Why do people say that it's not good to drink cold water when you have a cough?
459601
Cold water probably washes away some of the lubrication (phlegm, I guess) from your throat and can make a tickle worse or make a cough drier and more persistent. Something that coats your throat would make a cough go away, and water, as great as it is, does just the opposite.
1115837
No... don't drink hot water... it can really hurt you than help.\nDrink cold water instead... you'll body will burn additional calories warming the water internally after you've drank it.
330387
Well sure! Just know that even though it may seem like a great idea, taking a cold shower after working out as a quick cool-down method can be harmful to your body. The raised body heat coming in contact with the cold water can put your muscles into shock. You'll be at greater risk for strains and other nasty issues like charley horses as soon as you step out! Lukewarm water and your favorite body products should do the trick to wind down after a strenuous workout!
617126
a cold is a virus that goes to your throat. there, it injects it's DNA into your cells, which start producing more viruses. when they are complete, the cell explodes, letting the new virus multiply as well. thier goal is overrun your entire body for survival. the coughing is caused by the fragments of the exploded cells which collect in your throat. your body coughs to expel these particles.
240462
There are mucous membranes in your lungs that produce the "snot" in the same way your saliva glands produce saliva. When you are sick, these membranes are inflammed and irritated and they produce more mucous than usual.\n\nThis is why we cough -- we cough because our body is trying to expel the excessive mucous from inside our lungs. It's that little tickling sensation you get right before you cough or sneeze.
616490
I was talking to an eye, ear, nose, and throat doctor last winter. She says the course of the virus causing cold will normally be about ten to fourteen days. The best further preventative measures can actually keep a person from having the common cold turn into something else.\nAlthough zinc and vitamin C are good, they are absolutely worthless if a person smokes, drinks alcohol, or drinks liquids with caffeine.\nPreventive measures to ease the discomfort and maybe having a prolonged cold, it is important to get as much rest as possible and drink the eight glasses of water you should already be drinking.\nIf people don't take care of the common cold, it could lead to other infections that love a body with lowered resistance. You do not stay away from crowds to keep others from getting a cold; you stay away from crowds to prevent getting further infections that could very well lead to pneumonia or pleurisy; both which are serious.\nFollowing common sense will help you cure the cold quickly. However it still will run its course. As far as vitamin C and zinc, it is OK as long as you do not exceed the daily recommended dosage. If you exceed the dosage, you will be a person with a common cold that has taken too much vitamin C and zinc, which incidentally is not so good for the health.
706510
not sure what you mean?    you would want to take it after any other medications taken with a drink, or after eating or drinking, so it coats your throat,,,,  if you mean resisting giving something to help a cough, it could be because in many illnesses, where you are coughing, it is clearing your lungs, and its best to cough,, if you dont cough, you lungs can fill up with mucus.  though you dont want to cough so much that a sore throat sets you up for throat infections
943916
it's true,but the water can't be too cold.the best is to be between cold and warm,enough cold to refresh ya mouth,and enough warm to not affect ya teeth...
34970
yes it is true u should not drink milk when the cold has left the head area and has moved to the chest.the reason is that when milk breaks down it carries enzymes all over the body including ur lungs there it causes the lungs to create more mucus and therefor prolong the healing process.
216615
It is mucus in the back of your throat, normally when you have a cold. It traps some of the germs in your body.
199219
Whatever ways you may try, please see a doctor if you have fever before embarking on any suggestions you may receive. To get rid of a cough fast, avoid cold drink and also things that will leave remnant along the lining of the throat, like groundnuts, messy fruit drinks like fresh orange(the fibre will stick on the lining of the throat which will make you cough).After every single cough, drink a gulp of water to smoothen the lining and push down whatever is causing the cough especially the phlem or mucus, if you cant spit it out. The phlems is the main thing that make the cough worst. If everytime you cough and there is mucus or phlem, try your best to spit it out.and immediately drink warm water.When you go to bed at night, standby a flask of warm water so that should you cough during sleep, get up and drink some warm water. It helps to bring down the coughing.Another important thing is never sleep with the fan switched on in front of you becos the wind can also make your cough worst., just turn the fan away from you if you need it on.As for the flu, as long as you dont have fever, it should go off in a weeks time, but if you are on medication, take them religiously if you want to get well soon.
108830
i think water even in the upper 60s is safe. did it all of the time as a kid. feels cold but you get used to it and its not so cold as to make you sick.
