When you have a fever and cold, you want the fastest relief possible. The common cold is a viral infection, which means that you can’t take a medication that will attack the cold itself. However, you can use remedies to help lower your fever and ease the symptoms of the cold.
Function
When you have a fever and cold, you don’t feel well enough to go about your day. You may have to miss work or school, or if you are able to attend, your performance won’t be at its best. Fever and cold remedies suppress the symptoms of your cold, allowing you to complete your day almost as you normally would. A typical cold can last more than a week, so these remedies are often necessary.
Types
Over-the-counter medications are probably the most popular remedy for fevers and colds. You can purchase a medication that is designed to address your specific symptoms, such as a cough, stuffy nose or headache. You should also try to get more fluids, especially water, which can keep you hydrated. Salt water can also be an effective remedy–you can gargle it if you have a sore or scratchy throat or use it to rinse your nasal passages if you have a stuffy nose or sinus infection.
Time Frame
Your cold may last a week or more, but the cold remedies you use can have an almost instant effect. Over-the-counter medications can take several minutes to start working, but salt water or a cup of tea can ease your symptoms immediately.
Benefits
There’s no medicine that can fix your cold, so you have no choice but to simply wait it out. Fortunately, cold remedies can help you to feel better while you wait for the cold to work its way through your system.
Considerations
Different remedies work better with different people. You may have to experiment before finding the remedy that works best for you. Though remedies may make you feel better, you should remember that the cold is still present. If you stop taking the remedy, you may start to experience symptoms again.
Warning
You should not give over-the-counter cold remedies to young children unless under the direction of your doctor.
Photo Credit
- sick woman image by forca from Fotolia.com
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