Everyone has a cold once in a while. While it’s not pleasant, it’s not the end of the world either. After all, we get through them all the time. The tricky part is figuring out how to deal with them so they don’t linger and become annoying. It’s not fun having sniffles, sore throat, watery eyes, and sneezing fits for longer than necessary. If you catch your cold early enough and treat it accordingly, you can get back to your normal life pretty quickly.
But if left untreated or mistreated, a simple cold can become something much more serious – like pneumonia or the flu. That’s why knowing how to manage your common cold with nyquil is important!
Table of Contents
What is the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu?
A cold and the flu are two different viral infections. The flu is a lot more serious than a cold, and people often confuse the two. The flu is a respiratory virus that can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation. Complications of the flu can include pneumonia and heart attack. The flu is much more severe and can last longer than a cold.
You can get the flu at any time of the year, but it’s most common during the fall and winter months. If you think you have the flu, see your doctor as soon as possible. With the flu, you want to make sure you’re getting the right treatments as soon as possible to prevent it from turning into something more serious. If you think you have the cold, you can start by treating it with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, like cough suppressants.
The cold is a viral infection that can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, runny nose, and cough. The cold is caused by a variety of viruses that affect the nose, throat, and lungs. You can catch a cold from anyone who is sick and may pass it along to others. Although colds aren’t life-threatening, they can last for several weeks and make you feel pretty awful.
Knowing How to Manage a Common Cold with Nyquil
Nyquil is an OTC medication that is used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and flu. It can be taken with or without food. It can cause drowsiness and shouldn’t be taken by children under 12, breastfeeding mothers, and people with certain health conditions like liver or kidney disorders, a history of alcohol abuse, or if you are currently taking certain medications.
The recommended dosage of adults is 2-3 times daily as needed. You should only take this medication as directed. The active ingredients in Nyquil are acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and phenylephrine.
Take Care of Your Body
Keeping a clean environment – Washing your hands, especially after you cough or sneeze, is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. You should also try to limit the use of shared items such as towels, cups, and utensils.
Practicing good hygiene
Stay away from other people as much as possible if you’re sick. Stay home from work and don’t go to public places until you’re feeling better. Also, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze in order to prevent the transmission of germs.
Feeling rested
A lot of the symptoms associated with the common cold are caused by a weakened immune system. In order to feel better and recover faster, you need to be as rested as possible. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night will help your immune system to function properly.
Eating a balanced diet
A healthy diet can reduce your risk of getting sick and help you to recover faster if you do get sick. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help boost your immune system.
Get Plenty of Rest
While it might not be the most enticing advice, getting plenty of rest is one of the best ways to manage your cold. When you’re sick, your immune system is weakened. Getting lots of sleep can help to reduce the amount of mucus in your body and help your lungs to function properly. Make sure that you’re sleeping in a clean environment.
Use a clean pillowcase and wash your sheets regularly. Turn off all electronics an hour before you go to sleep. These emit blue light that can disrupt your sleep. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. They can dehydrate you and make it harder to sleep.
Use Humidification to Clear Your Airway
If you have a stuffy nose or cough, try to get rid of the excess mucus in your body by using a humidifier. Mucus is an important part of your immune system, but too much of it can make you feel stuffed up and miserable. Using a humidifier can help to clear your airways and make it easier to breathe. You can also try to avoid things that can make your symptoms worse, like smoking and indoor pollution.
Use Over-the-Counter Medications for Symptom Relief
Cough syrups – A cough syrup, like Robitussin, can help loosen up any phlegm in your throat and make it easier to cough up. Sore throat sprays – If your throat is sore, using a sore throat spray can help to soothe the pain. Sore throat lozenges – If you have a really sore throat, you might want to try using a sore throat lozenge like Liedrix.
These work by coating your throat in a numbing agent, which can help to relieve the pain. Allergy and decongestant medications – If your symptoms are accompanied by a runny nose and watery eyes, you might want to use some allergy or decongestant medications like Sudafed.
Conclusion
It might be annoying and inconvenient, but catching a cold once in a while isn’t the end of the world. It’s actually pretty common, and you can recover from it pretty quickly if you take care of yourself.
The tricky part is figuring out how to deal with a cold so you don’t have to suffer through it for longer than necessary. If you catch it early enough and treat it accordingly, you can get back to your normal life pretty quickly.