82212
All three of these are different... Here are my recommendations: \n\nCold: \nAs mentioned above, folklore tells us that we should feed a cold. Experience has taught me that the best thing to feed a cold is usually chicken soup. It doesn't have to be homemade - even Campbell's will work - but homemade does seem to be best. Keep up the fluids - drink water, hot tea, ginger ale, anything to keep hydrated. Hot tea seems to work best for me. Take vitamin C, and zinc - you can get tablets at your local pharmacy, or a multivitamin will do in a pinch. Get plenty of rest, too. If your head is stuffed up or you're congested in any way, prop yourself up a little bit on a couple of pillows so that you sleep with your head higher than your chest. Doesn't have to be a lot, just a little will do the trick. And if you can, sleep on your back this way. Don't know why, but it seems to help with the drainage of all that mucus. \n\nFever: \nAgain, referencing the folklore, starve a fever. If you've got a fever, you probably don't feel like eating anyway. Fevers you have to keep a closer eye on. I've always felt like they're more dangerous than a cold. Anyway, again, stay hydrated - drink water, iced tea, ginger ale - you're probably not going to want anything hot. As a rule of thumb, if you get hungry, eat something. Try something light at first to make sure...a piece of dry toast or some crackers. Take your tempreture whenever you think of it to make sure you're not boiling over. If your tempreture gets too high, go to a doctor. \n\nFlu: \nStay warm, and stay close to a bathroom for starters! Stay hydrated - gatorade, tea, water, ginger ale is great. There's something about ginger that helps settle my stomach, so ginger ale and ginger tea (if you like either) are usually good to have around. Get as much rest as you can. Do whatever you can to stay comfortable. Peptobismal has always been a wonder drug in my family... Immodium for diareaha (sp?) is really good, too. Again, chicken soup if you can keep it down. Don't know what it is about that chicken soup, but it does seem to help.
305754
not if you have a cold.
372278
It keeps your body hydrated, especially if you have a fever you may not realize it but you're burning off some body water by sweating (if even just a little bit).\n\nPlus, certain unwanted viruses/bacteria can be gotten rid of if you drink a lot and go to the bathroom. (I was trying not to be gross there)
56217
Rest and plenty of fluids.  There is no cure for the common cold, yet, despite the many claims...\n\nChicken soup not so hot?\nIf people believed all the old wives' tales about catching and preventing colds and flu, they would stock their cupboards with chicken soup all winter and never step out into the cold. But the myths often have no place in scientific reality, so if you wonder whether you should starve a cold and feed a fever (or if you've got it the wrong way around), try this quiz (originally written by the American Lung Association).\n\nMyth: Spending time outside in cold weather can cause a cold or flu.\n\nFact: Exposure to cold weather does not bring on a cold or flu. It can, however, cause pneumonia, which can come about when someone already has the flu. This is the most serious complication of the flu and is more likely to occur in the elderly and people whose immune systems have been weakened by other medical conditions.\n\nMyth: It is possible to catch the flu from a flu shot.\n\nFact: The flu vaccine is made from an inactive virus, so it is impossible to get the flu from it. Some people may be sore where the vaccine is injected and may feel unwell for a couple of days with fever and muscle aches. Anyone who is acutely ill with fever or is allergic to egg or another component of the vaccine should not get the flu shot.\n\nMyth: An upset stomach is a symptom of the flu.\n\nFact: Stomach distress is rarely a symptom of the flu. Other viruses, bacteria and food poisoning are more common causes of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.\n\nMyth: Large doses of vitamin C can prevent colds and cure them quickly.\n\nFact: This is not proven, although consuming the daily requirement of vitamin C is good for overall health.\n\nMyth: Herbal treatments such as echinacea and zinc will cure a cold quickly.\n\nFact: To date, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that either can cure or prevent a cold. The best way to avoid a cold is to avoid close contact with others who have it, wash hands frequently and avoid eye and nose rubbing.\n\nMyth: A bowl of chicken soup and hot toddies can help cure a cold.\n\nFact: Chicken soup has no power to cure a cold. However, hot liquids can soothe a scratchy throat or a cough. Hot toddies should also be avoided during a cold. Alcoholic beverages can increase the body's chance of dehydration, and therefore make symptoms worse.\n\nMyth: It is best to starve a cold and feed a fever.\n\nFact: Neither of these is a good remedy. When fighting a cold or fever, the body needs
165692
I'm no doctor but I have read up on this a bit and I think it dosen't effect your medication but it does shut down your immune system. SO it may help you r cough but leaves you susceptable to catching other colds or viruses in the air.