Which department should I go to if I have a cold during pregnancy?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on January 26, 2025
00:00
00:00

When pregnant and catching a cold, one should visit the gynecology department or the respiratory department for treatment. During a cold, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and rest more. Medication during pregnancy needs to be cautious to avoid arbitrary use, especially of hormones and antiviral drugs. Medication should be decided under the guidance of a doctor, based on specific symptoms, timing of pregnancy, and related examinations. Generally, it is possible to take vitamin preparations or traditional Chinese medicine aimed at symptomatic treatment. In the mid to late stages of pregnancy, there are generally more options for choosing medications compared to the early stages, where primarily vitamin supplements are selected to help restore body functions.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
50sec home-news-image

Do cold medicines harm the kidneys?

Currently, for cold medicines, they can be divided into Western medicine and Chinese patent medicine available on the market. In Western medicine, most contain a compound called acetaminophen. Whether these medicines cause kidney damage mainly depends on the individual's kidney health condition. For elderly people or patients with conditions like hypertension or diabetes, medicines containing acetaminophen can cause kidney damage. However, it is generally not the case with young people. As for Chinese patent medicine, the ingredients in most of these cold remedies are not metabolized through the kidneys, and generally do not harm the kidneys. Thus, for older individuals or patients with poor kidney health, it is best to choose Chinese patent medicine for treating a cold. (Please take medications under the guidance of a professional physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
35sec home-news-image

What is lung-heat cold?

For those experiencing a cold due to lung heat, the main symptoms include excessive phlegm, sore throat, and a runny nose. It is essential to address this condition promptly. Improvements can be made through dietary changes, such as consuming foods that reduce lung heat. It is best to take treatment medication promptly for effective relief and improvement. Additionally, it is crucial to avoid excessive fatigue and refrain from consuming too cold or irritating foods. A lighter diet, including more celery and tomatoes, is recommended.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Xiao Sheng
Pulmonology
47sec home-news-image

What fruits should not be eaten when having a cold?

Theoretically, most fruits can be consumed during a cold, as there is no necessary connection between having a cold and consuming any specific fruit. Eating fruits will not exacerbate the clinical symptoms of a cold nor affect its outcome. Since a cold is a self-limiting disease caused by a viral infection, it might present with symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Moreover, most fruits contain an abundance of water and vitamins, which provide beneficial replenishments for the losses caused by the cold. However, if it is a gastroenteric type of cold, it is generally advisable to avoid raw and cold fruits, such as those high in amino acids or those that can easily cause diarrhea, common examples being grapes and bananas.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gan Jun
Endocrinology
51sec home-news-image

Can high blood sugar cause a cold?

For patients with high blood sugar who have had the condition for a long time and exhibit poor blood sugar control, such diabetic individuals are prone to catching colds. This is because prolonged high blood sugar can cause a decline in the body's immune capacity, leading to insufficient ability to resist viruses and bacteria, thus making them susceptible to the common cold. Therefore, there is some basis to the claim that high blood sugar can lead to colds. For patients with high blood sugar, it is crucial to adhere to the dietary principles for diabetes management, which include consuming a low-sugar, low-fat diet, eating fresh vegetables, and fruits with a low glycemic index. It is also recommended that these patients regularly engage in physical exercise to enhance their immune system, improve their disease resistance, and reduce the occurrence of colds.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
56sec home-news-image

How to deal with heatstroke, cold, and fever?

In summer, due to the high temperatures, the human body can intake too much heat, leading to weakened immunity and symptoms such as colds and fevers, including sore throat, pain in the throat, runny nose, chills, and feverish symptoms. In such cases, symptomatic treatment can be carried out, starting with controlling the indoor temperature, which should not be too high or too low, and can be in an air-conditioned room, but the room temperature should not be set too low. Also, drink more water and appropriately take some cold medicine for symptomatic treatment. If the body temperature reaches above 38.5°C and physical cooling methods are not controlling it, fever-reducing medications might be needed. It is best to visit a hospital for relevant examinations, such as routine blood tests, liver and kidney function tests, and electrolytes, to rule out serious damage to internal organs caused by heatstroke.