Itchy throat and coughing, is it a wind-heat cold or a wind-cold cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on March 22, 2025
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When patients present with symptoms such as itchy throat and cough in a clinical setting, it is generally difficult to distinguish between a wind-heat cold and a wind-cold cold based solely on these symptoms. Distinguishing between wind-heat and wind-cold colds requires combining other clinical symptoms to accurately differentiate. Typically, patients with wind-heat colds are more common during the hot summers. These patients experience varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, along with fever, chills, sore throat, and often cough up yellow sputum. On the other hand, wind-cold colds tend to occur more often in winter. These patients exhibit varying degrees of itchy throat and cough, nasal congestion, and also experience different degrees of fever, but generally do not have chills. Therefore, it is generally difficult to specifically distinguish the type of cold based on the solitary symptoms of itchy throat and cough in a clinical setting.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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The order of cold symptoms

The order of symptoms for a cold is not fixed and varies from person to person. Typical symptoms include clear runny nose, tearing, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, headache, and dizziness. As the condition progresses, it may lead to whole-body muscle soreness and possibly symptoms of hypoxia such as coughing, expectoration, difficulty breathing, and cyanosis of the lips. The discomfort caused by a cold is primarily treated symptomatically in clinical practice. It is also advised to drink plenty of water to promote metabolism.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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What cold is nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion is the most common clinical symptom of nasal diseases. Various disorders, such as rhinitis, sinusitis, nasal foreign bodies, and even nasal tumors can cause nasal congestion. In terms of colds, clinically it mainly refers to an upper respiratory infection caused by a viral infection. Therefore, nasal congestion alone cannot determine which type of cold it is. The types of colds, in modern medicine, refer to upper respiratory infections. In traditional Chinese medicine, they are divided into colds caused by wind-heat and colds caused by wind-cold. Merely from the symptom of nasal congestion, it is impossible to determine the type of cold. Therefore, in clinical practice, the main focus for treating nasal congestion is symptomatic treatment, which may include the use of medications to constrict the nasal blood vessels and clear the nasal passages. (Please follow the doctor's prescription for medication use.)

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What to drink for a cold with fever?

For heat colds, one should initially drink more mung bean soup, which can act as a heat reliever. Medications like Huoxiang Zhengqi Water can also be taken to alleviate discomfort. Avoid long-term exposure to high temperatures in work and life, and ensure indoor air is well-ventilated and disinfected. Appropriate consumption of green tea, jasmine tea, etc., can also assist in the treatment of heat colds. At the same time, measure body temperature and treat symptoms accordingly based on clinical signs. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Can a cold cause dizziness?

Colds can cause symptoms such as dizziness, as well as possible runny nose, sneezing, dryness in the throat, foreign body sensation, sore and weak limbs, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are common clinical manifestations caused by a cold. Therefore, there is no need to worry too much if dizziness occurs during a cold. Drinking plenty of water, resting, and observing can generally help. Choosing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief medication can also alleviate the symptoms of dizziness. Eating foods rich in vitamin C, avoiding staying up late, and consuming a light, easy-to-digest diet can aid in the recovery from a cold.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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How to treat cold and dizziness during pregnancy?

Due to decreased immunity during pregnancy, women are particularly susceptible to infections from external microbes, leading to respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. The cold can cause symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, which can reduce the amount of oxygen inhaled. As the brain's demand for oxygen cannot be met, this can result in symptoms of dizziness. Since pregnant women cannot use medications due to the development of the fetus within, if dizziness occurs due to a cold during pregnancy, one can inhale some oxygen as a remedy. Additionally, using a hot towel on the nose to improve breathing can also help alleviate symptoms of dizziness.