Achoo! These days, a simple sneeze may send you into a tailspin wondering what kind of virus that you may have. Before the pandemic, most people would assume that they have the flu or the common cold. Although we mostly see and hear about COVID-19 these days, keep in mind that the common cold still exists and it is still possible to catch it.
If you have a common cold, it can certainly make you feel miserable. However, this blog will show you what the common cold is, the difference between the common cold vs COVID, as well as what to do to treat it and prevent it.
What is the Common Cold?
The common cold has been around for centuries. But with all the focus on COVID-19, let’s take a quick recap on what the common cold actually is.
The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat—otherwise the upper respiratory tract. It’s harmless and it is unlikely that the common cold will result in death unless you have some serious underlying conditions. Otherwise, getting a cold is inconvenient and can make you feel pretty terrible.
The good news is that your cold symptoms won’t be bothersome for a very long period of time. Most people take 7 to 10 days to recover. You may have one or two lingering symptoms beyond that timeframe, but generally, they should all go away on their own.
What are the Symptoms of the Common Cold?
Speaking of symptoms, what are the symptoms of a common cold? If you catch a common cold, you can expect to feel most if not all the following:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Congestion
- Slight body aches or a mild headache
- Sneezing
- Low-grade fever
- Generally feeling unwell
- Excess mucus
A word about mucus: this is usually clear in color at the beginning of your cold. It can progress to yellow, brown, and green. Keep in mind that a change of color with your mucus does not mean that you have a bacterial infection. Having an excess of mucus when you have a common cold is completely normal and not alarming.
Common Cold vs. COVID
One of the big questions that people may ask is what is the difference between the common cold versus COVID? COVID is different in the sense that symptoms can vary for everyone.
In fact, COVID symptoms are also different in those who are fully vaccinated vs. not vaccinated. Unvaccinated people will display the same symptoms as a cold as well as a headache, persistent cough, and loss of smell.
Vaccinated people will display symptoms including runny nose, headache, sneezing, sore throat, persistent cough, and loss of smell.
As you can see, the loss of your sense of smell is a big indicator between COVID vs the common cold. With a cold, you will probably lose your sense of smell in the fact that your nose is stuffed and you can’t breathe right. With COVID, your sense of smell can disappear for weeks if not months.
Should You Get a COVID Test?
If you are displaying symptoms of a virus and you aren’t sure what it is, now you might wonder if you should get a COVID test. While this is a personal choice, there are some circumstances that would warrant a COVID-19 test.
First, consider if you were exposed to COVID. If you were undoubtedly exposed, you may want to get a COVID test.
Meanwhile, if you are experiencing a very persistent and nagging cough, this can be a sign of something else other than a common cold. You may want to get tested in the situation as well.
Keep in mind that Palm Harbor Pharmacy is a source where you can get COVID-19 testing. Please click here to learn more about this service.
How to Treat a Cold
With the talk of COVID-19 aside, let’s talk about how you can feel better when you have a cold. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot you can do with the common cold other than allow it to run its course. This is typically not a situation that will put you in the hospital. There are also limited things that your doctor can do if all you have is a cold virus.
However, there are some ways that you can treat a chord and help make yourself feel better.
Stay Hydrated
One of the most important steps is to stay hydrated. Dehydration and beverages such as soda can actually make you feel worse. Proper hydration can help loosen mucus and eventually start clearing out the cold.
When it comes to keeping yourself hydrated, stick to liquids such as water or chicken broth.
Rest
At some point in your life, you may have gone to your primary care physician with a cord. There is also a really good chance that he or she told you to get rest.
This advice comes with good reason, as resting is one of the best things that you can do when you have a common cold. It is possible to push through it, but it will certainly make you feel more miserable in the meantime.
Try to get as much rest and even sleep as you can when you have a cold.
Combat Stuffiness
A stuffy nose is by far one of the most miserable symptoms of a cold. However, there are several ways that you can come by the stuffiness and help yourself breath.
First, you can try over-the-counter medications to alleviate congestion. You can call us at the pharmacy or stop by if you are looking for an over-the-counter medication to help with your stuffiness.
Another idea is to humidify the room. Try using a humidifier that releases moisture into the air, which is our next suggestion for treating a cold.
Add Moisture to the Air
Just as you should consume liquids to help loosen mucus, moisture in the air can help to do the same. This is why we suggest using a humidifier to bring some moisture into the air and help relieve stuffiness from mucus.
Vitamin C and Zinc: Mixed Results
There are many theories around vitamin C and zinc helping to treat or prevent the common cold. However, the truth is that there are mixed results in this case.
For example, studies show that vitamin C may not have much effect at all at preventing the common cold before you get one. Meanwhile, zinc is believed to be less than the duration of the court itself. However, there are also conflicting studies against this theory as well.
While it certainly won’t hurt you to take vitamin C or zinc, you may not experience much if any benefits from it.
When Should You See a Doctor?
You’ve been battling a cold for a while and you can’t seem to kick it. Should you see a doctor? There are some circumstances that warrant a visit to a doctor when you have a cold. If you’re experiencing any of the following, be sure to contact your primary care physician:
- You have a fever of over 101.3 that lasts for over 3 days
- Your fever returns after it goes away for a period of time
- You are wheezing
- You are experiencing shortness of breath
- You have an abnormally severe sore throat or sinus pain
How to Prevent a Cold
We covered how to treat the common cold, but how can you prevent from getting one in the first place? Consider the following advice.
Keep Your Hands Clean
Some basic hygiene steps can make a world of difference when it comes to preventing the common cold. One consideration is frequent handwashing. You’ll want to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Be sure to wash your hands before you eat and any time that you have contacted a service that you suspect may have a cool virus, especially when you’re out in public.
Keep Your Hands Away from Your Eyes, Nose and Mouth
The cold virus can transmit by touching your face. This includes making its way through openings such as your eyes, nose, and mouth. Even if you wash your hands, do your best to keep your hands away from these areas.
Get Plenty of Rest
We can’t emphasize enough the importance of rest when it comes to the common cold, and your primary care physician will likely stay the same. If you can afford it, take off work and stay home. Not only will staying at home and in bed help you heal faster, it will also reduce the spread of the virus.
Disinfect High Contact Surface Areas
Did you know that the common cold virus can live on surfaces for up to 7 days? This is a bit different than COVID, with studies showing the average time of survival on a surface is roughly 3 days.
Wear a Face Mask
While many of us are tired of wearing a mask, there is proof that a facemask can reduce the spread of viruses including the common cold. Before the pandemic, this is a major reason why you would see surgeons and medical professionals wearing face masks.
If you are very concerned about catching a cold, especially if you have an autoimmune disease or you are at high risk, take the extra step and wear a face mask.
If you have more questions about the coronavirus or you are worried that you have it, please contact our pharmacy, we can help with COVID-19 passing and give recommendations of over-the-counter medicine to help with the cold virus.