What will you do for little healthy problem like the cold?

@youless (112481)
Guangzhou, China
October 1, 2008 12:17am CST
Supposed you caught a cold. What will you do? Will you go to see a doctor or directly go to the pharmacy to get the medicine to heal your cold? Most of the time I will go to the drugstore to get the medicine if I catch a cold. After all, it's little problem. I am not patient to wait in the hospital. I may feel worse after that.
12 people like this
25 responses
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
1 Oct 08
There is nothing a doctor can really do for colds, I always go to the pharmacy to purchase things like nasal inhaler to unblock my nose which usually is the casualty of a cold, fortunately I don't get colds very often, coughs yes, but not colds, probably because I sweat the germs out at the gym! Home made remedies such as hot toddies, which is coffee with whisky in it usually does the trick as well, as does a nice hot bath with vapours to sooth the chest and nasal cavities.
@GardenGerty (160483)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Wolfie, you are right. Sweating at the gym is very healthy for you. I know that when I used to exercise at the Y and swim a lot, I not only did not have colds, I did not seem to have sinus and allergy problems as much. My theory is that the chlorine in water at the pool essentially kept the germs washed out of my sinuses. I also love sinuses.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160483)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Wolfie, you are right. Sweating at the gym is very healthy for you. I know that when I used to exercise at the Y and swim a lot, I not only did not have colds, I did not seem to have sinus and allergy problems as much. My theory is that the chlorine in water at the pool essentially kept the germs washed out of my sinuses. I also love sinuses.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160483)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Supposed to say I love saunas, LOL. It is early yet for me.
2 people like this
• Guam
6 Oct 08
I'm a Philippine RN. The best thing to do is prevent any type of sickness. The ways to do that is to have a daily dose of vit. c, 500mg a day, dose up to 1000mg if you have a cold or fever. Lots of citrus fruit juice such a orange, mango, apple, lemon juice, etc. will be a great help. Exercise daily, at least 30 minutes a day. This will keep you more active and less tiresome. Eat lots of fiber, this will help you get rid of those toxins in your body. Remember, taking madicine is not always the best solution. Yes they do cure us for the mean time, but it also makes our body resistant to the medicine, such as antibiotic, so when our body is used to taking that medicine, it is no longer effective. In short, our body is resisting the medicine, therefore you will have to up your dose. In addition to this, long term intake of medicines will show its bad effecs when you gel older, renal disorders, liver disorders and even digestive disorders. So the best way to prevent that cold is prevention by living healthy. If you already have a cold, you may dose up your vitamin c. it will help. Making you take less medicines. If your cold won't go away, go to the doctor and have him/her examine you. They will know what medicine to give you. If you are told that you have a virus, do not insist in taking antibiotics, because they only work on BACTERIA. Viruses are meant to go away in time, the only thing you could do is boost your immune system. The less medicines you take, the less you will become dependent on them to feel better.
2 people like this
• Guam
6 Oct 08
sorry for the wrong spelling... hehehehe...
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Oct 08
It sounds like that you are a doctor
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Oct 08
yup i agree with you and also bed rest
2 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
6 Oct 08
Well, i am not the type of person who likes to drink medicine... so when i have a cold... i usually just drink a lot of water and juice... and with that... the cold would usually last for only two to three days... i think there is really no cure for the common cold... so the best way to fight it is to drink a lot of fluid...
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I agree with you.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Oct 08
I will usually try to get myself cured with the off-the-shelves remedies first. If that doesn't work, then I will have to go see a doctor. It is really miserable to be caught with a cold. The constant runny and blocked nose. The bouts of hot and cold shivers. Not to mention the loss of appeitite! So many things cannot be eaten as well.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
7 Oct 08
Tell me about it my friend! The nose is constantly dripping like a tap. The inside of the nose is always itching. At at some corner that is impossible to scratch! The costant blowing of the nose in order to clear it to breathe! Everything you eat is tasteless cos you cannot smell! Oh.. the horrible time it is when you have a runny and blocked nose during a cold!
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I think having a running nose when you have a cold is very suffering.
