While the common cold is usually a relatively mild illness, it is one of the leading causes of missed school and work. There are hundreds of viruses that can cause a cold, and although scientists have yet to find a cure, there are treatments to help you feel better and manage your symptoms.

Cold Treatment Starts at Home

The first step to treating your cold symptoms is taking good care of yourself. Self-care measures for the common cold include:

  • Get plenty of rest. Whenever possible, rest in bed when you have a cold. Your body needs energy to fight off infection, so getting enough rest may help speed up your recovery time. It's especially important to rest if you have a fever.
  • Gargle warm salt water. If your cold is giving you a scratchy or sore throat, gargling with a mixture of warm water and table salt a few times a day can provide some relief. Throat sprays and lozenges can also help soothe a sore throat.
  • Drink lots of fluids. Increase your fluid intake when you have a cold by drinking water, juice, and clear liquids and soups throughout the day. Upping your intake of the right fluids can loosen mucus and prevent you from becoming dehydrated.
  • Try saline nasal drops and petroleum jelly. When your nose is stuffy or tender, using saline nasal drops and spray can help loosen mucus and care for your irritated nasal passages. Also, petroleum jelly can help soothe the raw skin around your nose.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration and can make you feel worse when you have a cold.

Medication to Manage Cold Symptoms

Depending on your specific cold symptoms, over-the-counter (OTC) cold medication can help you feel better. However, this medication cannot cure or decrease the length of your cold. OTC medications that can help offer relief include:

  • Analgesics. Analgesics are medications that can reduce pain and fever. Aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help relieve cold symptoms such as muscle aches, headache, or fever. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers who have viral infections, such as a cold, since aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome — a condition that suddenly attacks the kidneys, brain, and liver of children.
  • Decongestants. Decongestants work by shrinking blood vessels in the nose so air can pass through, making it easier to breathe.
  • Cough suppressants. Cough suppressants, or antitussives, stop the reflex to cough but should only be used when a cough is dry (with no mucus). Children younger than the age of 4 should not take cough medication.
  • Expectorants. Expectorants thin mucus, making it easier for you to cough it out.
  • Antihistamines. Antihistamines can help relieve certain cold symptoms, including a runny nose and watery eyes.

Take OTC cold medications with caution, as they are commonly associated with side effects such as dizziness and upset stomach. If you are unsure if a medication is safe, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Because of safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration recommends children under the age of 6 not take these OTC drugs to treat colds.

Everyone gets colds now and then — knowing the basics will help you and your family get through it.

Go to the Seasonal Cold and Flu Guide.