How do I get over a cold?
155291
Lots of rest, fluids, hot herbal tea for a sore throat, and avoid alcohol and caffeine (dehydrates you).\n\nEveryone has their own quick fix remedy, and what helps my colds go away faster is decaf green tea every day plus a clove of fresh garlic.  Heh, most ppl would prefer garlic pills, but I happen to love garlic anyway.  It's high on antioxidants.\n\nWith my last cold, I also tried zinc tablets.  They helped the sore throat, and they're supposed to help you get better faster.  I feel like they did.\n\nFeel better soon!
675978
Rest, rest and rest some more. Listen to your body - if you want to sleep, the do so. Also, drink a lot. By spending two or three days doing nothing and sleeping when your body tells you to, you will be fully recovered much more quickly than if you try to struggle though. Aspirin or another type of anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen etc...) can also help, but don't let the relief you feel con you into thinking you're better. I know it's boring, but better to be bored for a couple of days than sick for a couple of weeks. There are no magic fixes for a cold/flu. There are plenty of products wanting to take your money - beware.
667499
mix some eucalyptus oil in hot water, pop your head over it and cover with a towel, this will hopefully stop your cold going onto your chest, try and breathe in the fumes for as long as possible. also rub some under your nose as it'll help unblock your nose and rub onto your chest and pillow when you go to bed. i sympathise as I've had 2 colds in 6 weeks.
11192
Zinc tablets or pills and some good sleep :)\n\nCuts the common cold down by over 3 days :)
25692
1.Get rest. 2.drink lots of fluid water or tea is best. 3. chicken soup is great for colds and get some sleeeeeeeeeepppppppppp.
852999
colds are viral and last about 7-14 days in general and there is no cure.\n\ni just had one and i still have a little bit of it hanging on and mine lasted over 2 weeks!!\n\nbest thing to do is just tough it out and treat the symptoms.\n\ndayquil during the day and nyquil at nite works best for me (and sounds like you are already doing that). you can also try these things\n\n-put a warm mist humidifier in your room while you sleep. this wil help keep the air moist which helps loosen nasal and chest congestion and also keeps your nose and throat from drying out, making it easier for you to breathe\n\n-suck on ice cubes or candy for a sore throat\n-drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration (water is best)\n-rest as much as possible-sleep is the best medicine out there\n\nit will take some time but you will start to feel better-trust me!!
878085
This is the age old question, how to get rid of the common cold? I still don't think there is a 'for sure' answer for this but, I'd start with a cold pack, such as, NyQuil or Sudephed Cold etc..  You also need to boost your immune system.   Drink lots of water, of course, and take about 1000 mg of vitamin C with echinacea every four hours.  Try gargling with                \nwarm salt water every hour for your throat.  Good luck with that, and God bless.
778823
colds are caused by viruses, so the only way to get better is to rest.  try to stay home, get lots of sleep, drink lots of fluids like orange juice (the vitamin C will help with your immune system, as your body is healing, it will use more vitamin C than normal, so replenishing is important).  There's also some possible links with zinc, but I never bother.  Nor with any herbal remedies.  chicken soup has been shown to help, although most just suspect that it's the increased intake of fluids, which are warm (for the sinuses).  It won't hurt.  Try to eat enough as well - you need to again replace energy used in the healing process.  Mentholatum or Vicks Vapor rub can help with congestion.\n\nThere are two lines of thought with over the counter medications.  First is that all the mucus and discharge is caused by your body trying to get rid of the virus.  So stopping that completely may not be great.  At the same time, if you don't treat, then you're miserable and can't rest properly.  Addiitonally, you run the risk of the mucus getting into your lungs, where then it can develop further into a respiratory problem - not good if you need to blow your trumpet.  Use whatever you need to alleviate the symptoms, but just don't over treat.\n\nThe reason that you're coughing and have a sore throat is because the mucus is sliding down the back of your throat from your nasal passages.  This is caused by your body's histamine response.  Therefore using an antihistamine should help to decrease mucus production.  A decongestant will help you breath and decrease swelling of the nasal passages.  If it's already gotten into your lungs, you may want to get an expectorant which is supposed to help you cough up the mucus.  Don't waste your time with cough suppressants though.  recent studies have found that the dosage of OTC cough medicines are not enough to truly alleviate coughs.  Don't be afraid to try alternatives as well - if the Tylenol Cold isn't working, try an allergy medication like Claritin-D - which is essentially the same thing - a decongestant and anti-histamine.\n\nHope you feel better
852878
To get a cold, you need to get a version of a cold virus into the nose or eye ducts. Touching your nose is enough if you have touched a virus from something like a door handle.\nWorrying, and stress weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds.\nAn healthy diet, plenty of fruit and veg, and water aids the immune system.\n\nIf somebody sneezes in your presents the best avoidance advise, is to temporarily breath through your mouth.\n\nChristmas is a common time for lots of people to get colds, partly because they are trying to do too much, it becomes stressful, partly because lots of people meet around that time, and cold viruses abound. People are most infectious before they have obvious symptoms.
