How to Lessen the Severity of a Cold

If it's one thing in common that many people have, it's that we hate having colds. That being said, you can usually feel a cold coming on, and just know it'll actually hit you any day now. And there's nothing you can do about it, right? Actually, there are a few things you can do to help lessen the severity of an oncoming cold. Just keep in mind you'd need to start these 'treatments' at the first sign of your cold in order to have them work for you.

Rest
If you feel the beginning symptoms of a cold, take the time to rest up as much as you can. Take that extra nap, or go to bed earlier than usual. Sleep helps to heal the body, and there's no better time like the beginning of a cold to stock up on that healing power.

Now is also the time to avoid exercise or any other strenuous activity. Even if this is just the beginning of your cold, and you feel ok overall, you should still be getting as much rest as possible and not pushing your body too hard while it's trying to fight the infection.

Diet
If you're starting to get a cold, now's the time to take good care of your body. You can help lessen the severity of a cold by eating light when you start feeling symptoms. You may have heard the old addage that you should 'feed a cold', but there's a good reason you shouldn't go overboard. The heavier and more quantitative the foods you eat, the more your body has to work to break them down and digest them. You need every bit of energy your body has right now to help fight your cold, so eating light is the way to go. The less work your body has to do right now, the better it'll fare against your oncoming cold.

You also should up the amount of liquids you're intaking, but make sure the liquids consist of healthy choices like 100% fruit juices, water, or tea. And having some chicken soup (or at least broth) can help greatly, too.

Vitamin C
Although some would argue that it doesn't actually work, there are quite a few believers out there that Vitamin C does help lessen the severity of a cold, if taken in a larger dose. It's recommended by some doctors that taking at least 1000 mg at the onset of symptoms may help your oncoming cold. You could also try taking Emergen-C (found at your local store) to capture your needed dose.

If you're willing to try the Vitamin C method, why not try it naturally instead of with pills? Certain foods that are easy to digest but contain high amounts of the vitamin may be your best bet in this case. These foods include strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and oranges.

Certain drugs
Although some people prefer to go the natural route, there are plenty of over-the-counter medications that may also help lessen the severity of an oncoming cold. You could try a nasal decongestion spray like Afrin, which has a good reptuation amongst it's users. You could also try something like Airborne, which has a great reputation for helping shorten the length of a cold when taken immediately at the first signs of your cold. Sudafed also has a wonderful reputation for being effective in fighting colds and reducing pain. And there's always Tylenol, which is gentle on the stomach and helps alleviate any aches you may be feeling. Either way, if you find yourself questioning any kind of remedy, be sure to ask your doctor about it first.

Ginger
Ginger is said to have alot of healing abilities, especially when presented in the form of tea. Not only does a hot drink like a ginger tea help clear up the sinuses, but ginger is also thought to have an immune-boosting advantage as well. If you really don't like hot teas, however, you could always sip on ginger ale to try to draw out ginger's effect.

Steam shower
If you're starting to feel the aches and sinus pressure of a cold, why not take a nice, hot shower? A hot shower can help relax your body and the steam can help clear your sinuses. It can also relax you and set you up for a good rest afterwards, if sleep is on your agenda.

Things that may not work
There are a few other methods people use to lessen the severity of an oncoming cold, but have not been proven in medical studies or may even be dangerous. For example, echinacea is an herbal supplement that many people claim will help your immune system, but it's never been proven to do so. The same can be said about zinc lozenges - there are claims that it can help lessen the duration of a cold, but taken as directed, it can also cause mouth irritation and upset stomach. Zycam is also another popular choice, but the product's intranasal line is currently under fire because they've been linked to the loss of sense of smell.

As with any 'remedy' you may try, if you're unsure of the remedy's effects, or you question the safety, please make sure to consult your doctor.

Here's to hoping you feel better soon!

Sources:

personal experience

http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html

http://www.afrin.com/

http://www.airbornehealth.com/

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ginger-tea-for-colds.html

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm167065.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/zinc_lozenges_as_a_cold_remedy/article.htm