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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What should you not eat when you have a cold?

After catching a cold, one should generally avoid eating spicy, greasy, or cold foods such as chili peppers, ice cream, and seafood, and should not drink coffee or strong tea. Avoid greasy foods and try to eat more light fruits and vegetables. It is important to keep warm, avoid catching a cold again, and rest well. If one has a cold due to wind-heat, one should not eat heaty foods, commonly including citrus fruits and lamb. If it is a cold due to wind-cold, then one should avoid cold foods such as beer and watermelon.

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How to deal with a child's cold and low fever

When a child has a mild fever due to a cold, it is often likely caused by a viral infection. In this case, it's important to monitor the child's temperature. Initially, physical methods to reduce fever can be adopted, such as encouraging the child to drink more warm water, giving warm water sponge baths, or bathing in warm water. Additionally, appropriate oral antiviral medications and some traditional Chinese medicines, such as those that clear heat and detoxify, can be administered. It is also vital to observe the child's behavior and check for symptoms like coughing, vomiting, runny nose, or diarrhea.

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Symptoms of a cold in a two-month-old baby

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Can a baby eat pumpkin when they have a cold?

Babies can definitely eat pumpkin during a cold, but here are a few things to note. First, adopt the method of eating small meals frequently to avoid overfeeding and overeating, which can lead to digestion problems or symptoms like diarrhea in babies. Second, pumpkin is rich in vitamins and carotene, it's visually appealing and tastes sweet. It can be used in various ways to nourish the baby, such as cooking it into porridge, blending it with rice or millet into a paste, or making pumpkin cakes. These methods not only enhance the baby’s appetite but also help in providing vitamins, energy, and aid in digestion and bowel movements. Third, during a cold, appropriately adding some tasty or favourite foods for the baby can help speed up the recovery from the illness.

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Is the sore throat caused by a wind-heat cold or a wind-cold cold?

A simple sore throat alone cannot determine whether it is a cold caused by wind-cold or wind-heat. If it is a wind-cold cold, the congestion in the throat is not very obvious, the mouth is not dry, and the tongue coating is somewhat white. If it is a wind-heat cold, the congestion in the throat is obvious, accompanied by redness and swelling. In adults, the main causes are pharyngitis, long-term exposure to dust, or psychological reasons. After catching a cold, it's important to rest more, avoid excessive fatigue, eat more light fruits and vegetables, avoid staying up late, and drink plenty of hot water.