Read more about coronavirus or use our Coronavirus Risk Assessment to check your risk. The cold is an upper respiratory tract infection URTI and it affects most adults around two to four times a year. Fortunately, the common cold is usually a mild illness that will resolve without intervention over several days.
Most people will be able to recover from a cold with self-care treatments, and you should generally be able to carry on with your normal activities. Is it a cold or the flu? You will usually feel at your worst two or three days into a cold. However, this can differ from person to person. Lifestyle factors can influence how long a cold will last.
For example, people who smoke are more likely to have a slower recovery; they are also more at risk of developing complications. Pre-existing conditions can also affect how long a cold will last. You are more likely to develop complications if you suffer from certain pre-existing conditions, including but not limited to:. A cold is contagious from a few days before your symptoms start until all of your symptoms have gone.
This is because it takes a few days to develop symptoms after you have been infected with a virus which causes the cold. Currently there is no medication that is known to relieve a cold, and your body can usually fight off a cold without medical intervention.
Instead, try the following self-care measures:. Nasal saline sprays will help to clear a blocked nose. Over-the-counter throat sprays, lozenges and cough remedies may also help. Some medicines are not suitable for children, babies and pregnant women. Check with your pharmacist. Page last reviewed: 13 June Next review due: 13 June Read our cookies policy to find out more about our cookies and how we use them.
Common cold. Symptoms of a cold The first symptom of a cold is usually a sore throat. Cold and flu symptoms are similar but flu tends to be more severe. Cold Appears gradually Affects mainly your nose and throat Makes you feel unwell but you're OK to carry on as normal - for example, go to work Flu Appears quickly within a few hours Affects more than just your nose and throat Makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal Cold symptoms can include: blocked or runny nose sore throat headaches muscle aches coughs sneezing a raised temperature pressure in your ears and face loss of taste and smell The symptoms are the same in adults and children.
Sometimes, symptoms last longer in children. Causes of colds Colds are caused by viruses. To reduce the risk of spreading a cold you should: wash your hands often with warm water and soap cough into your elbow to stop germs getting on to your hands and spreading to other people use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze bin used tissues as quickly as possible How to prevent catching a cold The best ways to avoid catching a cold are: washing your hands with warm water and soap, especially before eating not sharing towels or household items, like cups, with someone who has a cold not touching your eyes or nose.
You can infect your body if you've come into contact with the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control , Americans suffer millions of cases of the common cold each year.
I see many people in my office each week who took the day off to come see me for a common cold. A new Massachusetts law , which went into effect in July , allows workers in companies of 11 employees or more to earn paid sick leave to help ease the financial burden of illness. But how do you know if you should use your paid sick time? The tips below can help you decide whether you should tough it out at work or take it easy at home.
American adults typically come down with two to three colds per year. If you have asthma or COPD or if you take steroids for a medical condition, you have an increased risk of complications from the common cold.
Unfortunately, the common cold is viral, with rhinovirus the most common culprit. This means that, unlike bacterial infections, the only way to get rid of a cold is to let it run its course. I used a neti pot for the first time last year, and it felt like water going up my nose. That said, it was quite effective.
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