Cold season has arrived, and nobody is safe. Chances are, you won’t escape the winter without catching the common cold at some point or another. When that happens, you’ll want to be prepared to take all of the necessary steps to get rid of your cold, and fast. Here are the 10 things you need to make sure to do in order to zap your cold for good and get back to living your best life.
Liquids are probably the most important thing when it comes to getting rid of your cold. Whether you’re drinking water, juice, Gatorade, or tea, be sure to drink a lot of it. As your body’s working overtime to heal itself, staying hydrated will help replenish your system and get you back to normal.
It’s recommended that you drink 8 glasses of water per day, but with a cold, even more than that is beneficial. Staying hydrated is one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to battle your symptoms and get rid of a cold fast.
When you’re feeling sick, your body needs to rest. When you’re asleep, your body can focus on healing itself and fighting off disease. I know it can be tempting to try to stay awake and attend classes as usual, but what you really need during this time is rest and a lot of it.
Eight hours of sleep per night is recommended, but the more the merrier. Don’t feel guilty taking time off of classes or studying to relax because, at the end of the day, it will help you heal a lot faster.
While Advil or Ibuprofen won’t get rid of your cold, they can help relieve your congestion or pain that can allow you power through your cold. There are a ton of over-the-counter medications that can stop your symptoms, allowing you to go about your day as normal.
Don’t let these pills take the place of actual medication! While they can help you with your symptoms, you’ll have to attack the root of your cold in order for it to actually go away fast. Relieving the pain with Advil is just a short-term solution to make dealing with your cold a little bit easier.
Soothing your sore throat is necessary when you have a cold, and there are many ways to relieve your pain. Whether you’re taking cough drops, drinking warm liquids, or investing in throat-numbing spray, soothing a sore throat is necessary for stopping your symptoms and getting rid of a cold fast.
Gargling salt water is also a tried-and-true method to get instant relief from a sore throat. You can even make homemade cough drops with natural ingredients! Look on Pinterest for recipes, and say goodbye to your sore throat.
Usually with a cold comes a stuffy or runny nose that you can’t control. Having a clogged nose makes it harder to breathe, and can be uncomfortable and irritable when you’re trying to get some sleep.
To clear up a clogged nose, use a nasal spray, which you can find at any drugstore. Along with this, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, which might help loosen your congestion. Or, take a hot shower to clear up your sinuses.
If you’re experiencing a cough with your cold, it can be beneficial for you to invest in over-the-counter cough medicine. Whether you choose Dayquil or Nyquil, or a medicine specific to healing coughs, doing so will help calm your throat and relieve your symptoms. Cough drops are another great way to soothe a sore throat and combat an annoying cough.
Drinking warm liquids is a great way to heal your symptoms and get rid of a cold fast. It can provide instant relief to an aching throat, clear up your sinuses, and more! Plus, it is just super comforting when you’re feeling under the weather.
While you may usually opt for coffee, instead, switch to tea to see the best results. Green tea is probably the best for your cold, but black tea and other niche flavors will do the trick as well.
While it may not be scientifically proven, taking vitamin C can help combat your cold. Technically, it works better when you take it to prevent a cold coming on, but loading up on vitamin C after you already have one can’t hurt.
To get an extra dose of vitamin C in your daily routine, you can use tablets, pills, juices, and supplements. Emergen-C and Airborne are two popular brands, but any kind will do. Along with that, orange juice and other fruits are packed with vitamin C and other nutrients, so keep your diet clean as well!
When you have a cold, you need to do everything in your power to prevent more germs from entering your system. That means washing your hands often, cleaning your sheets and pillowcases, and generally avoiding sharing drinks or silverware with others.
If you can take all of the necessary precautions, you can ensure that your cold won’t worsen and you won’t spread it to others.
If your symptoms last longer than 2 weeks and you don’t see yourself improving, you may need to see a doctor to get more serious help. A doctor will be able to better diagnose your symptoms and put you on antibiotics if you need them.
If you do have any questions or concerns about your health, a doctor is the best resource. While you may find natural remedies online, take your health seriously, and go to a health professional if you feel like something is wrong.
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