Why Won’t My Cold Go Away?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• 1. You Aren’t Getting Enough Rest
• 2. You’re Low on Fluids
• 3. You’re Stressed
• 4. You’re Treating the Wrong Illness
• 5. You’re Taking the Wrong Things for It
• 6. You Can’t Quit Your Workout
• More

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s hard to slow down for a mere case of the sniffles. Sure, you can try to work through it and hope you’ll feel better quickly. And sometimes that happens. But more often, those pesky symptoms stick around and leave you feeling sneezy and sniffly.

Colds usually last 3 to 7 days, but sometimes they hang on as long as 2 weeks. If you’re under the weather for longer than that, one of these things could be to blame.

Sleep helps keep your immune system working like it should. Once you have a cold, you need to catch enough Zzz’s to help your body fight off the virus. Take it extra easy during the first 3 days.

Too little shut-eye can also make you more likely to get a cold. One study found that people who got less than 7 hours of sleep a night were nearly three times more likely to get sick than people who slept for 8 hours or more.

When you’re sick, it’s easy to get dehydrated. A sore throat can make it less than fun to swallow.

A fever draws moisture out of your body. Plus, you lose fluid as your body makes mucus and it drains away. And that over-the-counter cold medicine you’re taking to dry up your head? It can dry the rest of you out, too.

So drink plenty of water, juice, or soup. A side benefit: All that liquid helps loosen up the mucus in your nose and head. Stay away from booze, coffee, and caffeine when you’re looking for things to sip though. 

When you’re freaked out about life, work, or whatever, it takes a toll on your immune system. You can’t fight off viruses as well as you should. That makes you more likely to get a cold, and once that happens, your symptoms are going to be worse.

Ongoing stress makes your body less able to respond to cortisol, a hormone that controls your body’s response to threats like the virus that causes the common cold.

It’s easy to confuse a cold with other ailments. You might treat a supposed cold for a few weeks, only to realize that the reason you aren’t getting better is because you’re under the weather with something else, like allergies.

Here’s how to tell them apart:

Cold symptoms usually take a few days to fully show up. Allergies can come on quickly, and they last for as long as you come in contact with the allergen. Both cause a cough, runny nose, and sneezing, but a cold is more likely to give you aches and pains or a fever.

Or you could have a sinus infection. Both that and a cold cause pain around your eyes and nose, as well as icky, yellowish mucus. The difference: These symptoms usually happen within the first few days of a cold. But a sinus infection typically shows up after the normal time it takes for a cold to run its course.

We’ve all heard about some of the more popular herbal remedies: Drink this and you’ll never get sick again. Take that and your cold symptoms will be shortened by 3 days. Many of these claims don’t hold water, and it’s important to remember that just because the bottle says “herbal” doesn’t mean it can’t harm you.

Echinacea is one of the first natural treatments people suggest when you have a cold, but most studies show it just doesn’t work.

Many people down vitamin C like candy thinking it’ll speed up the cold process. But there’s little evidence that it helps shorten a cold once you have it. And the only folks it really seems to work for are extreme athletes who take it to prevent getting a cold.

Zinc also gets called out for helping end your cold, but again the evidence is weak. And some people who used a nasal spray with zinc lost their sense of smell. So your best bet is to leave it on the shelf.

It isn’t just natural treatments that don’t work for colds. Antibiotics won’t help either, because a virus causes these illnesses. The best way to treat your cold is to manage the symptoms. Save the antibiotics for strep throat or a sinus infection.

It’s OK to be active if your cold symptoms are all above your neck, like a runny nose, stuffy head, sneezing or sore throat. Consider ramping down from a run to a walk, though.

But if you have symptoms below the neck, like chest congestion, a hacking cough, an upset tummy, fever, muscle aches or fatigue, give yourself permission to sit it out. Rest is what gives your immune system time to recharge.

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If Your Cold Lingers, Here’s What It Could Mean

If your cold symptoms won’t quit, you may have something else.

Doctors explain what it could mean if you’ve got a lingering “cold.”

Cold comfort

There’s a reason it’s called the common cold: Adults can expect to get two to three colds each year with children experiencing even more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—colds are the number one reason adults miss work and kids miss school. We probably don’t even have to tell you what the symptoms are but a sore throat and runny nose are usually the first signs, followed by coughing and sneezing, the CDC reports. However, while most people recover in about seven to 10 days, sometimes colds can linger and linger and… well, eventually you start to wonder if you’re going to spend the rest of your life wiping your nose. There are some real reasons your cold is lingering:

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You might still have a cold

The first cause of a lingering cold, according to Satesh Bidaisee, a professor of public health and preventive medicine at St. George’s University, is that you may just still have the cold itself. “The cold is a common health challenge for people around the world, especially in children who commonly experience the cold as often as once per month, and adults on average two to four times per year,” he says. “However, while the common cold is usually cleared within one week, any persistence of the cold beyond two weeks is considered lingering.” These 13 household items raise your risk for cold and flu.

