Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRestFluidsZincSoothing Your ThroatSteam or VaporClearing Your NoseMedicationsSupplementsHow Long Cold Symptoms LastWhen to Seek CareNext in Cold GuideWhat Is a Cold?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Rest
Fluids
Zinc
Soothing Your Throat
Steam or Vapor
Clearing Your Nose
Medications
Supplements
How Long Cold Symptoms Last
When to Seek Care
Next in Cold Guide
There’s no cure for the common cold, but there are self-care steps you can take that may help you or your child get over a cold a little more quickly.Rest, home remedies, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help to relieve symptoms of fever, congestion, and body aches.
While drinking plenty of fluids and taking zinc supplements are steps you can take toward getting better, talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms don’t improve or you think diagnosis and treatment are needed for another cause.
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1. Get Rest and Sleep
Rest is important when you’re fighting a cold. Your immune system can be a powerful tool to attack the viruses that causecolds, but when you are tired or stressed, your body releases hormones that suppress the immune system and can make it less effective.
2. Keep Drinking Fluids
Drink plenty of clear liquids like water, tea, and juice when you have a cold. Watch to see if your urine is more clear or pale yellow, which suggests that you’re hydrated properly.You can also consider foods with high water content, like strawberries and cucumber.
Staying hydrated may help you get over a cold more quickly because it:
What aboutchicken soup? Sipping a hot liquid might give you some symptom relief temporarily, but it won’t cure your illness or shorten its duration.Chicken soup, however, is a source of electrolytes and fluids.
3. Try Zinc
A review of studies onzinc supplementsused to treat the common cold shows that results have been inconsistent.It is possible that zinc, taken as a lozenge or syrup, may slightly shorten the length of a cold, though it won’t make it less severe or necessarily relieve symptoms.
The 2024 review also included results of clinical trials on intranasal zinc sprays or gels. These products can be controversial, as they have been linked to long-lasting loss of the sense of smell (anosmia) in consumers who used them.
4. Soothe Your Throat
Various OTC throat sprays and lozenges can soothe a sore throat. Active ingredients may include pain relievers, menthol or eucalyptus oil, and anesthetics that can numb the throat or have an anti-inflammatory effect. Some contain antiseptics intended to kill germs. Others may have cough suppressants such asdextromethorphan.
Unmedicated hard candy can help to lubricate the throat, which can ease pain, but small candies and throat lozenges are not recommended for children as they can be a choking hazard.
5. Gargle With Warm Salt Water
If you have a sore throat from your cold, gargling with a saltwater solution can help soothe the pain.The salt can reduce inflammation and help get rid of mucus. A small 2019 study found that saltwater used for gargles and nasal sprays or drops improved cold symptoms.
To make the solution, add about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water and let the salt dissolve. Gargle at least a couple of times a day, spitting out the salt water after each gargle. Try not to swallow too much, as it can dehydrate you or possibly raise your blood pressure.
6. Breathe in Steam or Vapor
Steammay help clear the congestion of a cold and relieve sinus pressure, although there are mixed results on the benefits.A humidifier or cool mist vaporizer can also help with congestion.
You can use a vaporizer, inhaler, steam from a running shower, or fill a large bowl with hot water and put a towel over your head. Breathe through your nose and mouth for 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a day. Add hot water as necessary.
Be sure to avoid scalding yourself when you steam. Some experts recommend against using steam, and it is not advisable to let children use steam because of the danger of burns.
7. Clear Your Nose With Saline Nasal Spray or Drops
8. Use OTC Pain and Fever Reducers
If you have a fever, Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) can be effective at bringing it down.They can also help alleviate body aches, andibuprofencan reduce inflammation. Do not give a product containing aspirin to anyone under age 19.
Some people find that one works better than the other, but it’s important to take these medications as directed. Acetaminophen use could affect the liver and possibly the kidneys.Ibuprofen can also harm kidneys.In the short term, however, they can effectively help ease symptoms.
