How long does a cold last
Hi All,
I recently came down with a throat viris at the beginning of August. It was a really sore throat with very croaky voice and cough. This lasted nearly three weeks and would die off during the day and get worse in the evening. One day it had practically gone only the next morning I woke up and I was then full of a head cold (blocked nose, sinus pain etc). I went to the doctors and she check my throat, chest etc and said it's possible I had caught two viruses back to back.
It's now been nearly 5-6 weeks and I still have the reminants of a cough and running nose, although it is so much better. Granted I am not blowing my nose much and I just have to occasional coughing fit, bit it seems to be taking ages to actually go.
I eat pretty well (am vegetarian), I exercise, I don't smoke, I only drink a few glass of red a week, (althought I am a bit of a worrier)but can't work out why all my colds/viruses seem to hang around. I have had three colds this year and I moved to London in March (which was when they all started). I go on the tube every day and was wondering if living and working in London has an affect on the immune system. My brother on the other hand had the same virus - he smokes, drinks, never exericises and eats Mars Bars and crisps for his lunch and his cold went in two days. I don't get it.
Advice or opinions would be greatfully received.
Divine Dancer 6
Answers:
As far as I am aware a common cold normally lasts for up to 14 days. Even if you do take medication for it, it would last the full 14 days.
But some colds run your immune system down and then people are prone to getting all sorts of infections (ear, nose, throat) which makes it worse and takes longer to heal.
I swear by Echinacea and Garlick! Each year I took Echinacea and Garlick tablets, I didn't get a cold, but last year I didn't and I was ill with flue for MONTHS!!! And I also had that irritating cough that lasted weeks and weeks after the cold and infections have gone...[:'(]
There are publications out saying that Echinacea does not help prevent colds, but I can only talk from experience and my partners grandad uses Echinacea and my parents-in-law, and none of them get colds when they had a course of Echinacea. I believe you shouldn't take Echinacea long term though... We only have it over Autumn into the winter every year...
Hugs
Amber
Answers:
You are going to be exposed to more viruses in the tube - I leave the carriage at first oppurtunity if someone gets on sneezing and coughing.
Sharon.
Answers:
I remember a couple of years back being ill with a cold or more than one for about 7 weeks. Also started off with a very painful throat, turned into a heavy cold and was left with the cattarh and coughin, then it got worse again and the doctor told me I had caught another virus - it was very exhausting.
Now, at the slightest sign of a cold I drink Dr Stuart's Echinacea tea with Active Manuka Honey, take garlic, vitamin C and zinc and it usually zaps it before it takes hold.
Lesley
Answers:
i had a killer cold when the weather changed at the end of that scorching summer in 2003 as well, it kept coming back, & it was one of those that is a lot worse in the evenings & early mornings. i think it lingered for about 6 weeks.
i use echinacea tincture - drops in water - at the first sign of a cold, & it definitely works every time. don't stay on it as a preventive - start at the onset of the bug & take for a maximum of 10 days at a time.
the key is avoidable germ dodging, & the best way to make a difference is to watch what you touch, & wash your hands a lot!
otherwise try to boost your immune system throughout the year, & have a good rest when it strikes x
Answers:
Oh and olbas oil is brilliant. I burn it in my burner with a touch of lavender if a client comes in with a cold and if I start coughing at night, I put loads on a tissue and hold it against my nose. The first few breaths are a bit of a shock, but then you feel your airways relax and you just sleep so soundly.
Lesley
Answers:
Im gonna try the Olbas n Lavender!!
I too Had a cough/sorethroat which went then Laryngitus, then Sinus and am still congested as Sinuses still hurt. Ive tried Rock Salt water which helps clear it out but the head pain is not seeming to go away fully.
Just to let you know I live in the country SO maybe its a weather/diet/lifestylr thing??
xx
Answers:
Has anyone tried Coldenza? A homeopathic remedy (I got it from H&B) - I haven't had a cold yet, but it's in the drawer ready...along with the Echinacea, whiskey etc.(garlic is great).
