How to treat air conditioning cold

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on June 23, 2025
00:00
00:00

In summer, due to the high temperatures, many people use air conditioning to cool down and avoid the heat, but in some cases, this may lead to catching a cold, triggered by the cold air, which is caused by viral infections. Currently, there is no specifically effective medication to treat it. Generally, treatment involves symptom-relief medications, such as antipyretic analgesics, compound cold medicines, and various traditional Chinese medicines. Besides medication, it is important to rest, avoid getting chilled, drink plenty of water, quit smoking, and ensure room ventilation to aid the recovery from a cold. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
58sec home-news-image

What is the difference between a stomach cold and a common cold?

Gastrointestinal flu and common cold have certain differences. The so-called gastrointestinal flu, clinically, often involves some viruses infecting the respiratory tract, which causes patients to have not only upper respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, fever, and throat itchiness. These patients will also experience gastrointestinal discomforts like nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and a decrease in appetite. These symptoms indicate gastrointestinal flu. On the other hand, patients with a common cold typically exhibit only upper respiratory symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, throat itchiness, and coughing. Generally, a common cold does not accompany symptoms like abdominal distension, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
50sec home-news-image

Is having phlegm in a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat cold?

Simple cases of colds accompanied by coughing phlegm cannot distinguish between cold-induced colds and heat-induced colds. Clinically, patients with heat-induced colds often have yellow phlegm when coughing occurs, and heat-induced colds are more common in summer. Patients will also experience fever, chills, and sore throat among other clinical symptoms. Wind-cold colds clinically manifest with nasal congestion and a runny nose, usually with clear nasal discharge, as well as fever, itchy throat, and dry cough. When patients cough, it is typically characterized by clear phlegm. Therefore, if one simply states that a cold involves phlegm, it is not possible to differentiate between wind-cold cold and wind-heat cold.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
37sec home-news-image

How to reduce fever from a cold?

Fever symptoms caused by a heat cold, the first choice of antipyretic method is to take physical antipyretic measures, such as using a cool towel, ice cap, or ice pack to cold compress the forehead area. One can also choose fever-reducing patches or use alcohol to wipe areas like the palms and soles of the feet to promote metabolism. If the effect is not apparent, one can take antipyretic and analgesic medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever treatment. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
50sec home-news-image

What can you eat when you have a cold?

After catching a cold, it is necessary to eat more fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber. The diet should be light, soft, and easy to digest. Eat more apples, bananas, and kiwis, and consume more carrots and tomatoes in terms of vegetables. Main food items should primarily include grain-based dishes, and meat consumption should be limited. In terms of medication, mainly choose antiviral drugs and fever and pain relieving drugs. If there is a runny nose, sneezing, or tearing, you can choose to take chlorpheniramine maleate tablets to suppress gland secretion and alleviate symptoms, but it may cause adverse reactions such as drowsiness and fatigue. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
35sec home-news-image

The order of cold symptoms

The order of symptoms for a cold is not fixed and varies from person to person. Typical symptoms include clear runny nose, tearing, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, headache, and dizziness. As the condition progresses, it may lead to whole-body muscle soreness and possibly symptoms of hypoxia such as coughing, expectoration, difficulty breathing, and cyanosis of the lips. The discomfort caused by a cold is primarily treated symptomatically in clinical practice. It is also advised to drink plenty of water to promote metabolism.