Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHead Cold or Something Else?Symptom DurationNatural RemediesCold MedicationsSecondary InfectionsAre You Contagious?Not Getting Better
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Head Cold or Something Else?
Symptom Duration
Natural Remedies
Cold Medications
Secondary Infections
Are You Contagious?
Not Getting Better
You probably know the symptoms: a funny feeling in the back of your throat, a sudden stuffy nose, a cough developing out of nowhere—these can be symptoms of a head cold. Some people use the term “head cold” because their symptoms mainly affect the nose, eyes, and throat. A head cold is another name for thecommon cold.
A head cold can last up to two weeks and can’t be “cured.” It has to run its course as your immune system eliminates the virus. However, medicines and natural remedies can help ease symptoms and make you feel better.
This article discusses the symptoms of a head cold, how to tell if your symptoms indicate a more severe illness, and offers strategies to manage symptoms when you’re under the weather.
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Do I Have a Head Cold, or Something Else?
The symptoms of a head cold are confined to the nose, eyes, and throat and include the following:
Alow-grade fevercan also be a symptom, but most people don’t have fevers with a head cold. In addition, these symptoms can overlap with other conditions, like COVID-19, allergies, or the flu. But how do you know if it’s a head cold or something else?
Viral or Bacterial?
Do I Have a Cold or COVID?
How Long Do Head Cold Symptoms Last?
The typicalduration of head coldsymptoms is about a week, though this can vary. There are three stages of head colds, as follows:
Sometimes, mild symptoms—such as a lingering cough—can last up to three weeks.
How to Naturally Get Over a Head Cold
There is no vaccine or cure for head colds. Your body’simmune system needs to fightoff the virus. However, symptoms can be uncomfortable. Some people like to usenatural remediesto manage their symptoms. Here are some things you can try at home to make yourself feel better:
Treatment Tips for High-Risk PopulationsCold symptoms may be more intense or last longer in older adults and small children. At-home treatment options include:Staying hydrated with water, tea, or soupUsing humidity (a humidifier or a steamy shower) to loosen nasal congestion and a humidifier to keep the air moistGetting plenty of rest and sleep helps your body recover from a cold
Treatment Tips for High-Risk Populations
Cold symptoms may be more intense or last longer in older adults and small children. At-home treatment options include:Staying hydrated with water, tea, or soupUsing humidity (a humidifier or a steamy shower) to loosen nasal congestion and a humidifier to keep the air moistGetting plenty of rest and sleep helps your body recover from a cold
Cold symptoms may be more intense or last longer in older adults and small children. At-home treatment options include:
Head Cold and Sinus Medications
Natural remedies may take the edge off, but sometimes symptoms such as the following are so bothersome that you may need medication to feel more comfortable:
Children’s Cold Medicine
Secondary Infections From a Head Cold
Your sinuses can become swollen and inflamed with a head cold. If this symptom lasts too long, you can develop asinus infection, causing pressure and pain in your head and cheeks. A healthcare provider can do a physical examination to determine if your sinuses are infected. If the cause is bacterial, the provider will prescribe you antibiotics.
Other possible complications of a head cold can include the following:
Are You Contagious With a Head Cold?
You are mostcontagiousand can pass a head cold on to someone else during the first two to three days of a head cold, and remain contagious as long as you have active symptoms, usually around a week. Once you feel better and don’t have any persistent symptoms, such as congestion, a cough, or a runny nose, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll pass your cold on to someone else.
Head Cold Not Getting Better
If your cold symptoms don’t improve after seven to 10 days, you could have an infection or another health condition. Call your healthcare provider if you experience the following:
Summary
People sometimes call the common cold a head cold because the symptoms affect your head. A head cold typically lasts seven to ten days but can last longer in older adults and young kids. Some people rely on home remedies to manage cold symptoms; others prefer medications for comfort and symptom relief. If you have cold symptoms lasting longer than 10 days, or your symptoms worsen over time, call a healthcare provider for additional testing and diagnoses.
11 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.Manage common cold.National Institutes of Health.Is it flu, COVID-19, allergies, or a cold?Harvard Health Publishing.Common cold (viral rhinitis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Passioti M, Maggina P, Megremis S, Papadopoulos NG.The common cold: Potential for future prevention or cure.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014;14(2):413. doi:10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.National Council on Aging.A common-sense guide to the common cold for older adults.Harvard Health Publishing.Don’t let decongestants squeeze your heart.MedlinePlus.Cold and cough medicines.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.Christus Health.Stages of the common cold.
11 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.Manage common cold.National Institutes of Health.Is it flu, COVID-19, allergies, or a cold?Harvard Health Publishing.Common cold (viral rhinitis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Passioti M, Maggina P, Megremis S, Papadopoulos NG.The common cold: Potential for future prevention or cure.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014;14(2):413. doi:10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.National Council on Aging.A common-sense guide to the common cold for older adults.Harvard Health Publishing.Don’t let decongestants squeeze your heart.MedlinePlus.Cold and cough medicines.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.Christus Health.Stages of the common cold.
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.Manage common cold.National Institutes of Health.Is it flu, COVID-19, allergies, or a cold?Harvard Health Publishing.Common cold (viral rhinitis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Passioti M, Maggina P, Megremis S, Papadopoulos NG.The common cold: Potential for future prevention or cure.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014;14(2):413. doi:10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.National Council on Aging.A common-sense guide to the common cold for older adults.Harvard Health Publishing.Don’t let decongestants squeeze your heart.MedlinePlus.Cold and cough medicines.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.Christus Health.Stages of the common cold.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.
National Institutes of Health.Is it flu, COVID-19, allergies, or a cold?
Harvard Health Publishing.Common cold (viral rhinitis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.
Passioti M, Maggina P, Megremis S, Papadopoulos NG.The common cold: Potential for future prevention or cure.Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014;14(2):413. doi:10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5
American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.
National Council on Aging.A common-sense guide to the common cold for older adults.
Harvard Health Publishing.Don’t let decongestants squeeze your heart.
MedlinePlus.Cold and cough medicines.
MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.
Christus Health.Stages of the common cold.
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