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Despite the common cold being a mild illness, it can cause many uncomfortable symptoms and leave you feeling run-down for a week or two. In that time, you’ll no doubt be desperate to try all the cures you can to get back to work or to that event you’ve been looking forward to.
Thankfully, we’ve got some tips to help ease your symptoms so you can go about your day.
Whilst you still might feel well enough to carry on as usual whilst you have a cold, your body can repair itself much faster when you’re resting and sleeping. If you must keep working while you have a cold, try working from home where possible to prevent spreading the illness to others. Working from home gives your body greater rest opportunities – it’s incredible how much extra time you have to chill out when you don’t need to worry about your commute or making your lunch.
Go to bed early when you’re ill to promote healing. Your body does most of its restorative work when you’re asleep, so naps throughout the day are a good idea too. But when you’ve got a comfy duvet and some soft pillows, no other excuse is needed for that cheeky snooze!
Water is the best thing to drink when you’re ill – it’s gentle on your stomach, easy to get if you don’t have the energy to make anything else, and the best way to keep hydrated. However, you can drink squash, clear broth, or warm water with honey and lemon.
It’s best to avoid caffeine whilst ill, as it can make you dehydrated. However, if you’re desperate for a morning cuppa, a decaf tea with a spoonful of honey will help. Warm drinks can soothe the throat, and honey is antibacterial and can work as a cough suppressant.
Fluids also help to keep phlegm thin and encourage mucus flow, helping to ease congestion.
Cough syrups are designed for different coughs, such as a mucus cough or dry and tickly. These are designed to soothe and relieve your specific kind of cough to make you more comfortable. You can also get cold and flu tablets to relieve aches and pains. However, these will often contain paracetamol and ibuprofen, so taking these as directed is essential, as is avoiding additional painkillers.
To combat a blocked nose, nasal sprays and inhaler sticks will have you breathing clearly but be careful not to over-use them over multiple days as they can cause ‘rebound congestion’ and worsen your stuffy nose. Moderation is key, even when you’re unwell.
One of the easiest ways to reduce a sore and scratchy throat is to suck on lozenges and hard sweets to help lubricate the throat. Just ensure you aren’t giving lozenges and hard candies to children, as they are a choking hazard.
Alternatively, you can try throat sprays that help numb pain by directly applying a local anaesthetic to the area or natural remedies. Natural remedies include warm drinks, spoonfuls of honey, sucking on ice cubes, and using saltwater gargles (add half a teaspoon of salt to warm water, gargle, and spit).
If you’d prefer to avoid nasal sprays, Vapour Rub is a great way to help you breathe clearly again. Rub some on your chest, and the vapours will help clear your sinuses – ideal for keeping comfortable before bed.
Alternatively, steam is an easy thing to use too. Steam from warm drinks will help to loosen mucus as you drink, and warm showers will have you breathe from both nostrils again while making you feel fresh.
You can also do steam inhalation by filling a bowl with hot water from the kettle and leaning over it with a towel over your head for up to 15 minutes. Add more hot water if you find the water is cooling and there is no more steam to inhale.
Using toilet roll to blow your nose when you have a cold might be tempting. You already have some, and you’ll only have a runny nose for a few days anyway, so why buy soft nasal tissues? You’ll blow your nose more than you think, and toilet paper can be extremely rough on the sensitive skin around your nose, leaving it red, sore, and dry. Investing in a pack of soft tissues will save you from feeling uncomfortable in another way. If your nose becomes dry and irritated, moisten the area with a gentle moisturiser.
We hope you feel better soon! Explore our full Health and Beauty department to find products to speed the process along, or browse the articles below.
