Common Cold, Sneezing, Coughing Symptoms and Treatment: Common Cold is a viral infection which is caused by a family of Rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus and enterovirus which causes infection in the upper respiratory tract. It is usually harmless and does not lead to any serious complications in the patient. Common Cold can occur in anyone in any age group.
The symptoms of Common Cold usually resolve in 7 to 10 days in most patients. However some patients can experience the symptoms for longer durations. Many patients do not require medical attention for Common cold as the medications available are only effective on the symptoms of the condition instead of the virus which is causing the condition.
Common cold can lead to the onset of many symptoms such as sore throat, headache, coughing and sneezing and mild body aches. There is no vaccine for the prevention of Common cold and people have to rely on other methods in order to protect themselves against the ailment.
Common Cold
Common cold is a common ailment which can affect anyone who comes in contact with the virus. It affects the upper respiratory tract of the body and can lead to many symptoms such as stuffy and runny nose, chest congestion, sore throat and severe headaches. This condition can affect anyone from young children to elderly people.
Common cold spreads from one person to another through the droplets of the infected person. It can also spread when a healthy person comes in contact with an object containing the infected droplets. There is no vaccine and no cure for common cold but the symptoms of the disease can be treated through many home remedies and medications.
Common cold is one of the most common infections affecting humans and researchers have traced its existence throughout human history. The article given below will cover all the details related to Common Cold such as its symptoms, causes, treatment, home remedies and preventive measures.
Symptoms of Cold
Common Cold can present many symptoms in the patients which can lead to discomfort and difficulty in performing their daily living tasks. These symptoms are listed below.
- Nasal congestion
- Runny and stuffy nose
- Loss of smell and taste
- Frequent sneezing
- Post nasal drip meaning the patient feels the mucus dripping at the back of their throats.
- Watery eyes
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Body Aches
- Difficulty in breathing
Most people experience the symptoms for 7 to 10 days and the symptoms start resolving gradually around day 4 or 5.
Causes and Risk Factors of Cold
Common cold occurs when a virus from the family of Rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus and enterovirus enters the body of a healthy person. This virus can enter the body through the mouth, eyes or nose of the patient. The following factors can increase your risk of developing Common Cold.
- Age- Newborn babies and young children are at a greater risk of developing common cold. This risk increases when they spend time in child care and crèches.
- Season- Though the common cold is caused by a virus, its incidence is more common in cold weathers as people tend to have a weak immunity in winters.
- Weak immunity- People who have a chronic disease or new born babies tend to have weaker immune systems. This can increase their risk of acquiring a common cold and develop severe symptoms.
- Smoking- Smoking can weaken your respiratory tracts and your immunity thus making you more susceptible to Common cold.
- Exposure to virus- If you spend time in crowded areas such as schools or public transportation then it increases your risk of exposure to the virus. This can lead to the development of Common cold in such people.
Treatment of Cold, Sneezing, Coughing
In most patients, Common cold can be diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms experienced by the patient. There is no cure for common cold however many medications are available to treat the symptoms of common cold. Some of the common medications used for the treatment of Common cold are given below.
- Painkillers- Painkillers are prescribed for the treatment of headache and body aches that a person suffering from cold experiences. These medications include NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and aspirin. You should not give aspirin to children below the age of 18 years as it can lead to the development of Reye’s disease which is fatal.
- Decongestant nasal sprays- You can use nasal sprays which have decongestant ingredients. These help to clear your nose and your chest by loosening the mucus which is lodged there.
- Cough syrups- Cough syrups are available for dry and wet cough separately. These syrups are available over-the-counter and you can take the syrup according to the cough that you experience.
- Antihistamines- These medications are prescribed when the patient reports excessive sneezing and runny nose.
- Fever medication- Some patients may also experience fever as a symptom of cold. These patients can take paracetamol to lower their temperature and to treat the accompanying body aches.
Home Remedies of Cold, Sneezing, Coughing
Many home remedies are also effective for the treatment of cold, sneezing and cough. The most commonly used home remedies are given below.
- Drink plenty of hot fluids- You should drink plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration. You will also be advised to drink hot fluids such as soups and warm water to provide relief to your chest and to loosen the mucus lodged in your airways.
- Rest- You will need to take plenty of rest in order to allow your body to recover completely from the illness.
- Salt water gargles- You can mix 1 tablespoon of salt in one glass of lukewarm water and then gargle with it for 7 to 10 minutes. This will promote the healing of your throat and relieve cough.
- Vitamin C- You can also chew Vitamin C tablets as they are good for your immunity. Vitamin C can be acquired through any citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, etc. Taking Vitamin C can relieve some of the symptoms experienced by the patient.
- Echinacea- The roots of these herbs are to treat many infections. These can improve the immunity of the patient and reduce inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
- Zinc- Including zinc in your diet can improve the symptoms of cold. These also reduce the duration of the symptoms of cold.
- Honey and Black pepper- If you have a severe cough then you can take honey and black pepper together. Honey has soothing properties while the black pepper promotes the healing of the throat. This also relieves sore throat.
- Ginger- You can also drink water or tea infused with ginger. Ginger has lots of healing and soothing properties and thus it can improve chest congestion and other symptoms of cold.
- Neti pot- You can also use a neti pot to remove the mucus from your nose. You will need to bend your head sideways over a sink and pour salt water in the upper nostril through the neti pot. The water will come out of the other nostril along with the mucus which was lodged in the nose.
- Steam inhalation- You can also inhale steam infused with decongestants to treat the symptoms of cold. This will relieve chest congestion, cough and sneezing in the patient and give an overall sense of relief.
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FAQs Related to Cold
Common Cold is a viral infection which is caused by a family of Rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus and enterovirus which causes infection in the upper respiratory tract. Common cold spreads from one person to another through the droplets of the infected person. It can also spread when a healthy person comes in contact with an object containing the infected droplets.
There is no fastest way to treat the common cold as there is no cure for the disease. The symptoms of Common cold can be treated by using the methods mentioned above. Common cold usually resolves in 7 to 10 days.
You should eat warm food including green leafy messages, ginger, Vitamin C, garlic and honey. You should also drink plenty of warm fluids such as soups in order to relieve the symptoms of Common cold.