Answers:
The Olbas on its own is effective. I just add the lavender in a treatment setting to soften it so it's not quite so clinical.
Lesley
Answers:
is dried lavender any good? i have a bag of it, grown & dried at herbalist workshops. did put some in shortbread (interesting).
Answers:
I wouldn't have thought that the dried lavender is as powerful as the essential oil. However, it is the Olbas that is the important one, as I said above.
I also read today that a study by doctors found that taking probiotics cuts the length of a cold by two days.
Lesley
Answers:
Thanks all for the advice. I was beginning to think I was abnormal, but it's good to know that other peoples colds sometimes last a lot longer (although not good for them!!)
I think I am going to look into Echinacea because it seems to be recommended by everyone and Lavender sounds good aswell.
I also read recently that these new probiotic healthy bacteria can also help prevent your body getting ill.
Thanks
Answers:
I have been taking probiotics for the past 2/3 months now, so I will see how I hold out against colds this winter... ;)
Amber
Answers:
Hi Divinedancer,
All peeps on here are right, I am certain of it. I have been taking probiotics and multivitamins for years, and like Amber, I take garlic too. All these help to build one's immune system. We live such busy lives nowadays that our (prehistoric :D) bodies haven't yet caught up with modern life. Hence we are prone to colds that go on for blinking ages.
Taking supplements doesn't mean that you'll never get a cold again, but when you do, they don't last as long and aren't as severe. However, we do come across the odd 'nasty' that lies us low, so the more defences you have, the better.
Get well soon!
Love,
Patsy.
:)
Answers:
Very wise words from Patsy... I second that...
Amber:)
Answers:
You can try fenugreek tea for the cold.
You can also try the following: (I have used this when I get colds)
1 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
Heat on low while stirring the honey in, pour into a glass and let it cool before drinking.
Answers:
The entire cold is usually over all by itself in about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (cough) for another week. If it lasts longer, consider another problem, such as a sinus infection or allergies.
I recently came down with a throat viris at the beginning of August. It was a really sore throat with very croaky voice and cough. This lasted nearly three weeks and would die off during the day and get worse in the evening. One day it had practically gone only the next morning I woke up and I was then full of a head cold (blocked nose, sinus pain etc). I went to the doctors and she check my throat, chest etc and said it's possible I had caught two viruses back to back.
It's now been nearly 5-6 weeks and I still have the reminants of a cough and running nose, although it is so much better. Granted I am not blowing my nose much and I just have to occasional coughing fit, bit it seems to be taking ages to actually go.
I eat pretty well (am vegetarian), I exercise, I don't smoke, I only drink a few glass of red a week, (althought I am a bit of a worrier)but can't work out why all my colds/viruses seem to hang around. I have had three colds this year and I moved to London in March (which was when they all started). I go on the tube every day and was wondering if living and working in London has an affect on the immune system. My brother on the other hand had the same virus - he smokes, drinks, never exericises and eats Mars Bars and crisps for his lunch and his cold went in two days. I don't get it.
Advice or opinions would be greatfully received.
Divine Dancer 6
Answers:
As far as I am aware a common cold normally lasts for up to 14 days. Even if you do take medication for it, it would last the full 14 days.
But some colds run your immune system down and then people are prone to getting all sorts of infections (ear, nose, throat) which makes it worse and takes longer to heal.
I swear by Echinacea and Garlick! Each year I took Echinacea and Garlick tablets, I didn't get a cold, but last year I didn't and I was ill with flue for MONTHS!!! And I also had that irritating cough that lasted weeks and weeks after the cold and infections have gone...[:'(]
There are publications out saying that Echinacea does not help prevent colds, but I can only talk from experience and my partners grandad uses Echinacea and my parents-in-law, and none of them get colds when they had a course of Echinacea. I believe you shouldn't take Echinacea long term though... We only have it over Autumn into the winter every year...
