Symptoms of Colds

Everyone gets a cold from time to time. Cold germs are spread easily from person to person and the average person gets at least one cold a year. There are some familiar symptoms of colds that help to ensure that what you have is a cold and not something worse. Not all symptoms accompany every cold. The main symptom of a cold is usually a stuffy nose. Some colds start with a stuffy nose and then progress to a runny nose while other strains seem to operate in the reverse. The stuffy nose usually gets worse at night. An over the counter decongestant may help to clear the nasal passages enough to get a good nights sleep. Nasal sprays can help clear congestion but can be addictive. Another symptom of a cold is a cough. This can happen because thick mucous is dripping into the back of the throat. Clearing the throat by coughing helps to get rid of the excess mucous. If the mucous moves into the chest it can cause chest congestion. This also produces a cough, which can be much stronger because it is trying to loosen phlegm from the chest. Sometimes the cough can be a persistent dry cough. This unproductive cough may be helped by using cough drops or by taking an over the counter cough syrup.

A runny nose sometimes accompanies colds. The runny nose is a symptom of a cold when excess nasal fluid is produced. The nasal discharge is thin and clear. If it is thick or is a yellow color it may indicate the presence of a sinus infection. Allow the excess mucous to come out so that it doesnt become stagnant. Stagnant mucous can lead to sinus infections. Many times you might get a sore throat with a cold. This happens when excess postnasal drip gets into the throat and produces a tickle. The mucous can stick to the throat so coughing will loosen it and allow it to go down. You may also get a sore throat from breathing through your mouth, especially at night. Another symptom of a cold is general fatigue. Your cold may make you feel tired and weak. This is because the body is trying to fight off the cold. You may have the chills and may not feel like eating. You may not be getting enough sleep because the cold symptoms are keeping you awake at night. Many people try to keep going when they have a cold. But the best thing you can do is to take it easy. Resting allows the body to better fight off the cold.
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