What is the best way to get rid of a cold?!?

Answer 1

Oh Bubbles,
Are u tired of reading e-mails. 88 answers so far. I didn't even want to begin reading any of the answers. There were so many. And as for so many, thats about the same as how to get rid of a cold. Hope you found a ENDLESS answer.

Answer 2

The bad news is that there is STILL no cure for the common cold. And taking vitamins *after* you catch a cold virus doesn't help a thing, either.

"Time cures all." That may not always be true, but in the case of the common cold, it's pretty close. Medicine can't cure the common cold, but it can be used to relieve such symptoms as muscle aches, headache, and fever. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.

However, aspirin should never be taken if you're younger than 12, and all under age 19 should avoid aspirin during viral illnesses. Use of aspirin by kids or teens with colds or other viral illness may increase the risk of developing Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can be fatal.

Although you may be tempted to take over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines to try to ease the cold symptoms, there's little or no evidence to support that they actually work. In fact, decongestants can cause hallucinations, irritability, and irregular heartbeats in some.

Some ways you can help ease cold discomfort include:

- saltwater drops in the nostrils to relieve nasal congestion (you can buy these - also called saline nose drops - at any pharmacy)
- a cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture
- petroleum jelly on the skin under the nose to soothe rawness
- hard candy or cough drops to relieve sore throat
- a warm bath or heating pad to soothe aches and pains
- steam from a hot shower to help you breathe more easily

But what about chicken soup? There's no real proof that eating this soothing, warm concoction can cure a cold, but sick people have been swearing by it for more than 800 years. Why? Chicken soup contains a mucus-thinning amino acid called cysteine, and some research shows that chicken soup helps control congestion-causing white cells, called neutrophils.

The best plan, though, is not to worry about whether to "feed a cold" or "starve a fever." Just make sure you eat when hungry and drink plenty of fluids like water or juice to help replace the fluids lost during fever or mucus production. Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages, though, which can cause frequent urination and, therefore, increase the risk of dehydration.

Answer 3

If you have an upper respiratory tract infection ( a cold) it would likely pass in 5 to seven days. regardless of what you do.
However ,there are some measures that you can take to alleviate your symptoms. one of such measures is to take some off the counter cold medication. which for the most part contain NSAID or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs ( like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc) which lower your temperature and diminish the headache. some contain medication that diminish the secretion of mucus, thus solving the runny nose.

The second measure would be to take plenty of fluids. which keep you hydrated. a third meassure is to get some bed rest and ideally some sleep. this would make the cold seam shorter.

If symptoms persist after a few days or you suffer from any condition that may complicate the normal course of the cold, such as asthma you should consult with your physician.

i hope you'll get better soon

Answer 4

the truth is that “there is no cure for the common cold.” That's right. Even modern medicine is aware of this.

2 Easy Steps:

Let Your Body Heal: Sleep It Off

The main problem people have when they get a cold is that it interferes with their already busy life. How are you supposed to work if you feel like crap? So you take drugs or even just herbal medicines to alleviate the symptoms, and you continue working like crazing, staying up late, going out, eating out, and *never giving your body the chance to heal.*

When you get a cold, you should do this opposite. Think to yourself, “Great! A cold! That's my opportunity to catch up on the rest I desperately need, and my chance to let my body heal itself!”

What you'll need to do is start spending long hours in bed. Rest as much as possible. Cancel those appointments that are not urgent, those nights out, and other activities. Stop your exercise program for a few days, and rest as much as possible.

If that's not possible, at least take it really easy, and go to bed super-early. Give your body a chance to heal and it will do an amazing job at it, I promise.

Eat Properly:

95% of people I've met still think that there's some kind of food they should eat that could “increase their immunity” or “boost their metabolism” and help them “fight” the cold better.

They still haven't realized that *the common cold isn't something that should be fought or stopped!*

Here is however a few recommendations that will definitely help you recover from a cold in the shortest time possible.

- Eat only fruits and vegetables. Those are the easiest foods to digest. Avoid protein foods or fat, or starch.
- Drink plenty of warm water.
- Eat a very simple diet. Smoothies, fresh juices, raw fruits in vegetables. No cooked foods except at the most, steamed vegetables.
- Eat according to hunger and if not hungry skip a few meals. There's no harm and only good in doing that.

