What are the differences between a hot cold and a cold cold?

Written by Guo Xiao Yun
Pulmonology
Updated on January 08, 2025
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The difference between a hot cold and a cold cold mainly lies in the causes and symptoms. If a cold is mainly caused by the invasion of wind-heat evil into the body, it is clinically characterized by yellow urine, coughing up purulent sputum accompanied by high fever, headache, and sore throat discomfort. On the other hand, a cold cold is primarily caused by the invasion of wind-cold evil into the body, and it is clinically characterized by white, thin sputum, and symptoms such as chills, cold limbs, dizziness, and fatigue. Whether it is a hot cold or a cold cold, from the perspective of Western medicine, most are caused by viral infections. Therefore, taking some anti-cold medication or some traditional Chinese medicines can improve symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness.

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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.

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What should a baby eat when they have a cold?

During a cold, both babies and adults generally prefer liquid food over solid food. Babies who haven't started on solid food should drink as much milk as possible. For those who are beginning to eat solid foods, in addition to drinking more milk, you can also appropriately increase their intake of plain water and rice porridge. Older children, besides the aforementioned, can also appropriately consume some light soups and can increase their intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. These can be made into vegetable purees or juiced according to the baby's needs. Babies are more prone to dehydration when they have a cold or fever. To prevent dehydration or treat mild dehydration, fresh apple juice can be used as a substitute. For moderate or severe dehydration, seek medical attention promptly; the doctor will take necessary measures for rehydration.

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Gastrointestinal cold with fever for a few days

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Is having phlegm in a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat cold?

Simple cases of colds accompanied by coughing phlegm cannot distinguish between cold-induced colds and heat-induced colds. Clinically, patients with heat-induced colds often have yellow phlegm when coughing occurs, and heat-induced colds are more common in summer. Patients will also experience fever, chills, and sore throat among other clinical symptoms. Wind-cold colds clinically manifest with nasal congestion and a runny nose, usually with clear nasal discharge, as well as fever, itchy throat, and dry cough. When patients cough, it is typically characterized by clear phlegm. Therefore, if one simply states that a cold involves phlegm, it is not possible to differentiate between wind-cold cold and wind-heat cold.