We've all experienced the misery of the common cold. Every winter, most of us suffer at least one bad bout with the dreaded common cold, which may send us to bed for a few days, or haunt us for a few weeks. When it comes to cold prevention, it can be difficult, as you're not dealing with just one virus, but hundreds.
“The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by one of more than 200 cold viruses out there,” says Dr. Stockenstrom, a physician and HealthChoicesFirst.com partner.
Common Cold Symptoms
The most common symptoms are sore throat, congestion, sneezing, headache and cough. Depending on the severity of the virus, you may also experience fever, aches and pains, and chills. The common cold is most contagious during the first two to four days after the initial cold symptoms appear. The common cold may remain contagious for up to three weeks, so if someone around you is experiencing cold symptoms, steer clear!
Common Cold Treatment
The drugstore shelves are lined with numerous cold treatments – everything from cough drops to heating pads. However, don't head to your local physician expecting to get a prescription for medicine to cure the common cold.
“The treatment for the common cold is purely symptomatic,” says Stockenstrom. “In other words, antibiotics do not play a role here at all.”
If you have caught the dreaded common cold, your best bet is to speak to your local pharmacist.
“Your pharmacist can determine which product is the correct one for you, and the pharmacist can then subsequently direct you towards your doctor if he thinks that you need to see a physician,” says Dr. Stockenstrom.
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