How to treat a cold quickly and effectively
So, you’ve caught a cold. Your head is stuffy, your nose is running fast enough to win an Olympic gold medal and you feel rotten all over. What can you do about it?
Luckily, treating common cold symptoms at home is easy and effective. With the right medicines and plenty of rest, you’ll be right as rain in no time - read on to discover how to treat a cold.
The common cold: how long does it last?
Your first thought when in the depths of a common cold is probably ‘when will this end?’ but fear not - the majority of common colds tend to last about ten days for most people.
When it comes to the question of how long does a cold virus last, it can be hard to set an exact timeline, but you’re most likely to experience the worst common cold symptoms in the middle of this, from around day 3 until day 7, though you could experience some symptoms, like fatigue, for ten days or more.
Am I contagious?
Unfortunately, yes. The common cold can easily be passed to others. You’re at your most contagious from day 1 to 7, but if you’re still experiencing symptoms after this period you might still be able to pass it to others.
Make sure to wash your hands regularly if you’re suffering with a cold. Coughing and sneezing into your elbow, or into tissues and binning them immediately, can help prevent spreading your cold to others.
If you’re scared of passing it to somebody vulnerable, it’s best to avoid seeing them until you’re completely symptom-free for a couple of days.
It’s important to note that many of these symptoms are also caused by the COVID-19 virus. If you have any of the symptoms of cold or flu, you should contact the HSE and get tested for Coronavirus. You should also self-isolate until you have a negative result. |
How do I know it’s a common cold and not the flu?
There are a few key differences between flu and common cold symptoms. We’ve gone through all of them in our Cold or Flu guide, so you can check our handy symptom chart if you’re not sure.
What are the main common cold symptoms?
Common cold symptoms usually include the same few culprits, and can affect both adults and kids. Classed as a respiratory virus, the common cold usually affects our lungs and respiratory system.
Common cold symptoms |
| A sore throat is extremely common with a cold virus. If your throat is so sore that you can’t swallow your food, you should consult a doctor in case you have a throat infection. |
| Coughs caused by the common cold are usually fairly mild. Intense, long-lasting coughs may need to be examined by a doctor in case you have a chest infection or other virus. |
| An itchy, runny or stuffed nose (or all three, if you’re unlucky) are all common symptoms of a cold. You might feel the effects of congestion in your entire head. |
| Mild to moderate headaches are a typical symptom of the common cold. |
| With a common cold, chills and aches are to be expected. You might have a slight temperature, but a more severe fever could be a sign that you have the flu. |
It’s important to note that many of these symptoms are also caused by the COVID-19 virus. If you have any of the symptoms of cold or flu, you should contact the HSE and get tested for Coronavirus. You should also self-isolate until you have a negative result. |
How to treat a cold at home
The good news is that treating a cold at home is easy, and the vast majority require no medical attention from a doctor.
The first step when it comes to common cold prevention and treatment is making sure you lead a healthy lifestyle, getting both adequate rest and exercise and eating balanced, nourishing diet.
Most colds can be treated with over the counter medication. You can chat with your pharmacist, or have a chat with one of our pharmacists online, to see which medicines will be the best treatment for your common cold, how to take them and what you can (or can’t) take simultaneously.
I have a cough, how do I treat it?
A cough medicine designed specifically for the type of cough you have will work best to alleviate symptoms. Go for a cough bottle for chesty coughs if you find your cough is phlegmy, and opt for a medicine for dry coughs if your cough feels tickly and produces no phlegm.
How do I get rid of a stuffy nose?
Nasal congestion caused by a common cold can be treated with decongestants and nasal sprays.
You can opt for a simple saline nasal spray, which will help thin out the mucus, or go for one with a decongestant included. It’s best to only use this short term (no more than three days in a row), as you can become reliant on it and it may prolong your congestion.
You can also choose to use a specific decongestant medicine, which will help unblock your nose and sinuses.
My head hurts, what can I take?
The best thing to take for a headache caused by a common cold is over the counter painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
It’s really important that you don’t take any extra painkillers if any of your other cold medicines contain painkillers as part of their ingredients.
How do I treat a sore throat?
Sore throats can be treated with medicated lozenges or throat sprays, which can help numb the pain.
How can I speed up recovery?
In general, there are some steps you can take to help your recovery.
- Get plenty of rest - try to avoid over-exerting yourself while ill
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals
It’s important to note that many of these symptoms are also caused by the COVID-19 virus. If you have any of the symptoms of cold or flu, you should contact the HSE and get tested for Coronavirus. You should also self-isolate until you have a negative result. |
How to treat a cold naturally
Although over the counter medicines generally provide the most effective treatment, there are steps you can take to treat a cold naturally.
Ease congestion and headaches with a eucalyptus oil or Olbas oil - you can put this in an oil diffuser. You can also use warm salt water as a nasal rinse to help thin out mucus. It’s also important to blow your nose regularly.
Salt water can also help a sore throat - dissolve a teaspoon of salt in hot water, allow to cool a little and gargle as a mouthwash to ease throat pain.
Make sure you get a lot of rest, drink plenty of hot drinks and take it easy until you feel better!
What supplements can I take to help a cold?
Unfortunately, there are no supplements that will help your cold symptoms once you’ve already caught one. Vitamin and mineral supplements that help strengthen your immune system can help you avoid catching a cold, and may lessen the severity of your symptoms if you do catch one.
The main immune-strengthening vitamins and minerals to look for in supplements are:
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
How do I avoid catching a cold?
The best way to avoid catching a cold is to avoid people who are showing common cold symptoms.
If you need to look after someone who is sick, then ensuring they cough and sneeze into tissues or their elbow, they dispose of their tissues immediately, and both of you wash your hands regularly should help lessen the chances of catching the virus.
If you’re suffering from common cold symptoms, get in touch with our pharmacists to find out how to treat a cold in the best way for you, or browse our collection of cold and flu aids. Get well soon!
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