What medicine is effective for a cold and cough?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on June 14, 2025
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Coughing after catching a cold is a common symptom. If the cough is caused by the cold itself, it is often due to heightened sensitivity in the airways. In such cases, cough suppressants can be used for symptomatic treatment, along with other medications that reduce airway sensitivity. Coughing from a cold can also be caused by a secondary bacterial infection, which, apart from symptomatic treatment with cough medicine, requires treatment with antibiotics such as penicillins and cephalosporins, under the guidance of a physician. Additionally, it is important to rest, drink plenty of water, and eat a light diet to facilitate recovery.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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How many days can a cold and cough heal by itself?

In general, the common cold usually resolves itself in about seven days. Common symptoms of a cold often include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and coughing, which may be caused by exposure to cold air or getting wet in the rain. It is recommended to stay warm in daily life, and you can also drink some brown sugar ginger tea to dispel the cold inside the body. Additionally, soaking your feet in hot water before bed can help promote the self-healing process of a cold. At the same time, it is important to note that if the symptoms are severe, such as severe coughing, coughing up thick yellow phlegm, or difficulty in expectorating phlegm, it is essential to visit a hospital for an examination. Under the guidance of a doctor, carrying out relevant tests and taking medication according to the test results for targeted treatment is crucial.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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How to distinguish a viral cold from a cold caused by exposure to cold weather

A cold caused by getting chilled can often present the same symptoms as a viral cold. This type of cold refers to a situation where, after exposure to cold, an individual's immune system becomes weakened, allowing pathogens residing in the respiratory tract to proliferate rapidly and thus cause a cold. In many cases, a cold from getting chilled is also viral in nature. Symptoms commonly seen in individuals with colds may include runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and sometimes a mild fever. However, sometimes a cold due to chilling may also lead to infection by other pathogens, such as bacteria, which can present clinically differently from a viral cold. In such cases, patients might not exhibit typical symptoms like clear nasal discharge or sneezing; instead, they might only show nonspecific upper respiratory symptoms. It is also possible for them to experience high fever, obvious sore throat, and swelling of the tonsils, which are signs of acute purulent tonsillitis, a specific type of bacterial cold.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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What foods should you eat when you have a cold or are feeling inflamed?

If you experience symptoms like a cold and heatiness, you can appropriately consume some foods that clear heat and detoxify, and reduce internal heat. For instance, you can appropriately eat some grapefruit, apples, pears, or oranges, and kumquats are also good choices. Additionally, you could eat some vegetables like loofah or bitter gourd and winter melon, which can help clear heat, detoxify, reduce swelling, and promote urination. It is also advisable to consume some loquat, or appropriately eat some bok choy, lettuce, and celery. It is important not to consume nourishing foods that are too rich, such as mango, durian, longan, lychee, and goji berries, as they might worsen the condition. Moreover, remember to drink plenty of water to promote metabolism and enhance your immune system.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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What to do if you catch a cold in early pregnancy?

Catching a cold during early pregnancy is a rather tricky issue, as the viral infection can also affect the child's development. However, how to handle it depends on the symptoms of the cold. If it's just a simple cold, a sore throat, or nasal congestion, then it might be relieved by drinking more water. If symptoms cannot be alleviated with more water and rest, or if there is fever and severe body aches, then it is necessary to seek medical attention. Besides checking for the flu, under the guidance of a doctor, taking some medications is completely fine.

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Written by Wu Shu Jie
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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How to use moxibustion for wind-heat cold?

Patients with colds caused by wind-cold can choose moxibustion at the Fengchi point, located 1.5 cm lateral to the midline in the depression formed by the occipital bone and cervical spine at the back of the head. The Dazhui point is located on the neck, in the depression below the seventh cervical vertebra, and the Hegu point is located at the tiger's mouth on the back of the hand. Moxibustion uses the warmth of the moxa fire to stimulate the Dazhui, Hegu, and Fengchi points to accelerate local blood circulation, promote cell metabolism, invigorate blood to dissolve stasis, expel wind and disperse cold, accelerate the expulsion of cold from the body, regulate endocrine functions, harmonize qi and blood, improve body functions, and increase the patient's immunity. This can effectively alleviate the patient's cold symptoms caused by wind-cold. It is recommended to keep warm and rest after treatment.