Common cold


Does a common cold cause headache?
Patients with a common cold can experience different degrees of headache and dizziness when they have a fever or severe nasal congestion due to the cold. Clinically, the common cold is often caused by viral infections, and patients may experience varying degrees of fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy throat, coughing, and even some gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, for the common cold, as long as the diagnosis is clear, timely symptomatic treatment such as antiviral medication, clearing heat and detoxification, and fever reduction can usually effectively control the clinical symptoms caused by the viral cold. For headaches caused by the common cold, as long as the body temperature is controlled normally and the nasal congestion symptoms are effectively improved, they can generally recover quickly.


Cold or hot compress for a cold headache?
In clinical settings, when headache and cold symptoms appear, it's advisable to measure body temperature. If there are signs of fever, using a cool towel or ice pack to apply a cold compress to the forehead, and wiping the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, the neck, and the chest with warm water or alcohol can aid in physically lowering the fever. It is recommended to drink plenty of water, rest adequately, avoid stress, stay away from staying up late, and refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol. Consuming more green bean sprouts, tomatoes, carrots, and foods high in Vitamin C is advised, while avoiding spicy foods like chili peppers and stimulating products such as meat.


Is a simple cough a cold?
Simple cough is also very common in clinical practice, and there are many complicated factors that can trigger simple cough, so it is not necessarily a cold. Of course, patients with a cold can also have a simple cough, which can also be seen in chronic pharyngitis, cough variant asthma, allergic cough, etc. Therefore, a clear diagnosis of simple cough requires timely correlation with the patient's history and other clinical symptoms, as well as relevant auxiliary examinations. Commonly, colds are mostly viral infections. If it is uncertain whether the simple cough is caused by a cold, one can check if the lymphocytes are elevated through blood tests, and if the white blood cells and C-reactive protein are normal, through some auxiliary examinations, then it can be determined whether the simple cough is due to a cold.


Diet therapy method for colds caused by excessive internal heat
For conditions like heatiness and the common cold, it is primarily important to manage them through regular diet and improving lifestyle habits, as dietary therapy alone isn't completely effective. For patients with severe colds, it is recommended to visit a formal hospital and actively follow the doctor's guidance, using medication to achieve healing effects. For patients with mild symptoms of heatiness or a cold, it can be effectively managed through regular dietary therapy. For instance, consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, and leafy greens, can significantly improve symptoms.


How to treat a cold in children?
Child cold, also known as acute upper respiratory tract infection, is a common disease in children, mainly manifested in inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, nasopharynx, and throat. It can lead to acute manifestations of rhinitis, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis in children. The treatment of a child's cold begins with general measures such as ensuring the child rests, drinks plenty of water, and avoids contact with others who have a cold to prevent complications. Symptomatic treatment is also important. For example, antipyretic analgesics can be used when a child has a high fever. If the high fever is accompanied by febrile convulsions, sedatives may be needed to control the convulsions. If nasal congestion is particularly severe, topical medications can be used to reduce congestion. For severe throat pain, throat sprays may be used. Etiological treatment is also necessary, as most colds are caused by a viral infection, so antiviral medications can be used. If the cold is severe and there is a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics should be used under the guidance of a hospital doctor. If the child has a viral conjunctivitis along with a cold, antiviral eye drops can be used.


Can you soak your feet if you have a cold due to excessive internal heat?
Patients with "heat-induced" colds can soak their feet, which not only causes no harm to the body but can also effectively help reduce heat and improve cold symptoms. Moreover, you can soak your feet daily, or add ingredients such as ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, and white vinegar to the soaking water. These additions can effectively dispel wind and cold, promote blood circulation, relieve stagnation, and improve sleep quality, as well as accelerate metabolism in the body. Therefore, you can soak your feet daily, but be sure to control the water temperature around 40°C and limit the soaking time to about 15 to 30 minutes to achieve the desired effects of foot soaking.


What fruit cures a cold?
Colds are caused by viral infections, often causing symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, headache, and fever. So, is there any fruit that can cure a cold? We know that there is currently no particularly effective treatment for colds, so it is unrealistic to treat colds with fruit. The current treatment methods for colds mainly involve symptomatic treatment medications, such as compound cold medicines, antipyretic analgesics, and some traditional Chinese medicines to alleviate symptoms. In addition, it is important to rest, avoid cold exposure, drink plenty of water, quit smoking, and ensure room ventilation, which is beneficial for the recovery from a cold.


What medicine is effective for a cold and cough?
Coughing after catching a cold is a common symptom. If the cough is caused by the cold itself, it is often due to heightened sensitivity in the airways. In such cases, cough suppressants can be used for symptomatic treatment, along with other medications that reduce airway sensitivity. Coughing from a cold can also be caused by a secondary bacterial infection, which, apart from symptomatic treatment with cough medicine, requires treatment with antibiotics such as penicillins and cephalosporins, under the guidance of a physician. Additionally, it is important to rest, drink plenty of water, and eat a light diet to facilitate recovery.


Can you take cold medicine if you have a cold 7 days into pregnancy?
Generally speaking, 7 to 10 days after conception, the embryo will implant itself in the endometrium. After the implantation of the embryo, the mother's blood begins to supply the embryo. At this time, if medication is taken, it can have an impact on the embryo. However, the vast majority of medications have no effect and can be taken during pregnancy, including most cold medicines. If you catch a cold during pregnancy, the first choice is to drink plenty of hot water, enhance resistance, and rest more. A mild cold can usually be overcome without medication. If the fever exceeds 38.5°C, with signs of infection such as sore throat and cough, antibiotics like azithromycin and cefaclor, which do not affect pregnancy, can be taken for anti-infection treatment. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor)


How to physically reduce a baby's fever when they have a cold
There are several common methods for physically reducing fever in infants. The most commonly used method with the least side effects is using fever-reducing patches, typically applied to the baby's forehead, neck, and other areas, which are quite effective. Secondly, you can give the baby a wipe bath with warm water, focusing on areas with abundant capillaries and large blood vessels such as the neck, armpits, groin, and behind the knees. The third method involves giving the baby a warm bath, which helps dilate the capillaries on the baby's skin surface to achieve the effect of heat dissipation. However, it is important to keep warm during the bath to prevent catching a cold, and the bathing time should generally not exceed ten minutes. Additionally, appropriately hydrating the baby to prevent dehydration can enhance the cooling effect of the above methods.