How to relieve a cold and cough?

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on May 03, 2025
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Coughs associated with the common cold are mainly related to symptoms of the cold itself, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. These secretions can irritate our throat, causing a cough. Additionally, the cold virus can infect our throat, leading to irritation and coughing. Therefore, for cold-related coughs, taking anti-inflammatory cold medicines can be effective. Over-the-counter cold medicines, including ingredients like phenylephrine, diphenhydramine, and chlorpheniramine, have a good therapeutic effect on colds. Thus, taking a compound cold medicine is advisable. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, and self-medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is it good to run and sweat when you have a cold caused by wind-cold?

Patients with a cold caused by exposure to cold and wind are advised to rest as much as possible and avoid running and sweating, as this could lead to catching a chill and potentially worsening the cold. If you are indoors, running and sweating can be okay, but make sure not to expose yourself to drafts afterwards. It's best to sit down and rest to ease the sweating before resuming activities. If the condition is severe, medication can be taken for effective improvement. Also, avoid consuming stimulating, greasy, or cold foods in your diet; instead, drink plenty of water and urinate frequently to help effectively improve your condition.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Can babies take medicine when they have a cold?

Babies can certainly take medicine when they have a cold. However, if the symptoms are mild and the general condition is good, and the baby can eat and sleep well, it might not be necessary to medicate. It's important to pay close attention and there might be a possibility of natural recovery without medication. If the symptoms of the cold are severe, it is necessary to take medicine, because if it is not controlled in time, it may lead to new infections. For example, a secondary bacterial infection could develop, and there is also a possibility that a cold in the upper respiratory tract could progress to the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia, which poses a significant risk. When choosing medications, we generally need to opt for those safe for infants, and avoid any medications contraindicated for infants. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to treat a viral cold

How to treat viral colds depends on whether it is an epidemic flu or a common cold. If it is just a common viral cold, special treatment is generally not needed. Pay attention to rest, ensure sufficient good sleep and appropriate indoor temperature and humidity. By drinking more boiled water and eating more vegetables, you can naturally recover. If it is epidemic flu, you can choose to take antipyretic analgesics and antiviral drugs to relieve symptoms. You can take Qingkailing, combined with acetaminophen, vitamin C, Yinqiao tablets, and other medications. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Liao Bin
Pulmonology
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Can you eat chestnuts during a cold?

During a cold, it is advisable to eat fewer chestnuts. Although chestnuts are rich in proteins, vitamins, and carbohydrates, and can provide the necessary substances for the body, especially high in carbohydrates, providing the body's energy, it is important to note that chestnuts are warm in nature. Eating too many during a cold can possibly induce symptoms of 'internal heat', leading even to sore throats, which is not conducive to alleviating the condition. Furthermore, during a cold, the patient’s digestive function generally declines, particularly in those with gastroenteric colds, who may also experience significant nausea, abdominal bloating and pain, diarrhea, etc. Consuming too many chestnuts at this time can potentially cause an increase in abdominal symptoms like bloating and nausea, which are not conducive to recovery and might worsen the patient's appetite. Therefore, during a cold, it is recommended to avoid spicy, stimulating, and hard-to-digest foods.

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Written by Zhang Lu
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What department should a pregnant woman visit if she has a cold?

During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman catches a cold, she should visit the hospital promptly. The departments she needs to consult include the following: Firstly, she needs to visit the obstetrics department. The purpose of visiting obstetrics is not to treat the cold, but to assess whether the fetus has been affected by the cold and to evaluate the safety of the medications used for treating the cold. Secondly, she should consult the department of respiratory medicine. A cold falls under the purview of respiratory diseases, and a respiratory doctor should be consulted to determine whether medication is necessary. If it is a mild cold, medication is generally not required. However, for a severe cold, medication to reduce fever or antiviral drugs may be used, but these must be discussed with the obstetrician before use.