Is a cold in the summer always a wind-heat cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on May 09, 2025
00:00
00:00

Colds are also common in summer, and typically, conditions like wind-heat colds are more frequent during this season. However, not all summer colds are wind-heat colds; some patients may catch a cold due to prolonged exposure to air conditioning or getting caught in the rain, both of which can lead to colds in the summer. For such colds, they are generally more likely to be cold in nature, so not all summer cold patients necessarily have wind-heat colds. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis should be conducted based on each patient's specific circumstances. For a typical summer cold, if it is a wind-heat cold, the patient usually experiences fever, headaches, nasal congestion, and runny nose, with the discharge often being yellow. They also experience sore throat and cough, usually coughing up yellow phlegm, which is commonly considered in clinical practice to be due to wind-heat cold.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
45sec home-news-image

Where to massage for nasal congestion due to a cold to clear the airways?

For symptoms of nasal congestion due to a cold, you can relieve nasal breathing by massaging specific points such as the Yingxiang acupoints on both sides, the Zusanli, and the mandibular points, all of which have certain effects and therapeutic benefits. At the same time, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of indoor air, drink plenty of water, avoid exposure to dust, smoke, and other irritating chemicals, and eat more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C to promote the repair of tissue mucosa and relieve symptoms of nasal congestion. Measuring your body temperature twice a day can also help with the recovery from the illness.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
1min 32sec home-news-image

How to relieve cold, nasal congestion, and chest tightness?

Patients like those with a common cold are often seen in populations with weakened immune systems. They may develop various symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing due to carelessness in exposure to cold, and infection by viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens. Additionally, if patients already suffer from bronchial asthma, infections by viruses or bacteria can trigger an asthma attack at any time. Therefore, when such patients experience symptoms like nasal congestion and runny nose, they may also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath. To alleviate these symptoms, it is important first to identify the causative factor of the chest tightness and shortness of breath. If it is due to a cold leading to an episode of chronic bronchitis, then the chest tightness and shortness of breath can be managed by timely administering anti-infective, cough-suppressing, expectorant, and antiviral medications. Once the symptoms of the upper respiratory tract infection are effectively controlled, medications that relieve bronchospasm can be appropriately used to ease the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Xiao Sheng
Pulmonology
47sec home-news-image

What fruits should not be eaten when having a cold?

Theoretically, most fruits can be consumed during a cold, as there is no necessary connection between having a cold and consuming any specific fruit. Eating fruits will not exacerbate the clinical symptoms of a cold nor affect its outcome. Since a cold is a self-limiting disease caused by a viral infection, it might present with symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Moreover, most fruits contain an abundance of water and vitamins, which provide beneficial replenishments for the losses caused by the cold. However, if it is a gastroenteric type of cold, it is generally advisable to avoid raw and cold fruits, such as those high in amino acids or those that can easily cause diarrhea, common examples being grapes and bananas.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
1min 2sec home-news-image

What are wind-cold common cold and wind-heat common cold?

Wind-cold colds are primarily caused by exposure to wind and cold air, typically presenting symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, or coughing up white phlegm. Wind-heat colds, on the other hand, are caused by heat and typically manifest symptoms like headaches, fever, coughing up yellow phlegm, and sore, swollen throat. It is advisable to differentiate between these two types of colds. Both wind-cold and wind-heat colds require treatment under a doctor's guidance, using appropriate anti-cold medicine. For wind-cold colds, anti-inflammatory medicines can be used. For wind-heat colds, medicines that clear heat, detoxify, and reduce inflammation can be employed to alleviate symptoms. Regular physical exercise, which strengthens the constitution and enhances resistance, is recommended to help alleviate symptoms of a cold and facilitate recovery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
37sec home-news-image

How to reduce fever from a cold?

Fever symptoms caused by a heat cold, the first choice of antipyretic method is to take physical antipyretic measures, such as using a cool towel, ice cap, or ice pack to cold compress the forehead area. One can also choose fever-reducing patches or use alcohol to wipe areas like the palms and soles of the feet to promote metabolism. If the effect is not apparent, one can take antipyretic and analgesic medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever treatment. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.