Can you swim with a mild cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on April 09, 2025
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Mild colds in clinical settings, like in patients whose symptoms are not very severe and who do not have a fever, allow for activities like swimming during summer, especially for those suffering from heat-related colds. However, in winter, even with a mild cold, it's advisable not to swim due to the relatively lower temperature of the water in pools compared to normal temperatures. Instead, choosing other forms of exercise to boost the immune system is recommended during the cold winter months. Therefore, for patients with mild colds, it’s also important to assess the type of cold to decide whether swimming is appropriate.

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Pulmonology
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The Principle of Sore Throat from a Cold

A cold generally can cause symptoms of sore throat, due to conditions like pharyngitis or tonsillitis triggered by the cold. Typically, the illness lasts about five to seven days, partly due to a decrease in immune strength, which is somewhat related to the low resistance. During this time, it is important to rest sufficiently, stay hydrated, and avoid excessive fatigue. In severe cases, it may also be necessary to use anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications as well as cold remedies under a doctor's guidance to alleviate symptoms. Furthermore, if a sore throat occurs immediately with a cold, it might indicate chronic pharyngitis; it is advisable to use medications regularly and in the correct dosage under a doctor's guidance to prevent worsening of the condition. Additionally, drinking herbal teas that clear heat and detoxify can also provide some relief.

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How to use moxibustion for wind-heat cold?

Patients with colds caused by wind-cold can choose moxibustion at the Fengchi point, located 1.5 cm lateral to the midline in the depression formed by the occipital bone and cervical spine at the back of the head. The Dazhui point is located on the neck, in the depression below the seventh cervical vertebra, and the Hegu point is located at the tiger's mouth on the back of the hand. Moxibustion uses the warmth of the moxa fire to stimulate the Dazhui, Hegu, and Fengchi points to accelerate local blood circulation, promote cell metabolism, invigorate blood to dissolve stasis, expel wind and disperse cold, accelerate the expulsion of cold from the body, regulate endocrine functions, harmonize qi and blood, improve body functions, and increase the patient's immunity. This can effectively alleviate the patient's cold symptoms caused by wind-cold. It is recommended to keep warm and rest after treatment.

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What medicine to take for a cold and headache?

During a cold with headache, you can appropriately massage the temples to relieve the symptom of headache. If the headache is severe during a cold, then it is necessary to take some pain relief medication to alleviate the symptoms. Usually, you should pay attention to your diet, opting for light meals and avoiding spicy, greasy, cold, and stimulating foods. Also, it is important to keep the diet light and consume more fresh fruits, vegetables, or porridge to enhance your body's resistance and alleviate symptoms. It is advised that if the cold with headache is severe, and accompanied by fever, it might be a viral cold. You can take some antiviral medications coupled with cold relief drugs for treatment to alleviate the symptoms. During treatment, it is essential to actively cooperate with the doctors' treatment, avoid smoking and drinking, drink plenty of water, and rest adequately.

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Sore throat without cold symptoms

Sore throat is a relatively common clinical symptom, with many causes. If the duration is short, it could be due to acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, or acute epiglottitis. If the condition lasts longer or recurs frequently, it may be caused by chronic pharyngitis or chronic tonsillitis. Therefore, after the onset, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology department for diagnosis, where a laryngoscope examination and routine blood tests can be performed to clarify the specific cause, before targeted treatment can be administered. Regular follow-ups are also needed to monitor the treatment effects.

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The difference between wind-heat cold and wind-cold cold

The pathogenic factors of Wind-Heat cold and Wind-Cold cold are different in traditional Chinese medicine. Wind-Heat cold is considered to be caused by the pathogenic factor of wind-heat, whereas Wind-Cold cold is considered to be caused by the pathogenic factor of wind-cold. The symptoms of the two also differ: Wind-Heat cold often involves obvious fever and a less pronounced fear of cold, while Wind-Cold cold definitely includes a sensation of chilliness, which may or may not accompany a fever. Both types involve symptoms of nasal congestion and a runny nose; however, the nasal discharge in Wind-Heat cold is often yellow and turbid, whereas in Wind-Cold cold, it is typically clear. Wind-Heat cold often accompanies a sore throat, whereas a sore throat is rare in cases of Wind-Cold cold. The treatments for the two also differ: Wind-Heat cold is typically treated by resolving the exterior and clearing heat, while Wind-Cold cold is treated by resolving the exterior and expelling cold.