What to drink to prevent a cold?

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

Updated on June 09, 2025

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Colds are caused by viral infections, and currently, there are no specific effective medications to treat them. Similarly, there are no medications or foods that can effectively prevent colds. The main measures to prevent colds include engaging in active physical exercise, enhancing physical fitness, maintaining a regular lifestyle, balancing work and rest, avoiding smoking and drinking, appropriately adjusting clothing with changing seasons to avoid chilling, avoiding crowded places during the peak cold season, drinking plenty of water, and ensuring that rooms are well-ventilated to effectively reduce the incidence of colds.

Other Voices

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

43sec

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Is a cold the process of detoxing?

A cold is not about detoxing; it is a type of disease. It is caused by a viral infection leading to a respiratory infection, which can cause symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. It is important to properly understand that one should drink plenty of water during a cold, measure body temperature twice a day, and avoid eating spicy, overly greasy foods. The main treatment principle is to choose pain-relieving medications to alleviate symptoms like fever, headache, and body aches. For a runny nose and sneezing, antihistamine medications can be used for symptomatic treatment, and they can also be combined with antiviral medications.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

42sec

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How many days does a baby usually have a cold and high fever?

If a baby has a cold and a high fever, it's generally hard to say how many days it will last. If infected by a virus or bacteria, the virulence and the body's immune function are both factors. If the viral strength is weak and the body's resistance is strong, with the appropriate use of medications, the fever can typically be controlled within one to three days. However, if the infection is due to stronger viruses or bacteria, such as the influenza virus, the common fever duration is around five to seven days, or even longer. So, for a common cold, the fever may last about three days, while influenza may last four to five days or even longer.

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Written by Qiu Xin Hui

Traditional Chinese Medicine

45sec

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How to treat a cold caused by wind-cold?

Wind-cold common cold, this is mainly due to the decline in the body's resistance, caused by exposure to wind and cold. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by chills, fever, mild headache, body aches, accompanied by sore throat, nasal congestion, and hoarse voice. Some people may also experience sneezing, runny nose, and coughing. At this time, it is necessary to use medicines that expel wind-cold and disperse external cold for treatment. You can use wind-cold cold granules. The simplest method is to use ginger brown sugar water, along with some hot porridge, cover yourself with more blankets, let the body sweat slightly, and after sweating, these symptoms can be significantly alleviated.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

1min 16sec

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Stages of Cold Symptoms

The symptoms of a cold generally fall into three stages. Initially, the symptoms of a cold may be mild or even absent, such as slight sneezing, runny nose, or nasal congestion. In such cases, it is advised to drink plenty of water, promote excretion, and improve immunity, as the early symptoms are often mild or not obvious and hence overlooked. Later, the symptoms of a cold get more severe. During the mid-stage of a cold, symptoms may worsen, including cough, phlegm, sore or swollen throat, or itchy and dry throat. Body temperature may also rise slightly. At this stage, it is recommended to actively follow a doctor's advice and take appropriate anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medication, along with fever-reducing and cough-relieving drugs to alleviate the symptoms. In the later stages of a cold, symptoms may improve, for example, the phlegm may turn yellow and the headaches and fever may subside. Under these conditions, it is sufficient to continue taking medication under a doctor’s guidance for treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

47sec

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Why does fetal movement become frequent when a pregnant woman catches a cold?

When pregnant women catch a cold, there may be abnormalities in fetal movement. This is because symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and headache can occur after catching a cold, leading to discomfort. Nasal congestion can cause insufficient oxygen supply in the pregnant woman, thereby affecting the nourishment to the baby. This can also increase fetal movements. In addition, nasal congestion may lead to hypoxia in pregnant women. These conditions are detrimental to the health of both the fetus and the pregnant woman. It is advisable to visit the hospital timely for examinations and symptomatic treatment, and oxygen therapy might be necessary if required.