Hugs
Amber
Answers:
You are going to be exposed to more viruses in the tube - I leave the carriage at first oppurtunity if someone gets on sneezing and coughing.
Sharon.
Answers:
I remember a couple of years back being ill with a cold or more than one for about 7 weeks. Also started off with a very painful throat, turned into a heavy cold and was left with the cattarh and coughin, then it got worse again and the doctor told me I had caught another virus - it was very exhausting.
Now, at the slightest sign of a cold I drink Dr Stuart's Echinacea tea with Active Manuka Honey, take garlic, vitamin C and zinc and it usually zaps it before it takes hold.
Lesley
Answers:
i had a killer cold when the weather changed at the end of that scorching summer in 2003 as well, it kept coming back, & it was one of those that is a lot worse in the evenings & early mornings. i think it lingered for about 6 weeks.
i use echinacea tincture - drops in water - at the first sign of a cold, & it definitely works every time. don't stay on it as a preventive - start at the onset of the bug & take for a maximum of 10 days at a time.
the key is avoidable germ dodging, & the best way to make a difference is to watch what you touch, & wash your hands a lot!
otherwise try to boost your immune system throughout the year, & have a good rest when it strikes x
Answers:
Oh and olbas oil is brilliant. I burn it in my burner with a touch of lavender if a client comes in with a cold and if I start coughing at night, I put loads on a tissue and hold it against my nose. The first few breaths are a bit of a shock, but then you feel your airways relax and you just sleep so soundly.
Lesley
Answers:
Im gonna try the Olbas n Lavender!!
I too Had a cough/sorethroat which went then Laryngitus, then Sinus and am still congested as Sinuses still hurt. Ive tried Rock Salt water which helps clear it out but the head pain is not seeming to go away fully.
Just to let you know I live in the country SO maybe its a weather/diet/lifestylr thing??
xx
Answers:
Has anyone tried Coldenza? A homeopathic remedy (I got it from H&B) - I haven't had a cold yet, but it's in the drawer ready...along with the Echinacea, whiskey etc.(garlic is great).
Answers:
The Olbas on its own is effective. I just add the lavender in a treatment setting to soften it so it's not quite so clinical.
Lesley
Answers:
is dried lavender any good? i have a bag of it, grown & dried at herbalist workshops. did put some in shortbread (interesting).
Answers:
I wouldn't have thought that the dried lavender is as powerful as the essential oil. However, it is the Olbas that is the important one, as I said above.
I also read today that a study by doctors found that taking probiotics cuts the length of a cold by two days.
Lesley
Answers:
Thanks all for the advice. I was beginning to think I was abnormal, but it's good to know that other peoples colds sometimes last a lot longer (although not good for them!!)
I think I am going to look into Echinacea because it seems to be recommended by everyone and Lavender sounds good aswell.
I also read recently that these new probiotic healthy bacteria can also help prevent your body getting ill.
Thanks
Answers:
I have been taking probiotics for the past 2/3 months now, so I will see how I hold out against colds this winter... ;)
Amber
Answers:
Hi Divinedancer,
All peeps on here are right, I am certain of it. I have been taking probiotics and multivitamins for years, and like Amber, I take garlic too. All these help to build one's immune system. We live such busy lives nowadays that our (prehistoric :D) bodies haven't yet caught up with modern life. Hence we are prone to colds that go on for blinking ages.
Taking supplements doesn't mean that you'll never get a cold again, but when you do, they don't last as long and aren't as severe. However, we do come across the odd 'nasty' that lies us low, so the more defences you have, the better.
Get well soon!
Love,
Patsy.
:)
Answers:
Very wise words from Patsy... I second that...
Amber:)
Answers:
You can try fenugreek tea for the cold.
You can also try the following: (I have used this when I get colds)
1 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
Heat on low while stirring the honey in, pour into a glass and let it cool before drinking.
Answers:
The entire cold is usually over all by itself in about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (cough) for another week. If it lasts longer, consider another problem, such as a sinus infection or allergies.