803265
Chicken soup is one of the best home remedies, it helps hydrate you and helps make your nose run thus getting rid of some congestion.\nOtherwise you can eat and drink anything you want just make sure you get extra fluids so you are really well hydrated.  This helps to thin out the congestion so you can get it out of your sinuses/nose and if it is in your chest it lets you cough it up and get rid of it as well.\nYou don't, repeat DON'T need an antibiotic for a cold so please don't go to your DR and yell and scream until he gives you one. Save them for when you really neet them and they'll work better.
800238
try medicine with zinc in it.....and drink alot of orange juice.....those two things help me get over colds really fast!!!!!!
1112004
Drink lots and lots of fluids, juices are best.\nTake vitamin C and try to sweat, as much as possible.\nIf you do what I recommend, your cold will be gone in 7 days.\nIf you do absolutely nothing, your cold will be gone in a week.\nGood Luck and Feel Better
497991
Only rest and patience seems to help. Despite some doctors will provide antibiotics, it doesn't always help since the common cold is usually a virus. Drink a lot of water to keep from getting dehydrated and it help flush your body. Good Luck.
231461
Start taking a zinc supplement as soon as you realize you are getting a cold.  Drink lots of water and juice with vitamin c.  If you are congested, you can take decongestants in the form of cold pills and drink warm liquids like chicken broth to help break up the mucus.  Make sure you are washing your hands often (20 seconds of lathering and rinse under warm water) and after you blow your nose or cough - if you are constantly blowing you can use some Purell to sanitize your hands, but you should still wash them with good old soap and warm water before you touch your face/eyes/mouth or eat.  Get plenty of rest.  Once you are better, continue to wash your hands often -as this is the best defense against getting sick.  I hope you feel better soon.
800762
probably go to the doctor and get some medicine. My longest cold was probably for 2 and a half weeks.
874046
Wash your hands always and if you know somebody around you has a cold make sure you stay away from them.\nEspecialy at work make sure you don't touch your eyes ears nose or mouth if you have been near or touched door handles, pens, keyboards etc when sick people are in work.\n\nThis works for me, I used to get colds and flu every 2 - 3 months then I started bieng more careful and I had my first cold in 3 years  just 2 weeks ago.\n\nVitamins are not the answer, I eat fruit maybe once a month and I pretty much live off microwave meals, toast, biscuits and takeaways.\n\nOh and don't take drugs, these make it very easy to get a cold in the weeks after taking them.
324581
Basically, you need a time machine because really the only thing to get rid of a cold is time...it has to run its course and that is 3-7 days usually.  But you can treat the symptoms and NyQuil is pretty good at knocking you out so you feel better, get some sleep (which you need) and soon it will be tomorrow and you will probably feel better.  Tylenol is also good for fever and nice long baths feel good and they have stuff to put in your bath or shower to relieve cold symptoms.  Plus get lots of fluids (especially water) Get well soon!