Before Giving Cold Medicine to ChildrenTalk to a healthcare provider before giving a child any nonprescription cold medicine. Some of these have ingredients that are not recommended for children younger than age 6, and others have not been found to be effective in children.Other products, including Vicks-type ointments and nasal saline, may help.
Before Giving Cold Medicine to Children
Talk to a healthcare provider before giving a child any nonprescription cold medicine. Some of these have ingredients that are not recommended for children younger than age 6, and others have not been found to be effective in children.Other products, including Vicks-type ointments and nasal saline, may help.
9. Try Antihistamines
Antihistamines can be used to treat a common cold when they are paired with decongestants or pain relievers in some cold medications. These benefits are most clear in the first few days of illness.
Antihistamines alone, however, do not appear to relieve cough symptoms.Check the labels when buying a cold medicine or cough syrup so that you’re sure of the product ingredients.
10. Relieve a Cough
If natural remedies like honey or herbal cough drops don’t work, you can buy OTC cough medications that address different types of coughs, such as:
You can also buy OTC cough medications that contain both a suppressant and an expectorant. Use cough medicines with care, however, as they can interact with medications like antidepressants and sedatives.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking cough medicine if you have asthma, heart failure, high blood pressure, glaucoma, or an enlarged prostate.
Vitamin Cis often mentioned as a preventive or treatment for a cold, but the evidence doesn’t really support a benefit. Other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)cold remediesfor which there’s little evidence include:
There is some evidence to support the use of the probioticLactobacillus caseiin older adults. Additional studies have shown some promise in usingprobioticsto treat colds in children, too.
How Long Does Common Cold Self-Care Take to Work?
In general, cold symptoms peak in two to three days and then resolve over the next few days.There is no proven way to make your cold go away in 24 hours to two days.
You can transmit a cold to others from a day or two before symptoms appear and for as long as you have symptoms.The period when you are most likely to transmit a cold is when the symptoms are worse, in the first two to three days.Typically, you can expect to:
It is best to stay home and avoid close contact with others, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash your hands often.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Consider seeing a healthcare provider if your symptoms don’t improve within 10 days, or if they include:
Antibiotics cannot be used to treat a cold.Colds can, however, lead to bacterial infections that may need to be treated with antibiotics, or they can worsen an existing medical condition. Some complications of a cold include:
Summary
If your symptoms worsen suddenly or last for more than a few weeks, contact a healthcare provider. Though most colds are not serious, they can lead to infections that need treatment or make symptoms of an underlying health conditions worse.
27 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing and Managing Common Cold.Eccles R.Common cold.Front Allergy. 2023 Jun 22;4:1224988. doi:10.3389/falgy.2023.1224988Belasco R, Edwards T, Munoz AJ, Rayo V, Buono MJ.The Effect of Hydration on Urine Color Objectively Evaluated in CIE Lab* Color Space.Front Nutr. 2020 Oct 26;7:576974. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.576974Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.The importance of staying hydrated: general hydration and virus recovery.MedlinePlus.Chicken soup and sickness.Nault D, Machingo TA, Shipper AG, Antiporta DA, Hamel C, Nourouzpour S,et al.Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 May 9;5(5):CD014914. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014914.pub2Hunter J, Arentz S, Goldenberg J, et al.Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2021;11(11):e047474. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047474University of Queensland.Sore throats suck. Do throat lozenges help at all?Myhealth.Alberta.Ca.Sore throat: Care instructions.NHS.Sore throat.Ramalingam S, Graham C, Dove J, Morrice L, Sheikh A.A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1015. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37703-3DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the Common Cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019 Sep 1;100(5):281-289. PMID: 31478634Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;2017(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage Common Cold.Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns.2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Unitypoint Health.Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen: What to take when.Kanchanasurakit S, Arsu A, Siriplabpla W, Duangjai A, Saokaew S.Acetaminophen use and risk of renal impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2020 Mar 31;39(1):81-92. doi:10.23876/j.krcp.19.106Jaeschke H, Ramachandran A.Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity: Paradigm for Understanding Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Liver Injury.Annu Rev Pathol. 2024 Jan 24;19:453-478. doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-051122-094016National Kidney Foundation.Watch out for Your Kidneys When You Use Medicines for Pain.MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: Natural products for the flu and colds: What does the science say?Lazou Ahrén I, Berggren A, Teixeira C, Martinsson Niskanen T, Larsson N.Evaluation of the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 on aspects of common cold infections in children attending day care: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.Eur J Nutr. 2020 Feb;59(1):409-417. doi:10.1007/s00394-019-02137-8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.Hemilä H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: A meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open. 2017;8(5):2054270417694291. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291Piedmont Healthcare.How long are you contagious when you’re sick?American Academy of Family Physicians.Deciding when to see a doctor.
