How long is a cold supposed to last?

Question

Ok I am sick of being sick(who isn't?). I got a cold or something from taking care of my neice while she's sick.

I've had it for three days and I've had sore throat a noisy rattling cough and a stuffy nose. Snot's clear. How to get over this?

Yesterday I've tried drinking a lot of juice and drank 22 oz. of water. It didn't seem to make any difference. Would it be dumb to go to the doc to get this over with?

Answer 1

Anywhere from 3 days to a week normally, depending on many things.
The treatment is to flush the virus out of your system., plenty of liquids, plenty of rest, asprin to reduce fever. etc.

Answer 2

Once a wise man stated the common cold generally last for 2 weeks if properly medicated. The same cold left untreated will on the average last 14 days. Juices,and other fruits,and vegetables are always healthy choices,cold or no cold. Regarding water, everyone should drink a minimum of 8 glasses (ea.glass 8oz) of water every day. Try the tissues treated with aloe. They really are softer. God bless.

Answer 3

a cold virus lasts 14 days, the symptoms vary from person to person. The best way to prevent a cold is to wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face, as hand to face is how the virus is passed. To shorten the duration and lessen the severity of a cold, I have found Zicam nasal swabs to be very effective. In fact I use one daily and have not had a cold in over five years. No point in going to the doctor there is nothing they can do for you, a virus will run it's course. But if you get some rest, push fluids and use the Zicam, you will mend faster.

Answer 4

2 to 3 days

Answer 5

It relies upon on the severity of a cold. I even have had them final as long as 10 days. yet oftentimes the worst portion of a cold is two to 3 days. there are assorted issues which could effect it. Your customary wellness, eating habitual, volume of relax you get. If it lasts extra beneficial than 2 weeks i might see a doctor.

Answer 6

going to the doctor for a cold is pointless since they can't really prescribe anything to you to get rid of it. they'll just tell you to go home, drink fluids, get rest, and take an over the counter medication for pain. you're basically doing all you can to combat it. colds usually take a week or so to totally go away. where do you live? i know that ever since the weather started changing where i live that tons of people have the rattle cough and congestion. have you considered that perhaps it's an allergy and not a cold? When I feel like crap i go to the store and get an Oddwalla C Monster drink or a SuperFood drink. both have a TON of vitamins and minerals and usually help me feel better. try eating some tomato soup, it's got a lot of antioxidants that might help speed up your recovery. colds suck.

Answer 7

The full course of a cold is about 10-12 days, with the worst of it being at days 4-6.

There is nothing a doctor can do because its a viral infection, not bacterial.

Answer 8

Colds typically last for 1 week depending how you health is generally and your stress levels. the best way to deal with it I have found is to take a combination of Zinc and Vitamin C caplets for the duration and keep a vick inhaler for congestion. Also keep drinking plenty of fluids. Get plenty of rest.
A perfect example of what not to do is what happened to me 2 years ago. I was going to school full time and working full time with mandatory 20 hours overtime each week. My cold turned into bronchitis and a sinus infection which lasted from beginning of January into the middle of February. Learn from my mistakes.

Answer 9

A cold usually last longer then just three days, it will last up to a couple of weeks, but each day you should start to feel it get better, the soar throat you can combat with a good mouthwash like listerine, and the headache and achy feelings you can help them with good old fashioned aspirin, but if you feel you need a prescription to get over it, then go see a doc. but normally it will start to subside with in the next day or so. good luck and I hope you get feeling much better. next time you take care of someone who is sick make sure they keep their hands washed and you keep yours washed also. every little bit helps.

Answer 10

When I complained to my doctor about my coughing continuuing for weeks after the cold was over, he told me even though the cold was over a lot of symptoms continue while the tissues damaged by the virus heal.
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I think that clear drainage is due to the tissue healing, and the cold is long over.
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I take comtrex, hall's cough drops, and cough medicine to get through that. I only get the flu about once every three years, but then it is pretty bad and I cough for MONTHS.
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