherapy SEVERE Day-Time for relief of cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, and more. Time into an 8-ounce glass of hot water, stir, and drink within 10-15 minutes.

Sleep it away

Sleeping is necessary for your body to rest and heal. According to research, your body produces proteins called cytokines while you sleep, which are important for fighting infection and inflammation. 5

Make every effort to adjust your sleep schedule in order to get the extra rest your body needs to fight off the cold virus.

Meditate

Keep stress at bay so your body can focus on maintaining your immune system. Daily meditation breaks can help you relax and stay calm: Simply close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing for a few minutes (or longer if you have the time!).

Use saline nasal sprays and drops.

Non-medicated nasal saline sprays, such as Sinex Saline Ultra Fine Nasal Mist, can help relieve cold congestion.

A saline nasal spray keeps nasal passages open by washing away any thick or dried mucus, resulting in more fluid mucus that drains more quickly.

Make use of a neti pot.

A neti pot can be used to rinse particles or mucus from your nose. A neti pot is a device that helps you flush out mucus. Bend your head sideways over the sink and place the neti pot’s spout in your upper nostril, then pour a saltwater solution into your upper nostril and let the water drain down the lower nose. 6 Other devices, such as squeeze bottles and pressurized canisters, can be used in place of a neti pot.

Gargle with saltwater.

To get relief from a sore throat caused by a cold, gargle with salt water. 14 to 12 teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water is the recommended measurement. 7 The high-salt barrier can draw a lot of fluids from your throat’s tissues. 7

Increase the humidity in the air.

In your bedroom, use a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer to add moisture back into the air while you sleep. Dry air can irritate the nose and throat even more. 8

Inhale some steamy air.

Try sitting in the bathroom with a warm shower running the next time you have a cold that causes a stuffy nose. You can also inhale steam from a hot water bowl. Inhaling warm (not hot) steam can thin mucus2, allowing it to drain more easily.

Relieve your cough.

It’s difficult to feel better when you’re sick; your cold won’t let the cough symptoms go away.

For over 125 years, Vicks VapoRub has helped relieve coughs. To help relieve a cold cough, rub it on your throat and chest and breathe in the medicated vapors with the familiar scents of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor.

Change your sleeping position.

When you lie horizontally, your mucus comes to a halt. This can cause congestion and coughing. Try propping your head up with pillows before going to bed to help gravity work better for you. 9 Sleeping at a slanted angle keeps the fluid in your sinuses flowing, preventing congestion and other cold symptoms.

Maintain a clean environment.

It’s just as important to keep the virus from infecting your friends and family as it is to treat your own symptoms. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home and at work. Keep this in mind especially during cold and flu season, or whenever someone close to you is sick. Even better?

Stay home from work to avoid spreading the cold virus to others.

Consume foods that help your immune system.

Vitamin C-rich foods can help you maintain your immune system and get back to normal faster.

Fruits containing vitamin C include oranges, lemons, strawberries, red peppers, mangoes, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables.

Consume plenty of vegetables, herbs, and spices.

Any treatment that reduces inflammation should be used when you have a cold. Consume plenty of vegetables, herbs, and spices. Red bell peppers and broccoli are two vegetables that can help your immune system. 10 Certain spices, such as curry, garlic, and astragalus, are known to be anti-inflammatory. 11–12

Use the proper over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Nonprescription medications can help alleviate cold symptoms. Vicks products will not cure a cold, but they will make you feel better. Both NyQuil Cold & Flu and DayQuil Cold & Flu are good choices because they contain a pain reliever/fever reducer as well as a cough suppressant. If you have additional symptoms, try NyQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu, which also has a nasal decongestant, and DayQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu, which has an expectorant to help loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions, making coughs more productive.

Although there is no cure for the common cold, these 15 cold-relief tips can help alleviate your symptoms and allow you to return to your normal activities as soon as possible.