Eating a simple raw food diet (such as the one I described in my book “The Raw Secrets”) when you have a cold will help you recover in the shortest time possible, without doing any harm to the body. A short fast is also advisable (2-3 days max).

Combine that with plenty of rest, and you'll have a winning formula to getting rid of that nasty cold.

By learning proper nutrition habits, you'll also make sure that you stay healthy all the time and never have to go through that again!

Answer 5

Good Morning. I have found that the best way of getting rid of a cold is through vitamin therapy. Lots of vitamin C the chewable kind is great and its over the counter. Coupled with lots of water to was the germs away. 6-8 8ounce glasses is recommended normally. I personally have started on a healthy foods kick and drink daily organic Apple Cider Vinegar 3x a day here is the website you can read about the benefits www.bragg.com . If you take the Vitamin C you will feel better soon. Vitamin C is water soluable no fear of overdose. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Try the Home Remedies, not side effects.

As much as possible, avoid coming into close contact with infected persons, especially if they cough or sneeze.

A person with a cold is extremely contagious: He or she fills the air with fine particles of saliva or mucous which transport the virus microbe. Even if the person is careful to wipe his nose with tissue or a handkerchief, the microbes will be transported to his hands. And studies have shown that these viruses are transmitted through hand contact. So if you have to shake hands with someone who has a cold, you would better wash soon after!

What can you do if you do catch a cold?
It is useless to take antibiotics: They have no effect on viruses. However, there are certain substances found in alcohol which help decongest sinuses, that is why a good hot toddy can work wonders. But take care of your liver: A toddy is just as good with a little rum as with a lot.

You don’t have to get drunk to get better. You don’t even have to drink it - just sniff some strong alcohol like cognac or brandy and breathe in the fumes.

Hope this helps, Good Luck.

Answer 7

There is no sure-fire way to get rid of a cold. You just have to let it run its course. But there are different medications to relieve the symptons. You can also drink some hot tea with a shot of whiskey. And also,get plenty of rest,drink lots of fluid(water,juices)and cover up. You can rub some vicks on your chest. A cold usually lasts from 5-7 days. After the cold goes away,you can change your diet a bit to help prevent colds. Eat more fruits and vegetables,take more vitamins(especially vitamin C) Like the old adage goes," We are what we eat".

Answer 8

The best thing for cold sores right now is a product called abreva. However, if you can find it, some hometown pharmacist carry a product called "Cure a Sore", it has ether in it and works very well. Stinks like crazy and taste very bad if you get it in your mouth, but works better than anything else that I have tried. If you keep abreva with you, then you can put it on as soon as you feel one coming and usually it won't come up. If it does come up it doesn't last long. I keep it for that reason. Although I haven't noticed much difference if I wait too long to use it. I also keep Lysin it helps with the puffieness and discomfort. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Well, first off to prevent it I usually have a Airborne tablet and an Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold daily or every two days to keep the imune system up. I also take it once i'm feeling a little sick. It usually goes away before it can get any worse! Make sure to take LOTS of Vitamin C, and multi-vitamins to keep the imune system up. But, definatly the Airborne tablet (which you can put in a glass of water, it dissolves and you drink it, tastes great, also with the alka seltzer plus cold!) and the alka-seltzer plus cold is a definate helper! Take it if your going into a stuffy place (airplane, bus, hospital, doctors office, etc.) or just when your feeling a litte under the weather. Either ways, it's awesome!

Answer 10

I had no idea how to cure a cold, so I always just sat it out. But right now I'm living with my friends family and it's freezing cold where I am, so I've gotten sick about 4 times already, and every time my friends mom comes running with Tylenol 500 (you only take one every 6 hours), Vick's Vaporub, and chewy vitamin C tablets. Especially with the Tylenol 500, my cold is gone in a few days. Drinking green tea with honey and lemon works too, and of course chicken soup.

Answer 11

There's a product you can buy in drug stores called Cold-Eeze. I think it's amazing. Nothing will completely make a cold disappear immediatly but Cold Eeze definitely seems to shorten my colds and reduce the symptoms. The key to having it work is to begin using it as soon as you feel any cold symptoms coming on. The more often you use it in the first 48 hours the more it seems to help. I keep it on hand and take one if I feel the least bit of a scratchy or sore throat. They look about like cough drops--you suck them. Don't take them right before or after vitamin pills. I think there is something about Vitamin C reducing the effectiveness.