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Our Top 3 Tips for Beating the Common Cold

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Family and friends gather for holiday parties, concerts, and festivities and take part in the anticipated social activities of the season. As expected, the spread of germs and viruses is at an all-time high as people mingle and interact. It almost comes as no surprise that you wake up the next morning with the common cold. Most people get colds in the winter and spring although it is possible to get a cold any time of the year. After 7-10 days one usually recovers from symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, watery eyes, headache and/or coughing.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for a cold, but you can relieve your symptoms with our top 3 tips:

  1. Rest – Make sure to get plenty of rest while recovering from a cold.
  2. Fluids – Fluids are important to combat a cold, make sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
  3. Medicate – Over-the-counter medications can help relieve symptoms but will not make your cold go away faster. Always read the label and use medications as directed.

Some colds can be severe and even dangerous. You should call your doctor if you or your child has one or more of these conditions: a temperature higher than 100.4° F, symptoms that last more than 10 days, or symptoms that are severe or unusual. If your child is younger than 3 months of age and has a fever, you should always call your doctor right away.

Remember that in most cases of respiratory illness, antibiotics are unnecessary, and they may make it harder for your body to fight future bacterial infections if you take them unnecessarily.  You should always consult your healthcare provider to ensure appropriate diagnosis and treatment.