Fall is approaching, and as the temperatures drop, it’s good to know how to get rid of a cold quickly. Dealing with a runny nose and cough can often be a challenge, but fortunately there are some natural products that can help. At the first signs of cold symptoms, you can try to stock up on a number of remedies. But what actually works? While there are no cures for the common cold, some tried and true home remedies have proven to be effective in treating it. Here are some tips that can help you get fit again the next day.
Unfortunately, getting rid of a cold overnight is almost impossible. However, if you are wondering how you can counteract the symptoms immediately and effectively, there are numerous options available to you. The first thing you should know is that, regrettably, there is no magic bullet that will make the virus that causes symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose and fatigue disappear from your system. So then what to do to get rid of a cold quickly? The way to go about this is to alleviate the symptoms mentioned as much as possible while you wait for things to develop. First of all, it is important to recognize what you have been infected with. Both cold and flu are classified as respiratory illnesses and often have very similar signs.
Common cold symptoms usually include a runny or stuffy nose, frequent sneezing, a sore throat and/or cough, headache, and fatigue. In contrast, common flu symptoms include fever or a temperature above 100 degrees, chills, muscle aches, joint pains, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Actually, these are more acute versions of the cold symptoms above. In addition, there is some overlap, but the main differences between the two states are in intensity. Flu symptoms tend to come on very quickly and usually include fever and sore muscles. The signs of a cold are gradual and mainly affect your nose and throat.
In order to recover faster, the body must stimulate an immune system response, kill the virus, and repair itself. This takes time and there is no point in rushing the process. But what about cold medicines that claim to make you feel better faster? Luckily, some of these might help ease the symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable. From a medical point of view, antibiotics will never work for a cold because it is caused by a virus and not bacteria. However, some dietary supplements or natural product treatments may help shorten the duration of a cold.
However, the list of ineffective cold remedies is also very long. For example, some of the most common ones that don’t work include over-the-counter cold and cough medicines in addition to antibiotics. For example, if you want to quickly get rid of a cold in children, then use such medicines wisely. They could cause serious and even life-threatening side effects. It’s best to talk to your child’s doctor before giving your little one over-the-counter medications. Despite ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on some popular cold remedies like vitamin C and coneflower (echinacea) extract. Here’s an update on some of these common alternative remedies.
It seems that taking vitamin C doesn’t usually help the average person prevent the common cold. However, some studies have found that taking the vitamin found in many citrus fruits before the onset of cold symptoms can shorten their duration. Additionally, vitamin C could benefit people who are at high risk of catching a cold due to frequent exposure. These are, for example, children who attend group childcare in winter. Furthermore, study results on whether echinacea prevents or shortens colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others suggest some reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when echinacea is taken in the early stages of a cold. Different species of echinacea used in different research may have contributed to the mixed results.
Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it while you’re noticing cold symptoms and continue taking it for seven to 10 days. It appears safe for healthy adults but can occur with many medications
