The Simplest Ways To Get Rid Of The Common Cold Fast!

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

The common cold. There have been cures for many illnesses throughout the years, some simple, some complex, but the common cold continues to be an enigma in the medical field. Not only does there tend to still be no cure for it, the jury is out as to exactly what does and doesn’t work in helping provide the fastest relief.

The symptoms of a cold start out slowly, and depending on what remedies you try, the length of it will run from a few days to a few weeks. You may be lucky enough to catch it right at the beginning, or you will have the never-ending cold from hell. You may begin to experience a scratchy throat, a runny nose, and an all-around achy feeling. With no energy to spare, no stomach or taste for food of any kind, and a general feeling of misery, your cold has reached full swing.

Everyone has their favorite cure that they put into place at the first signs of an impending cold. Some work and some don’t. Here are all of the best ways to take control of your cold so you can send it on its way as quickly as possible.

 

Tried and true – the best of the best

  • Lots and lots of rest. Sleep is your friend, and it gives your body the chance to relax and focus completely on the illness at hand. For those of you who think your office will not be able to continue to run successfully without you, drink a big fat glass of reality and get yourself back under the covers. Showing up to work while you are sick is selfish and just exposes everyone in the office to your germs.
  • Get ready to float. To say you need to drink plenty of fluids is an understatement — yet it is one of the easiest things you can do to ensure your cold runs right through you. Water, juice, and tea are some of the best liquids you can keep close by at all times.
  • Never underestimate the power of chicken soup. The benefits of chicken soup are twofold: It adds to your hydration, and it provides at least some nutritional value so that your blood sugar doesn’t dip, and your body is able to keep up its strength.
  • Create a steamy environment. You can either create a steam bath by turning your shower on full blast and letting the hot water create a thick steam, or you can boil water in a big pot, put a towel over your head, and inhale as much of the steam as you can without burning yourself. Either way, the warm, humid environment will help to loosen mucous and begin to clear your sinuses, giving you some quick relief.
  • Keep more germs from joining the party. Using a hand sanitizer, gargling with a mouthwash known for killing germs, and spraying a disinfectant in your room will help to keep your germ population under control. If you can, wash your bedding and air out your room occasionally to help give yourself a clean slate.

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Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

You’ve got nothing to lose here!

  • Check out the best over-the-counter medications. Whether it is a simple aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen, try the one you believe will help you. Ask around, and find out what friends and family members have used when they were sick.
  • Vitamin C. Many people swear that if they increase the amount of vitamin C they take at the first sign of a cold, they are able to shake it within a few days.
  • Try a prescription from your doctor. If you have a good relationship with your physician, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying a prescription where you take just a few doses for a couple of days. Sometimes these medications are able to knock the cold right out of you with a minimum amount of down time.
  • Vicks VapoRub. Many people remember when they were younger, Vicks VapoRub was used in a humidifier as well as a soothing salve your mom rubbed on your chest and under your nose. The ingredients that made up this popular medication included camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil, which serves as a cough suppressant as well as a topical analgesic. This was actually a soothing remedy, and by the time you could smell the elixir, you knew your cold was going away.

There are many homemade remedies you can find online. The main problem is that when you don’t feel well, the last thing you want to do is go to the store to find some of the ingredients you may not have on hand — never mind having to put the concoction together.

 

READ ALSO: Cold & Flu Remedies: What’s True And What’s Fiction Infographic

 

Get your rest and if you feel you have to take some kind of action, boil some water, and enjoy some hot tea with lemon and honey. Put your cell phone on mute, draw the curtains in your room, and tuck yourself into a cool, cozy bed. The sooner you give your body enough time to recover and recharge, the sooner you will be back to your regular routine.

References:

www.mayoclinic.org

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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