1 person likes this
@marababe (2503)
• Philippines
1 Oct 08
I used to catch cold quite easily but luckily, I don't now. But when I do, I just drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices. I don't drink medicine immediately. I try to move around more and I take warm baths. It works for me. Minus the meds.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
Good for you
@busyB4 (874)
• United States
2 Nov 08
I usually try to self treat and keep fever down. Drink lots of fluids and take zinc and vitamin C. The zinc really helps me feel better in a short amount of time
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
26 Oct 08
Hello, Youless. If I have something like a cold, something light, then I will not even take medicine. I will just stay at home and wait for my natural recovery. No pills nor drinking medicines. Just the good and ol' sleep. Now, if I have a strong flu, then I will PERHAPS go to the doctor. Usually, I take some medicine, or my father makes some kind of tea that helps me recovering. But nah, it has been a long time since I have last been to a hospital because I was sick. I cannot even remember it the last time. I guess it has more than three years. Respectfully, Munhozmib.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Oct 08
It's always good to keep away from the hospital
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160483)
• United States
1 Oct 08
If you only have a cold, there is nothing a doctor can do for you, it is viral, it has to be beaten off by your body. The idea is to stay healthy so it does not go into a secondary bacterial infection. So your choice to stay away from the Doctor or Hospital is a very smart one, that is where you can catch even more illnesses. If I feel I am coming down with a cold, I begin to eat more spicy foods, there are a lot of substances in peppers, for instance, that help fight off illness. I also drink lots of water or juice, or tea, a lot. I especially like fresh pineapple. Horseradish is effective against these kind of illnesses, and so is ginger. I like to chew on candied ginger. I do not go to the doctor very often at all.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
You are right. It seems the cold will be gone by itself for about a week.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
1 Oct 08
[i]Hi youless, In moment like having colds, I will only self medicate..LOL! Will take a lot of water then eat a lot of fruits and vegetables...Hot soup will also help me feel better a lot! I will only take pills if ever it's worst but once I can handle it, I will only go for water therapy![/i]
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
Thanks for your good method
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
5 Oct 08
at the change of the seasons I make sure to consume more vitamin C and B's. If I do have a cold come on I generally buy lots of tissues (I like the ones with the vitamin E or aloe in them -) as far as medicines - cough drops or throat lozenges and vicks vapor rub are on my list.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I prefer the tissues without any smelling as my nose may be sensitive to it.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
1 Oct 08
I will just leave it alone. Sometimes, cold is nothing secrious. However, some people make a mountain of a molehill, it doesn't really help. Oh the other hand, it is not good to their health. I don't mean people shouldn't see a doctor or something anyway. What doesn't kill u make u stronger. If u doing nothing for your cold this time, next time, u will find it easy to survive this. All any kind of medicine has a side effect. Thus, when people catch a cold, be avoiding the medicine as more as possible. It also depends on the cold nature. If it is flu, u have to suffer the peroid anyway. If is just a cold, drinking more hot water, eating some watermellon, tomato, red peppers will help. If it is a viral influeza, u have to see a doctor and prepare to have an treatment. An apple a day, keeps the doc. away. All in all, eating more fruits with red coat, u will never catch cold, I wish.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
You are right
• United States
2 Oct 08
Well, do little things to help. Cold medicine can help you get through your day, but sometimes it is a good idea to slow down so you can heal. Drink more fluids, take in less caffeine, go to bed earlier, take your vitamins. If you don't slow down when you are sick, it is harder for your body to get over the cold and move on, I think.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I totally agree with you. Having a good sleep is the best medicine.
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@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
3 Oct 08
I've often been told that with treatment one will usually get over a cold in 7 days and a week without treatments. All the remedies of which I'm acquainted are just to make you feel better. They don't cure a cold.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
You are right.
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
1 Oct 08
I usually take 2 cold or flu tablets from the pharmacy, a warm drink and then sleep for the rest of the day. I would only go to the doctor, if I wanted to have a sick certificate!
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
Thanks for your response.
• China
1 Oct 08
yes i ageree with you more ,if i catch a cold or some other little problem about my health ,i often do nothing ,i will wait until it come to better ,because i am a boy now and i feel i have a strong body ,my body will better off even if i have do nothing in the condition that the healthy problem is not serious .
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
That's good for you.
• United States
8 Oct 08
I really don't trust doctors and having a cold isn't life threatening so I would go to the store and get a decongestant and some cough drops and plenty of soda and go home and get in bed. By the grace of G-d, I haven't had a cold in a long ,long time.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Oct 08
It would have to be really serious for me to see a doctor.
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@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Oct 08
If I have a serious healthy problem, usually I will go to check it with another doctor so that I can confirm it.
1 person likes this
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
1 Oct 08
drink a lot of water. if you can drink it warm then much better. water can make you urinate everytime and it helps to flush the cold viruses out. cold viruses gets stronger when you drink cold water so try to drink warm water instead. i only drink medicine when i have cold so i can sleep. but i drink water more than rely on the meds.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I know this is a good method. Water is a very useful drink.
@jammyt (2818)
• Philippines
1 Oct 08
If it's just a normal cold, I drink medicines on time and a lot of liquid.. water and fruit juices. I also sleep a lot. If it doesn't let up despite the medicines, that's when I go to the doctor for a quick check up.
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
You are right. Sleeping is very helpful to recover from the cold.
• India
1 Oct 08
I don't make the doctor rich if I have a simple cold. I usually wait for it to subside. After a day of sneezing and misery, it usually subsides. I help it to disappear by taking vitamin C tablets, inhaling Vicks, and yes, sometimes I do take a few grains of black pepper mixed with some butter. Pepper is great for cold. :) Cheers and happy mylotting
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I am surprised to know that pepper is helpful for cold
• Philippines
1 Oct 08
if its just a simple cold i don't go to see a doctor...i try not to take any medicine i take lots of fluids specially water and juices... hate medicine so i do it the natural way
2 people like this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
6 Oct 08
I agree with you.
@sweety_81 (2124)
• India
27 Oct 08
Hi , In case I get affected by Cold;I drink lots of Hot Water as well as inhale Steam . This helps in taking care of my cold and getting me well faster. Regards Sweety_81
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Oct 08
This is a good method. Thanks for your share.