What to do if you have a cold and a headache?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on May 19, 2025
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After catching a cold, symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and fever may occur, and many patients also experience headaches. What should be done about headaches after a cold? First, it is important to rest, ensure sufficient sleep, drink plenty of water, and keep the room well-ventilated to aid in recovery. Additionally, symptomatic treatment with medications might be used, such as antipyretic analgesics, multi-symptom cold remedies, and corresponding traditional Chinese medicines. These medications can help alleviate headache symptoms.

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The symptoms of gastroenteritis primarily manifest in two areas: symptoms of an upper respiratory infection and gastrointestinal symptoms. The symptoms of an upper respiratory infection mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, and fever. The main symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract are vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Furthermore, when vomiting and diarrhea are severe, it can lead to body dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, potentially causing symptoms of shock. This might present as general weakness, sweating, irregular heart rate, among other symptoms.

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How to relieve an uncomfortable nose due to a cold?

In terms of treatment, the primary focus should still be on targeting the common cold, with oral cold medications being the most commonly used. If there is a lot of nasal discharge, you might consider using saline solution to rinse the nasal cavity. Furthermore, if there is significant redness and swelling in the nasal cavity, it is advisable to use a nasal spray medication concurrently, which can effectively alleviate nasal symptoms and also aid in the treatment and recovery from the cold, typically within about a week. During a cold, symptoms of nasal discomfort such as nasal congestion and runny nose can occur. Nasal congestion may be intermittent and alternate between the two nostrils, while the nasal discharge may be purulent or clear. Overall, these are relatively common manifestations.

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What is the difference between a hot cold and a cool cold?

Cold from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine is classified into two types: Wind-Heat Cold and Wind-Cold Cold. A Wind-Heat Cold may present symptoms such as coughing, coughing up yellow phlegm, yellow nasal discharge, sore throat, and fever. In contrast, a Wind-Cold Cold typically manifests as clear nasal discharge, dry cough or coughing up white phlegm, along with aversion to cold, headache, muscle soreness, and possibly a mild fever. Clinically, Wind-Cold Cold and Wind-Heat Cold are distinct and should be diagnosed under the guidance of a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner who can prescribe specific herbal treatments based on the patient’s symptoms. From a Western medicine perspective, symptomatic treatment is generally recommended. However, it is crucial to assess if the patient exhibits symptoms such as purulent phlegm, high fever, or persistently unimproved cold symptoms, which may indicate the need for a hospital visit to investigate potential bacterial infections that might require antimicrobial treatments.

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How many days does it usually take for a fever to subside from a cold?

A cold, if accompanied by a fever, is mostly caused by bacterial or viral infections. Under the guidance of a doctor, active symptomatic treatment can usually reduce the fever within two to three days. It is recommended that during the fever period, one should monitor the body temperature closely. If the temperature exceeds 38.5°C, fever-reducing medication should be taken immediately to achieve the purpose of reducing the fever, to avoid febrile convulsions, especially in infants and young children whose nervous systems are not yet fully developed. If a high fever is not treated promptly, it could likely lead to febrile convulsions and may have a certain impact on the child's health. Therefore, it is advised to take fever-reducing medication in a timely manner. If the body temperature is below 38.5°C, physical cooling methods can be used at this time. Let the baby or the patient drink more water to promote excretion and enhance their resistance. Physical cooling methods should also be used regularly.

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What are the symptoms of a cold due to qi deficiency?

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