If you woke up with a cough or a running nose, chances are that you’ve caught a cold. Also, if your muscles ache, your throat is sore, and you feel fatigued for no apparent reason, you probably have a cold.
The cold is one of the most common diseases, regularly affecting both adults and children. As of this writing, there is no cure, though numerous remedies and treatments are available. Let’s look into what the cold is and what some of the best cold medicine options out there are.
What Is the Common Cold?
The common cold is a viral disease which usually affects the upper parts of the respiratory system, particularly the nose. Aside from the nose, it may also affect the sinuses, throat, and larynx.
The cold is an infectious disease and is easily transferred from one person to another. The symptoms might take a few days to develop and usually last from five to ten days, though sometimes they can last several weeks.
One of the easiest ways to contract it is through direct contact with an infected person. You can also catch a cold indirectly, through interaction with infected everyday objects. Resistance to cold depends directly on the strength of your immune system.
Causes and Symptoms
A large number of virus strains, over 200 of them, can cause the common cold. Rhinoviruses are among the most common and prominent ones. Human coronavirus, adenoviruses, human respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, human parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, and a host of other viruses are known to cause the cold.
The most common symptoms of the cold include coughing, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Often, these are accompanied by headaches, fatigue, muscle ache, as well as reduced appetite. The color of the nasal secretion and sputum might also change. It may become green or yellow. The fever is, for example, more common in children than adults. Sore throat and cough are present in about half of the cases.
Best Cold Medicine
Despite the fact that there is no definitive cure for the disease, colds can be quite successfully treated with a wide range of home and over-the-counter remedies. Here are some of the best options to deal with the cold.
OHCO Cold Snap Powder
OHCO’s Cold Snap Powder is a natural, herbal remedy. It is based on the traditional Chinese medicine recipes and has extracts of 20 different herbs. It is best used in the earliest stages of the cold, before the symptoms fully develop. Cold Snap Powder is also beneficial for your overall immune system. On the other hand, it might not be the best solution if the cold is in the full swing.
Vicks DayQuil Cough Cold and Flu Relief
DayQuil Cough Cold and Flu Relief by Vicks is there when you have the cold but can’t stay in bed throughout the day. It comes in the form of LiquiCaps, with 48 capsules making up one pack. DayQuil is designed to suppress the main symptoms of the cold and give you some relief. It is good against pains and aches, nasal congestion, fever, sore throat, headaches, and cough.
Genexa Cold Crush
If you want something natural and GMO-free to battle the cold, you might want to take a look at Genexa Cold Crush. Cold Crush is also certified organic and is great at suppressing symptoms of the common cold, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, mucus, congestion, and sneezing. It will also alleviate the feelings of daytime drowsiness. There are 60 chewable tablets in the package.
Zicam Cold Remedy Dissolving Tablets
The best way to tackle a cold is to react as soon as the first symptoms appear. Among the remedies design for this purpose, Zicam Cold Remedy Dissolving Tablets are among the best options. The tablets dissolve quickly and have a pleasant citrus flavor. Zicam Cold Remedy Dissolving Tablets are both natural and homeopathic. However, they won’t help you much once the symptoms develop.
Theraflu
Perhaps the number one remedy for cold around the world is a hot cup of tea. It is also one of the first recommendations you are bound to get from your doctor, along with staying in bed until the symptoms weaken. Theraflu is a tea designed especially to battle coughing, sore throat, and other common symptoms. Acetaminophen helps Theraflu relieve pain and fever. Theraflu is also available in the form of syrup and caplets.
Sambucol Black Elderberry
Here is another natural remedy made to tackle the first signs of the cold. Sambucol Black Elderberry tablets taste like elderberry and can be safely consumed by adults and children aged 4 and older. You can take them on their own, as they don’t need water to dissolve. Sambucol tablets are powerful against all common symptoms in the early stages, but are not all that effective with colds in full swing.
Coricidin HBP
If you happen to have high blood pressure, Coricidin HBP might be your best choice to combat the common cold. It was designed to suppress the usual symptoms and keep the blood pressure low at the same time. Though efficient against a variety of symptoms, it excels at relieving cough. HBP tablets are only partially natural and contain sugar among other ingredients.
Robitussin Adult Max
When a cold hits particularly hard, Robitussin Adult Max is one of the best ways to handle it. Adult Max is a very strong formula and children under the age of 12 should not use it. It contains two powerful components, an expectorant to break up chest congestion and a cough suppressant. Aside from cough and congestion problems, Robitussin will help you shake off drowsiness and keep running throughout the day.
Vicks NyQuil Cough Cold and Flu Nighttime Relief
Being able to rest and get quality sleep is the first and most important prerequisite to having a strong immune system. However, when the cold hits, the symptoms are usually the worst during the night. Vicks NyQuil Cough Cold and Flu Nighttime Relief is designed to relieve cough, headaches, sneezing, and other symptoms, thus allowing you to sleep peacefully throughout the night. It comes in the form of LiquiCaps, similar to DayQuil Cough Cold and Flu Relief.
Conclusion
As common as it is, catching a common cold is never a fun thing. Aside from the unpleasant symptoms, the cold can also sideline you for an entire week or even two. Thankfully, with some of the best cold medicine options presented in this article, you should be up and running in no time.
Resources:
https://runnerclick.com/10-best-otc-cold-medicines-reviewed/
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-medicines-adults#1
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/buy-fast-relief-cold-flu#1
https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-cold-medicine-4169704
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold
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