How to relieve a cold and cough

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on February 26, 2025
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The common cold is caused by typical viruses or bacteria that infect the upper respiratory tract. Following a cold, the airways can become inflamed, leading to the secretion of mucus, consequently causing symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and phlegm production. Currently, many multi-ingredient cold medications on the market not only treat cold symptoms such as runny nose and nasal congestion but also effectively alleviate coughs caused by the cold. For example, medications like Phenol Anisamine Methylamine tablets and Acetaminophen Codeine tablets effectively treat coughs induced by the common cold. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can air conditioning cause coughing?

Air conditioning cold is also a very common factor that triggers the onset of colds. Clinically speaking, an air conditioning cold is typically caused by staying too long in an air-conditioned room during the hot summer, where the temperature is set too low, leading to clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and fever. Even for colds caused by catching a chill, the symptoms can vary in severity among patients, and not all patients will exhibit the same clinical symptoms. Some patients may not show obvious coughing, while others might develop coughing symptoms due to exposure to air conditioning. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the specific circumstances of each patient, as the immune function of each patient varies, leading to different clinical symptoms after catching a chill.

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Written by Long Guan Han
Pulmonology
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What should I do if my cold doesn't get better?

The common cold generally follows a process. Eighty percent of common colds start as viral colds, characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and other catarrhal symptoms. Generally, after three to five days, these catarrhal symptoms gradually disappear, as the virus is self-limiting. If the symptoms do not improve after three to five days and are accompanied by coughing, purulent sputum, and fever, it may have progressed to a bacterial cold, which requires antibiotic treatment. When we commonly refer to a persistent cold, we mainly refer to a cough. Some people might experience a cold for more than ten days, or repeatedly suffer from a dry cough. At this time, it's not that their cold hasn't healed; rather, it's because the respiratory tract has been damaged and needs time to recover. Typically, this kind of irritating dry cough without sputum generally lasts for a while.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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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.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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What water should be boiled for drinking when having a cold with heat symptoms?

Heat colds are one of the very common types of colds seen clinically, often occurring in the hot summer months. Typically, patients with this type of cold exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, and dizziness. During a fever, they may also experience varying degrees of chills. Additionally, they may suffer from sore throat and cough, often producing yellow sputum. For patients with this type of heat cold, it is generally recommended to drink plenty of plain water. They can also appropriately consume beverages like rock sugar pear water, as well as drinks made from fat sea and honeysuckle. If the patient exhibits different degrees of cough and yellow sputum, drinking monk fruit water could also be beneficial. These can help alleviate some of the patient's clinical discomforts. Overall, it is advisable for patients with a heat cold to drink more plain water, as this tends to be more beneficial.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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What should I do about recurrent colds caused by qi deficiency?

When experiencing repeated colds due to qi deficiency, it is essential to first adjust the diet and timely take medicine to improve and treat the condition. It is also crucial to pay attention to rest, avoid excessive fatigue, stay warm, and not catch cold to better improve the situation. Additionally, soaking in warm water, using a sauna, scraping therapy, or cupping can also be effective in regulating the body and significantly help in alleviating symptoms.