What should I do if I have body aches and a cold?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on May 04, 2025
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Patients with a cold may experience widespread body aches, as colds lead to the release of inflammatory mediators, which cause these aches. To treat this condition, one can first use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain, while also treating the cold. If the patient has influenza, antiviral drugs can be used during the acute phase of the illness, followed by medications that improve symptoms, such as antihistamines. Additionally, if there is a bacterial infection, antibiotics can be utilized. It is also important to rest, drink plenty of water, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and maintain a light diet. Colds generally have a certain self-limiting nature, and most can effectively recover within one to two weeks. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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What are the symptoms of a cold in infants?

Symptoms of a cold in infants generally include less energy and spirit than usual and varying degrees of reduced appetite. Depending on the type of cold, other symptoms may differ. If the cold is caused by a respiratory virus infection, common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, phlegm, and sometimes wheezing. Severe cases may experience shortness of breath. If it's a cold caused by a gastrointestinal virus infection, typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. The severity of the cold and the source of the infection can also lead to varying degrees of fever.

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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.)

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Have had a cold and headache for several days.

Generally, during a cold, when experiencing headache or fever, these symptoms are mostly caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It is advised to take anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications or antiviral drugs under the guidance of a doctor. Generally, headache symptoms will be effectively alleviated within two to three days. Additionally, it is important to drink plenty of water to boost metabolism and improve resistance. One can also take some traditional Chinese oral liquids to treat and relieve symptoms. Avoid staying up late, ensure ample sleep, and enhance resistance. Ensure frequent ventilation indoors to maintain fresh and circulating air, with appropriate temperature and humidity. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement vitamins. Also, avoid prolonged use of mobile phones, computers, and televisions. Moreover, prolonged periods of looking down at your phone should be avoided, as this might cause nerve compression and lead to headaches.

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What will happen if you take medicine for wind-heat cold when you have a wind-cold cold?

The treatment principle for colds caused by wind-cold is to use pungent and warm herbs to expel the pathogen through sweating and to disperse wind-cold. The medications for wind-heat colds mainly focus on using pungent and cooling herbs to expel the pathogen, and the treatment principles for the two are completely opposite. If medications for wind-heat cold are taken for a wind-cold cold, it might lead to a worsening of the trapped cold, causing mild fever, more severe headache, and body aches, along with nasal congestion and a runny nose with clear discharge. At this point, it is necessary to stop using the medication for wind-heat colds and switch to medications for wind-cold colds, or, if the condition is severe, seek a face-to-face consultation with a doctor.

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How to physically reduce fever for a cold caused by wind-cold

Patients with wind-cold common cold who have a fever can apply a hot towel to their forehead, use moxibustion, or soak their feet in warm water, all of which can help reduce their temperature effectively. Moreover, in terms of diet, it is essential to avoid greasy and cold foods, as well as carbonated drinks and strong tea. It is best to eat light, easily digestible foods, and drink more jasmine tea or chrysanthemum tea, which can dispel wind and cold, achieving effective improvement. Medication can also be taken to provide timely and rapid treatment.