What should a mother do if she catches a cold?

Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on May 06, 2025
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If the mother has symptoms of a cold during the breastfeeding period, it is important to note that minor symptoms such as slight sneezing and runny nose do not affect breast milk, as this is just a common cold, which typically resolves on its own within about seven days. During this period, it is recommended to drink more water to promote excretion and enhance the body's resistance. If the symptoms are more severe, it is possible to take some anti-inflammatory and anti-infection traditional Chinese medicine or cold-relief traditional Chinese medicine under the guidance of a doctor. It is crucial to maintain a relaxed mood without too much stress, avoid staying up late, ensure sufficient sleep, and enhance the body's resistance. Additionally, it's important to frequently ventilate the room to keep the air fresh and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity. Avoid close contact with the baby and wear a mask while breastfeeding.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
1min 6sec home-news-image

How to treat a cold during pregnancy

If you have symptoms of a cold while pregnant, it is advised not to self-medicate blindly. Always consult a physician and use medications that are relatively safer to treat the condition so as to prevent any potential impact on the fetus. This is particularly important during the first three months of pregnancy when the baby's development is still not complete, and indiscriminate use of some medications could possibly cause developmental abnormalities in the baby. It is suggested that everyone should distinguish the type of cold they are experiencing, and then treat and alleviate symptoms through dietary therapy. For instance, for a cold caused by exposure to wind and chill, one might drink some brown sugar ginger tea or have a warm foot bath, both of which can expel the cold from the body, promote blood circulation, and relieve cold symptoms. If it's a cold caused by wind-heat, drinking herbal teas that clear heat and detoxify can be beneficial in alleviating the condition.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is it good to run and sweat when you have a cold caused by wind-cold?

Patients with a cold caused by exposure to cold and wind are advised to rest as much as possible and avoid running and sweating, as this could lead to catching a chill and potentially worsening the cold. If you are indoors, running and sweating can be okay, but make sure not to expose yourself to drafts afterwards. It's best to sit down and rest to ease the sweating before resuming activities. If the condition is severe, medication can be taken for effective improvement. Also, avoid consuming stimulating, greasy, or cold foods in your diet; instead, drink plenty of water and urinate frequently to help effectively improve your condition.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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What is chill in the context of cold?

Colds caused by exposure to wind are common, so it's advisable to take some cold medicine or drink herbal teas, such as chrysanthemum tea, to alleviate symptoms. It's important to maintain adequate sleep, avoid excessive stress and overheating. If the cold is severe, it is best to visit a local hospital for symptomatic treatment by a doctor rather than self-medicating blindly. In terms of home environment, it’s recommended to avoid direct exposure to air conditioning or fans. Drinking plenty of lukewarm water and eating nutritious foods, such as lean meats, eggs, beans, and dairy products, can help boost the immune system. It's also wise to consume less spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is an air conditioning cold a wind-heat cold?

The so-called air conditioning cold refers to a cold phenomenon caused by setting the air conditioning temperature too low, which makes patients overchilled. The clinical symptoms of such patients are mainly those of a cold caused by wind-cold, primarily characterized by a runny nose, nasal congestion, and clear watery nasal discharge, along with an itchy throat and coughing. Of course, these patients may also experience varying degrees of fever. Therefore, air conditioning-induced colds typically occur in the summer, and it is necessary to combine the patient’s clinical symptoms to determine the specific type of cold, which is generally dominated by wind-cold colds.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can a cold cause vomiting?

The common cold is caused by a viral infection, often causing symptoms in the nasopharyngeal area, such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, headaches, and so on. So, can a cold cause vomiting? Yes, a cold can cause vomiting. The symptoms mentioned earlier are typical of a cold. Some people may experience gastrointestinal symptoms during a cold, often referred to as a "stomach cold," which can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Therefore, sometimes cold sufferers may experience vomiting.