Does drinking alcohol cure a cold?

Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

Updated on November 30, 2024

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Drinking alcohol definitely cannot cure a cold, and everyone should be aware of this. Moreover, contrary to that, drinking alcohol can potentially make the symptoms of a cold worse. During a cold, the body's resistance is already weakened, and drinking alcohol at this time might irritate the stomach lining and affect various organs in the body. Therefore, it is best not to drink alcohol when you have a cold, especially not as a treatment for it. It is advised that everyone take care to avoid this misconception. Also, when you have a cold, keep warm, eat light foods, and avoid drinks like carbonated beverages, alcoholic drinks, strong tea, and coffee. Additionally, it is important to maintain a relaxed mood and avoid excessive stress. During the period when taking cold medicine, you should be careful not to drink alcohol to prevent any toxic reactions, which are very harmful to health.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

1min 6sec

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Itchy throat and coughing, is it a wind-heat cold or a wind-cold cold?

When patients present with symptoms such as itchy throat and cough in a clinical setting, it is generally difficult to distinguish between a wind-heat cold and a wind-cold cold based solely on these symptoms. Distinguishing between wind-heat and wind-cold colds requires combining other clinical symptoms to accurately differentiate. Typically, patients with wind-heat colds are more common during the hot summers. These patients experience varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, along with fever, chills, sore throat, and often cough up yellow sputum. On the other hand, wind-cold colds tend to occur more often in winter. These patients exhibit varying degrees of itchy throat and cough, nasal congestion, and also experience different degrees of fever, but generally do not have chills. Therefore, it is generally difficult to specifically distinguish the type of cold based on the solitary symptoms of itchy throat and cough in a clinical setting.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

1min 8sec

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What to do with excessive sweating from a cold?

When you have a cold and experience excessive sweating, this situation is fairly normal and there is no need to worry excessively. Your body is in a state of rest and is metabolizing at a higher rate to combat the invading cold viruses or bacteria. During this time, it is important to keep warm and avoid exposure to wind or cold. After waking, it's advisable to drink an adequate amount of water to stay hydrated and prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Additionally, under the guidance of a doctor, you should take the appropriate anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medication, or antiviral drugs to treat the condition and alleviate symptoms like sweating. It is recommended to maintain a light diet and avoid spicy, greasy, cold, or irritating foods. It is also essential to follow the doctor's instructions regarding the accurate timing and dosing of medications. Overmedication should be avoided as it could potentially weaken the body and exacerbate symptoms like excessive sweating.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun

Traditional Chinese Medicine

46sec

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What fruits to eat for a cold due to excessive internal heat?

Eating fruits actually cannot effectively cure a cold, but it can improve and alleviate the symptoms of a cold associated with excessive internal heat. You can eat more apples, bananas, grapefruits, mandarins, and oranges, as these are beneficial for reducing internal heat. You can also eat more green vegetables and white radishes to effectively lower internal heat. It is recommended to drink more water and urinate frequently. It is also necessary to engage in regular physical exercise, which can effectively help increase sweat production. Sweat can expel some viruses from the body. Additionally, it is important to rest adequately, avoid excessive fatigue, and importantly, not stay up late.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

54sec

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Can you swim with a cold?

Colds, also known as upper respiratory infections, generally occur because the patient's immune function is weakened, leading to the condition. Many patients catch a cold due to exposure to cold, while others are infected by people with colds due to weakened immune function. For patients with a cold who do not have a fever, we generally recommend engaging in appropriate exercise, which can help alleviate the symptoms of a cold. For instance, if a cold occurs during the cold winter months, swimming and participating in similar physical activities can be beneficial for enhancing the patient's immune function and aiding in quicker recovery from the illness. Therefore, it is acceptable for patients with a cold to swim.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

57sec

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Can pregnant women eat eggs when they have a cold?

When pregnant women catch a cold, it is acceptable to eat eggs; having a cold does not mean one must avoid eggs. However, due to the weakened gastrointestinal function in women during a cold, it is important to consume light foods and those that are easy to digest and absorb, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. Eggs are relatively easy to digest and are high in protein. Eating eggs during pregnancy, especially when sick, can help enhance the body's resistance. Additionally, it is important to drink plenty of water, rest, and consume fruits rich in Vitamin C or drink fresh fruit juices to supplement Vitamin C and boost the body's resistance. Generally, a cold is self-limiting and should resolve on its own within about a week.