How to treat the common cold

© Leonid Shcheglov Tonometer
© Leonid Shcheglov

Step 1:
Practice good hygiene. This can be done by washing your hands rigorously on a regular basis. Make sure you wash your hands properly. Wash all of the areas in between the fingers and inside the nails. Wash your hands first before performing any activities that involves you touching your mouth.

Step 2:
Moisturize your home with a humidifier to prevent the common cold virus from spreading.

A person is more susceptible to the common cold when the air is dry. According to the Ohio University Medical Center, common cold viruses thrive in cold and dry weather (See References 1). This is because low humidity causes dryness in the nose and upper respiratory tract.

Step 3:
Abstain from infected individuals. Do not to get too close to those who are infected by the common cold virus. Avoid sharing any towels, glasses, and toothbrushes with people who have the common cold.

It is best to avoid sharing items that can come into frequent contact with your face.

Step 4:
Get on a healthy diet to build up your immune system against the common cold. Drink lots of fluids, and sleep more often. This will help speed up the healing process.

Step 5:
Use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve the symptoms of the common cold. Make sure to take medications that are recommended by your doctor. Take antibiotics with moderation and caution. The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends taking antibiotics only when they are needed (See References 2). Use saline drops to ease nasal congestions.

Step 6:
Wait for your body to recover. The common cold symptoms usually disappear completely within 10 days, if not earlier. If the symptoms become worst and persist beyond two weeks, you might have gotten a secondary infection. It is best contact your doctor for further treatments.

References
Ohio State University Medical Center
Centers of Disease Control (CDC)