8 Home Remedies That Relieve Common Cold Symptoms | Respiratory tract disorders and diseases slideshows | Body & Health Conditions center

Common Cold Can Be Treated At Home

The common cold hits everyone every now and then. And because of this, there are many available ways to cure a common cold in the comfort of our own homes. Symptoms of the common cold include a stuffy nose, an itchy throat, congestion, cough, headache, sneezing, a low-grade fever, and fatigue. There are many different ways in which you can treat cold symptoms without a doctor’s help. These treatments may be done on your own or with someone else’s help if you are experiencing a bad cold. Most of the items you will need are found in your kitchen.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of William Brawley by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/williambrawley/4195919691/
www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/cold-remedies
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/cold-comfort
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000466.htm
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-colds.htm

Drink Plenty Of Fluids

Drinking lots of thin and clear fluids such as water, juice, and milk can definitely relieve the symptoms of the common cold. The reason that these fluids are beneficial is that the fluids thin out the secretions that your body makes which includes mucus. The thinner your mucus, the easier it is to find relief. Moreover, drinking lots of fluids is a great way to keep the body hydrated so it can battle against the infection properly. If mom’s around, it’s time to let her cook a whole batch of her famous chicken soup. This way, you can reheat and drink every now and then. It is recommended to start taking fluids right away even when all the symptoms have not shown up. For example, if you have a stuffy nose the whole afternoon, start drinking more fluids right away.

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Inhaling Steam Is Extremely Helpful

Inhaling steam can help in curing the common cold because it relieves nasal congestion. This is why right after a steam session, a person experiencing congestion feels a lot better right away. The passages inside the nose are opened up and secretions are easily drained. A humidifier may be used for this purpose but may be quite expensive. If there is no humidifier around, it is best you take a bowl of boiling water and breathe in the steam through your nose. It helps to place a blanket or towel over your head while doing this. If you feel like the water is burning your nose, just breathe in at a slower pace. You may also take advantage from the moisture of a hot shower with the doors of the bathroom shut.

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Use Saline Nasal Sprays And Blow Your Nose Often

You might not notice it but whenever you have a cold, you sometimes sniff the mucus back in your nose instead of blowing your nose more often. This is probably because blowing your nose may sometimes cause it to become sore and wounded. However, know that it is very important to get all the mucus out of your respiratory system. Choose a kind of tissue paper that is very soft. Make sure not to get the one with a rough texture. To make it even easier, use saline nasal spray that can moisturize your irritated nostrils. Have your spray and tissue handy so that you can do this throughout the day. Remember to discard everything properly so you don’t spread the virus around.

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Stay Warm And Get Rest – Avoid Exertion

When you have a cold, your body is trying to fight viruses and your immune system wants to be in its optimum condition. However, it will be difficult to do this if your body is busy doing other things. This is why it is essential that you get a lot of rest. Your immune system needs all the energy your body can produce to fight your cold and relieve you from its distressing symptoms. Stay as warm as possible. Snuggle up under a thick blanket so that your symptoms don’t get worse. Sleep for most of the day as well.

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Gargle With Warm Salt Water

One of the most irritating symptoms of the common cold is an itchy throat. The best way to relieve yourself is to gargle with warm salt water. Gargling with salt water will make your throat more moist and will provide you with instant relief. It also draws out the excess water in your throat tissue, which reduces the inflammation and flushes out irritants of your throat. Once you feel the symptoms develop, don’t wait until your throat becomes super itchy. Gargling as early as possible can also help in flushing out viruses and bacteria that could make your condition worse.

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Drink Hot Liquids – Avoid Cold Water

Drink plenty of warm liquids to feel better and speed up your healing time. Hot liquids are better because they have a soothing effect on different systems of the body, especially the respiratory system. In addition to this, the steam from the hot liquids can also help in relieving nasal congestion. This is best for those who experience colds and are unable to breathe properly because of a congested nose. Any liquid will do, but it is best to make one that is healthy to help your immune system as well. Herbal tea is the number one choice when it comes to colds. Squeeze in some lemon as well and add a little bit of honey to make it taste better. Drink lots of warm soups as well.

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Sleep With An Extra Pillow Under Your Head

A congested nose is very disturbing and it may be difficult to sleep with it. Adding an extra pillow to elevate your head a little bit helps in relieving congested nasal passages. If you don’t like the feeling of having too many pillows, you can elevate your mattress by placing the pillows under it instead of under your head. This setup is similar to that of the setup in a hospital bed. If your breathing problem is really bad, then you can try to sleep while seating down with a pillow in your back. A nap will immediately give you the boost of energy you need. After that you can get enough energy to cope with your illness.

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Apply Hot Packs Around Your Congested Sinuses

Some may find it very easy to relieve a congested nose or sinus. However, others may find this a challenge because of heavy mucus production. If steaming and inhaling does not work for you, you can try an alternative. Apply hot packs around your congested sinus. There are hot packs you can purchase over-the-counter at drug stores or you can just make on your own. Take a wet face towel or cloth and heat it in the microwave. If it heats up too much, let it cool for a while before placing it over your sinus. Repeat this as many times as you can until you feel relieved and then repeat it as needed.

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When To Call The Doctor

Though colds are expected to go away after a week or so, there are still some cases where you will need the help of a doctor. If your symptoms include a fever and sore throat without mucus, you might consider making an appointment with your doctor. If you feel a lot of tightness in your chest it may be more serious than a cold. If you develop wheezing sounds in your breathing like the one in asthma patients or if there is persistent pain in your Eustachian tube, the tube that connects the ear to the throat, you may need a doctor to determine what is wrong. If you have facial pain and yellow drainage from your nose, you need to call your doctor because these symptoms can be the result of some severe illnesses.