How long does it take for a cold to heal by itself?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on June 22, 2025
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In clinical practice, colds are often caused by a decrease in the patient's immune function, accidental exposure to cold, or infection by viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens resulting in nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. Typically, colds can be cured within about a week through timely medical treatment. Clinically, about 80% or even more of cold cases are primarily due to viral infections. General mild viral colds belong to self-limiting diseases and can heal by themselves within about a week. Therefore, for cold patients, even if these symptoms appear, patients with relatively good immune functions may not require medical treatment and can recover on their own.

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Written by Wang Xiu Mei
Obstetrics
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What should I do if I catch a cold during the postpartum confinement period?

If a pregnant woman catches a cold and it is not very severe, conservative treatment can be considered. On one hand, medication can be taken under the guidance of an obstetrician. On the other hand, during the early stages of a cold, one can drink more water and keep warm. Maintain good air circulation indoors. If symptoms are severe, oral administration of medicines such as Xiao Chai Hu Granules and Bai Lan Gen Granules can help alleviate the condition. In terms of diet, it should be light and easy to digest. Avoid crowded public places, wear masks when going out, and reduce contact with people who have colds to cut off the source of infection. Once a pregnant woman catches a cold, it is crucial to rest. Do not overwork, drink plenty of water, and avoid certain foods. Seek medical attention in a timely manner and follow the doctor's instructions for medication, without self-medicating.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What should I do if I have a cold, headache, and nasal congestion?

Symptoms such as cold, headache, and nasal congestion should be treated accordingly. It is advisable to drink plenty of water and avoid eating irritating foods. Check your body temperature, and if there are symptoms of fever, you can take aspirin or acetaminophen to treat the fever and headache. For nasal congestion, you can take oral medications that suppress gland secretion, or use some nasal drops locally to relieve the swelling of the nasal mucosa and control the sensation of congestion. Drink plenty of water, rest more, and avoid spicy foods and seafood.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
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Does cold medicine hurt the stomach?

Cold medicines are harmful to the stomach because the drugs used to treat colds mainly involve symptomatic treatment and the selection of antiviral medications for etiological treatment. Colds often come with symptoms like headaches and fever, thus necessitating the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics. The most common adverse reactions to these drugs are gastrointestinal reactions. Therefore, taking cold medicines can easily harm the stomach, especially in patients with indigestion, chronic gastritis, or gastrointestinal ulcers, who may experience more pronounced symptoms. It is recommended to take cold medicines half an hour after eating to reduce their irritative effects on the gastrointestinal tract.

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Written by Wu Xiao Sheng
Pulmonology
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Can Banlangen treat a cold?

Banlangen belongs to the category of Chinese medicine. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, Banlangen has certain effects on treating the common cold, meaning it can be used to treat colds. For example, Banlan根 is most commonly used to treat colds, mainly treating wind-heat type colds, and its effectiveness for colds due to wind-cold or summer dampness is relatively poor or non-existent. However, from the perspective of modern medicine, the common cold is often caused by viral infections of the respiratory system, classified as acute upper respiratory infection, which can cause symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Therefore, a combination of medications is used to improve the clinical symptoms of a cold. Common medications include compound paracetamol and amantadine, Mameimin tablets, etc. Banlangen is generally not used for treatment. (Please follow medical advice when using medication.)

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Do cold medicines affect menstruation?

Cold medicine itself does not affect menstruation, but having a cold can affect your constitution, which can influence your menstrual cycle. Many factors can impact menstruation, such as physical condition, excessive staying up late, fatigue, high stress, or extreme dieting or gaining weight. If your period is delayed, the first thing to consider is whether you might be pregnant, and then consider other factors that might cause the delay. If it is delayed by a week, you must first perform a pregnancy test.