27 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing and Managing Common Cold.Eccles R.Common cold.Front Allergy. 2023 Jun 22;4:1224988. doi:10.3389/falgy.2023.1224988Belasco R, Edwards T, Munoz AJ, Rayo V, Buono MJ.The Effect of Hydration on Urine Color Objectively Evaluated in CIE Lab* Color Space.Front Nutr. 2020 Oct 26;7:576974. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.576974Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.The importance of staying hydrated: general hydration and virus recovery.MedlinePlus.Chicken soup and sickness.Nault D, Machingo TA, Shipper AG, Antiporta DA, Hamel C, Nourouzpour S,et al.Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 May 9;5(5):CD014914. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014914.pub2Hunter J, Arentz S, Goldenberg J, et al.Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2021;11(11):e047474. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047474University of Queensland.Sore throats suck. Do throat lozenges help at all?Myhealth.Alberta.Ca.Sore throat: Care instructions.NHS.Sore throat.Ramalingam S, Graham C, Dove J, Morrice L, Sheikh A.A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1015. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37703-3DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the Common Cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019 Sep 1;100(5):281-289. PMID: 31478634Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;2017(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage Common Cold.Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns.2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Unitypoint Health.Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen: What to take when.Kanchanasurakit S, Arsu A, Siriplabpla W, Duangjai A, Saokaew S.Acetaminophen use and risk of renal impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2020 Mar 31;39(1):81-92. doi:10.23876/j.krcp.19.106Jaeschke H, Ramachandran A.Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity: Paradigm for Understanding Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Liver Injury.Annu Rev Pathol. 2024 Jan 24;19:453-478. doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-051122-094016National Kidney Foundation.Watch out for Your Kidneys When You Use Medicines for Pain.MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: Natural products for the flu and colds: What does the science say?Lazou Ahrén I, Berggren A, Teixeira C, Martinsson Niskanen T, Larsson N.Evaluation of the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 on aspects of common cold infections in children attending day care: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.Eur J Nutr. 2020 Feb;59(1):409-417. doi:10.1007/s00394-019-02137-8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.Hemilä H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: A meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open. 2017;8(5):2054270417694291. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291Piedmont Healthcare.How long are you contagious when you’re sick?American Academy of Family Physicians.Deciding when to see a doctor.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing and Managing Common Cold.Eccles R.Common cold.Front Allergy. 2023 Jun 22;4:1224988. doi:10.3389/falgy.2023.1224988Belasco R, Edwards T, Munoz AJ, Rayo V, Buono MJ.The Effect of Hydration on Urine Color Objectively Evaluated in CIE Lab* Color Space.Front Nutr. 2020 Oct 26;7:576974. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.576974Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.The importance of staying hydrated: general hydration and virus recovery.MedlinePlus.Chicken soup and sickness.Nault D, Machingo TA, Shipper AG, Antiporta DA, Hamel C, Nourouzpour S,et al.Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 May 9;5(5):CD014914. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014914.pub2Hunter J, Arentz S, Goldenberg J, et al.Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2021;11(11):e047474. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047474University of Queensland.Sore throats suck. Do throat lozenges help at all?Myhealth.Alberta.Ca.Sore throat: Care instructions.NHS.Sore throat.Ramalingam S, Graham C, Dove J, Morrice L, Sheikh A.A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1015. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37703-3DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the Common Cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019 Sep 1;100(5):281-289. PMID: 31478634Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;2017(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage Common Cold.Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns.2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Unitypoint Health.Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen: What to take when.Kanchanasurakit S, Arsu A, Siriplabpla W, Duangjai A, Saokaew S.Acetaminophen use and risk of renal impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2020 Mar 31;39(1):81-92. doi:10.23876/j.krcp.19.106Jaeschke H, Ramachandran A.Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity: Paradigm for Understanding Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Liver Injury.Annu Rev Pathol. 2024 Jan 24;19:453-478. doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-051122-094016National Kidney Foundation.Watch out for Your Kidneys When You Use Medicines for Pain.MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: Natural products for the flu and colds: What does the science say?Lazou Ahrén I, Berggren A, Teixeira C, Martinsson Niskanen T, Larsson N.Evaluation of the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 on aspects of common cold infections in children attending day care: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.Eur J Nutr. 2020 Feb;59(1):409-417. doi:10.1007/s00394-019-02137-8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.Hemilä H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: A meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open. 2017;8(5):2054270417694291. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291Piedmont Healthcare.How long are you contagious when you’re sick?American Academy of Family Physicians.Deciding when to see a doctor.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing and Managing Common Cold.
Eccles R.Common cold.Front Allergy. 2023 Jun 22;4:1224988. doi:10.3389/falgy.2023.1224988
Belasco R, Edwards T, Munoz AJ, Rayo V, Buono MJ.The Effect of Hydration on Urine Color Objectively Evaluated in CIE Lab* Color Space.Front Nutr. 2020 Oct 26;7:576974. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.576974
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.The importance of staying hydrated: general hydration and virus recovery.
MedlinePlus.Chicken soup and sickness.
Nault D, Machingo TA, Shipper AG, Antiporta DA, Hamel C, Nourouzpour S,et al.Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 May 9;5(5):CD014914. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014914.pub2
Hunter J, Arentz S, Goldenberg J, et al.Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ Open. 2021;11(11):e047474. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047474
University of Queensland.Sore throats suck. Do throat lozenges help at all?
Myhealth.Alberta.Ca.Sore throat: Care instructions.
NHS.Sore throat.
Ramalingam S, Graham C, Dove J, Morrice L, Sheikh A.A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1015. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37703-3
DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the Common Cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019 Sep 1;100(5):281-289. PMID: 31478634
Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;2017(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage Common Cold.
Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns.2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010
Unitypoint Health.Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen: What to take when.
Kanchanasurakit S, Arsu A, Siriplabpla W, Duangjai A, Saokaew S.Acetaminophen use and risk of renal impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2020 Mar 31;39(1):81-92. doi:10.23876/j.krcp.19.106
Jaeschke H, Ramachandran A.Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity: Paradigm for Understanding Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Liver Injury.Annu Rev Pathol. 2024 Jan 24;19:453-478. doi:10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-051122-094016
National Kidney Foundation.Watch out for Your Kidneys When You Use Medicines for Pain.
MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.
Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: Natural products for the flu and colds: What does the science say?
Lazou Ahrén I, Berggren A, Teixeira C, Martinsson Niskanen T, Larsson N.Evaluation of the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 on aspects of common cold infections in children attending day care: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.Eur J Nutr. 2020 Feb;59(1):409-417. doi:10.1007/s00394-019-02137-8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About common cold.
Hemilä H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: A meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open. 2017;8(5):2054270417694291. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291
Piedmont Healthcare.How long are you contagious when you’re sick?
American Academy of Family Physicians.Deciding when to see a doctor.
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