I will tell you how to get rid of a cold quickly. Many people get colds during the season with big temperature differences. Among them, many people suffer from a cold. Your nose runs, the mucus goes down your throat, your nose is stuffy so you breathe through your mouth, your throat is dry, your head hurts, and so on. You may be surprised to know that there are many people who are suffering from this. I will tell you the secret to getting rid of a cold quickly.

1. Knowing the Difference Between a Cold and Allergic Rhinitis

The first thing I want to emphasize is the difference between a cold and allergic rhinitis. A cold is an infection caused by viruses or bacteria, resulting in an inflammatory reaction in the nasal mucosa, and the mucus gradually becomes thicker. If treatment is delayed, it can lead to sinusitis, and the mucus can go down the throat, causing coughing, fever, or headache.
 
These symptoms usually appear all at once and disappear within about a week. On the other hand, allergic rhinitis occurs due to an overreaction of the nasal mucosa to certain allergens. It is accompanied by a continuous series of sneezing, running clear mucus, nasal congestion, itching of the eyes or roof of the mouth, fatigue, etc.
 
Unlike a cold, there is little fever or feeling like a cold, and the symptoms persist until the allergen is removed. The symptoms are very similar. Therefore, if you want to get rid of a cold quickly, it is important to first know if it is a real cold. It is better to get a diagnosis and examination to avoid developing the disease rather than making a rash judgment.

2. Thorough Hygiene Management

Since a cold is an infection caused by the cold virus, you need to practice thorough hygiene to prevent catching it from someone or spreading it to others. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with your sleeve, wash your hands thoroughly, wear a mask, and prevent yourself and others from being infected. You should also dispose of used tissues properly.
 
There is a right way to blow your nose. Usually, you blow your nose with a tissue in both nostrils. However, if you blow hard at this time, it could spread the inflammation in your nose to the sinuses or eustachian tube. Therefore, blocking one nostril and blowing one at a time is a way to prevent infection in other areas and remove mucus much more effectively.
 
And if one ear often feels stuffy after blowing your nose, cover that ear with your hand and blow your nose with your other hand. This is because it can prevent mucus or air pressure from entering the middle ear through the eustachian tube.

3. Live a Moist Life

A cold can cause your nose to run continuously and become stuffy, making your nose feel sore. If your nasal mucosa is too swollen, these symptoms can worsen. Therefore, the third step in getting rid of a cold quickly that I recommend is to live a moist life.
 
Warm a slightly damp towel in the microwave for about 30 seconds, wrap it around your nose, and breathe. Warm air will enter your nose, which is effective in alleviating symptoms.
 
Taking a hot shower will moisturize the nasal mucosa with steam, making it easier to blow your nose or relieve nasal symptoms. It is also good to keep the environment moist using a humidifier.
 
Even if you do this, if you are still having a hard time with cold symptoms and want to get rid of them faster, getting help from medication is also an option.

4. Choosing the Right Cold Medication

I will explain which medications are good for a cold. There is no specific treatment for cold viruses because there are over 200 types. Instead, treatment is done through symptomatic treatment, or symptomatic therapy. This means treating each symptom, such as runny nose, fever, and headache. Therefore, you can choose the cold medicine that best suits the symptom that bothers you the most.
 
Cold medicines with the words “nose” or “nasal” in them are cold medicines that mainly constrict capillaries to improve nasal congestion and prevent mucus from forming around the nose. However, consultation with a doctor is necessary if you have high blood pressure, benign prostatic hyperplasia, etc. If you are suffering from body aches, headache, or fever, you can take an antipyretic analgesic.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines, commonly known as allergic rhinitis medications, are effective in relieving runny nose and sneezing, the most uncomfortable symptoms of a cold. But nasal spray can make you drowsy.
 
Because it suppresses hypersensitivity, it can cause sedation and drowsiness, making it difficult to carry out daily life. In this case, it is a good idea to choose a second-generation antihistamine component such as “mequitazine” that has reduced drowsiness and a caffeine component that has a stimulating effect.
 
These second-generation antihistamines improve drowsiness, dry mouth, and dry eyes, and their duration of action is longer, making them more effective. Second-generation antihistamines last for about 8 hours, so you only need to take them once a day, making them convenient. Cold and allergic rhinitis are so similar in symptoms that nasal spray is also used for colds.
 
And the most important thing is that you should never overdo it when you are in poor condition due to a cold. When you are tired or stressed, your body’s healing power decreases. Remember that getting enough rest, eating well, and not overdoing it is important.