They aren’t going to make you feel better any faster if you have a virus, and they’re not going to help your immune system. But don’t expect to automatically get antibiotics. If you’re struggling to feel better after 10 days, your doctor can help you determine the best treatment options for you. Feeling incredibly sick with no improvement in symptoms.A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, especially one that doesn’t go down with Tylenol or Advil.A cough that lingers for a month or more.If you experience any of these symptoms, it may be time to cash in a few sick days: If your symptoms persist longer than that without any improvement, you may have a more serious infection. When to see your doctorįor most people, cold symptoms will last up to 10 days.
For generalized muscle aches, over the counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen are very helpful and can be alternated. I also recommend a humidifier or steam to help ease chest congestion. Honey (2 tsp every 6 hours) has been shown to be as effective as many over the counter cough suppressants. Stevenson discusses the neti pot treatment for colds.Ĭough is the symptom that tends to linger for the longest time (up to 3-4 weeks). wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Dr.-Stevenson-neti-pot.wav Dr. People with chronic sinus infections can really benefit from this over-the-counter treatment. You literally can see the gunk coming out of your sinuses, so it’s obvious that it’s working. I used a neti pot for the first time last year, and it felt like water going up my nose. You use a little pot of warm water with powder dissolved in it to physically flush mucous out of your sinuses.
Lastly, nasal saline is a safe option for all ages and can be used for any length of time to help cleanse the nasal passages. A nasal steroid spray such as Flonase or fluticasone takes longer to work but helps if you are having post-nasal drip (mucous dripping down the back of your throat). It works by constricting the blood vessels to reduce swelling, but if used for longer than 3 days, it can cause rebound congestion. Afrin (oxymetazoline) offers the fastest relief for nasal congestion. There are three common over-the-counter cold remedies I often recommend: It’s really about focusing on symptom based therapy, meaning that you can treat the cold symptoms that are the most bothersome for you. You can treat your symptoms with over-the-counter products to help you feel better, but it won’t shorten the duration of your illness. The only way to get rid of a common cold is to let it run its course. This means that, unlike bacterial infections, the only way to get rid of a cold is to let it run its course. Unfortunately, the common cold is viral, with rhinovirus the most common culprit. If you’re experiencing these symptoms and fewer than 10 days have passed since you started feeling sick, you’re likely experiencing a common cold and not something worse: But that’s how many colds start, and it’s often nothing to worry about. Many people come see me because they’ve had a sore throat for a day or two. If you have asthma or COPD or if you take steroids for a medical condition, you have an increased risk of complications from the common cold. Regular cold symptomsĪmerican adults typically come down with two to three colds per year. A new Massachusetts law, which went into effect in July 2015, allows workers in companies of 11 employees or more to earn paid sick leave to help ease the financial burden of illness.īut how do you know if you should use your paid sick time? The tips below can help you decide whether you should tough it out at work or take it easy at home. I see many people in my office each week who took the day off to come see me for a common cold. According to Americans suffer millions of cases of the common cold each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Americans suffer millions of cases of the common cold each year. The common cold is one of the most common reasons for missing work across the United States. But the good news is taking a sick day may not be necessary. You have to miss out on fun with family and friends, and you may feel compelled to stay home from work.
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