What should I do if I catch a cold while preparing for pregnancy?

Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on May 01, 2025
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During the pre-pregnancy period, one should not indiscriminately take medications. If the symptoms of a cold are mild, try not to use medication and drink more warm water while resting. If the cold symptoms are severe, medications should be taken under the guidance of a doctor. A cold during the pre-pregnancy period could possibly be caused by exposure to cold due to very cold weather, wearing too little clothing, or eating too many cold and raw foods. During pre-pregnancy, it is crucial to keep warm to prevent diseases, frequently ventilate by opening windows, and wear a mask outdoors depending on the weather conditions.

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Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What should I do if I catch a cold during my menstrual period?

During menstruation, if cold symptoms occur and are mild, it is not recommended to use medication. Instead, drinking more warm water and resting is advisable. If the cold is severe, it is better to use traditional Chinese medicine with no side effects under the guidance of a doctor, as the body is weak and has lower immunity during menstruation, making it prone to colds. During menstruation, keep warm, avoid cold and chilling stimuli, eat a light diet with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, avoid vigorous exercise, and maintain personal hygiene.

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Written by Wu Shu Jie
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can scraping (gua sha) treat a cold?

Gua Sha is one of the methods used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating and preventing diseases. It is often performed on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, which is located on the back of the human body. The Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang is superficial and acts as the first line of defense when external pathogens invade the body. By scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, it stimulates the meridians and channels, enhances the body's immunity, and promotes the expulsion of pathogenic factors by strengthening the body’s vital energy. According to TCM, "when the vital energy is preserved within, pathogens cannot interfere." Therefore, scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang can help in treating and preventing the common cold.

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Written by Deng Hong Ying
Nephrology
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Why can't people with polycystic kidney disease catch a cold?

Polycystic kidney disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease. As the patient's age increases, the cysts of polycystic kidney will gradually enlarge, and the risk of renal function abnormalities and related complications will increase. If the patient catches a cold, it will exacerbate the abnormality of kidney function. Furthermore, the use of some antiviral and antibacterial drugs metabolized through the kidneys can also increase the burden on the kidneys, further causing damage to them. Therefore, patients with polycystic kidney disease should try to avoid colds, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and other related infectious diseases.

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Written by Liao Bin
Pulmonology
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Can you drink milk when you have a cold?

Whether you can drink milk when you have a cold depends on the specific condition. For those with a mild cold and no significant gastrointestinal symptoms, it is appropriate to drink warm milk. Since milk is rich in nutrients, containing high-quality protein, calories, amino acids, etc., it can be quite beneficial for the body's recovery. It also helps alleviate cold symptoms, especially easing symptoms like general body aches and fatigue. However, caution is needed for cold sufferers who have obvious gastrointestinal dysfunction, particularly those with gastro-intestinal type colds displaying nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is advised not to drink milk in such cases to avoid worsening the gastrointestinal dysfunction and potentially prolonging the recovery period. Additionally, it is important to avoid taking milk with other medications during a cold, as it might affect the efficacy of the medications.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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What should I do if I have a cold, nasal congestion, and vomiting?

A cold, commonly referred to as an upper respiratory tract infection, often occurs due to a decrease in immune function, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion and sneezing due to viruses entering the respiratory tract. Clinical symptoms like fever and cough are most common. Some patients may also experience varying degrees of nausea, vomiting, and even loss of appetite. These symptoms are primarily considered to be caused by a gastrointestinal type of cold. Therefore, for such patients, it is first necessary to conduct relevant auxiliary examinations to determine if the symptoms are due to a viral gastrointestinal cold. Once confirmed, timely antiviral treatments and detoxification should be administered. Additionally, patients are advised to follow a bland diet, eat smaller, more frequent meals, and consume easily digestible foods. As long as the cold symptoms are effectively controlled, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting will also alleviate.