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You might have another cold

Especially during cold season, you can catch a virus, fight it off, and then be exposed to an entirely new cold; the new virus and new symptoms can blend with the ones you just fought off and make it seem like one long illness. “There are literally hundreds of viruses that can cause a cold so it’s common to get more than one in a given year,” says Joshua Sc`ott, MD, a physician at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, California, adding that this is often the case with children. Learn the difference between the cold and flu.

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It’s might be a side effect of your medication

Coughs are often the last symptom to go away from a cold but if yours just won’t quit, it may be due to your medications, says Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, is a medication side effect. “A chronic dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors, such as lisinopril, benazepril, and ramipril, which are a type of blood pressure medication. “There shouldn’t be any other symptoms like nasal congestion, sore throat, or sinus pressure, however, so if you take one of these medications, talk to your doctor about possibly switching to another one.” (Read how this man’s “cold” turned out to be a heart attack.)

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You might have chronic postnasal drainage

If you have a productive cough with clear or white phlegm that persists, says Dr. Arthur, it may be due to chronic postnasal drainage, which tends to get worse at night when you’re lying down. “Often people complain of nasal congestion and having to clear their throat constantly,” she adds. Post-nasal drainage is a common after-effect of the cold and can also be caused by allergies, weather changes, and other external factors, she says. Here are 7 reasons why you always feel stuffed up.

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It might be allergies

A common cause of a runny nose and a cough that mimics a viral illness can be allergies triggered by your environment, says Dr. Scott. “Depending on the season, allergic symptoms can last much longer and are often accompanied by itchy, watery eyes,” he explains. “Tree pollen can often be high in the winter so symptoms of allergies can be at the same time as the ‘cold season.’”

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You might have bacterial sinusitis

“Sometimes, as the viral illness starts to disappear, new symptoms like pressure in the sinuses, headache, and sometimes fever can occur,” explains Dr. Scott. “This happens when the congestion from a cold causes the right environment for bacteria to grow, causing a sinus infection.” It most often occurs between ten to 14 days after the onset of a cold and requires a prescription from a doctor to clear up. Check out these clear signs you have a sinus infection.

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You might have asthma or COPD

If you have a cough accompanied by wheezing that does not go away, Dr. Arthur warns that asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) might be the cause. Typically asthma shows up earlier in life but it is possible to be diagnosed as an adult, she says. COPD typically presents in older people, particularly those who were smokers, she adds. Your doctor may order a lung test for an accurate diagnosis, and treatment can begin with various types of inhalers.

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You might have pneumonia

If your symptoms are (or turn into) a consistent cough accompanied by brown or green mucus, a fever, and shortness of breath, it could signal an infection like pneumonia, according to Dr. Arthur. “Most people will typically feel bad in general and may complain of their lungs hurting,” she says. “This is most likely to affect people with chronic lung disease, like asthma or emphysema, but can also affect perfectly healthy people.” If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately, as this is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness that requires prompt treatment. Check out the 7 signs that your upper respiratory infection is actually pneumonia.

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You might have acid reflux

If you’ve been experiencing a bad taste in your mouth that’s accompanied by a dry cough and hoarseness, you may be battling the digestive disease known as acid reflux. Reflux is quite common, affecting about 20 percent of American adults and that number is only rising, according to the National Institutes of Health. “Symptoms include heartburn, nausea, burping and regurgitation and often worsen after heavy or spicy meals, when you’re lying down, or if you take anti-inflammatory pain medication like ibuprofen regularly,” says Dr. Arthur. “Treatment with antacid medications can help, but an evaluation by a doctor is necessary if symptoms persist beyond a few weeks.”

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You might have something stuck in your body

As strange as it might sound, people do get stuff stuck in their airways—like their nose. This is especially true for small children. This can cause runny nose symptoms that can last for weeks, or until the foreign object is removed. “This is usually accompanied by a foul smell; the only treatment is the removal of the foreign body by a healthcare professional,” adds Dr. Scott.

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You might have tuberculosis

This serious bacterial disease triggers persistent, uncontrollable coughing, and you may cough up blood plus have a fever, chills, and night sweats. While tuberculosis is much rarer these days, cases still occur. “This infection is very contagious, so if you have a weakened immune system, have been traveling outside of the country or are exposed to anyone with TB you are at increased risk,” warns Dr. Arthur. “It is extremely important to be checked right away for this, as it is important not to expose others.” She recommends giving your doctor’s office a heads up if you have any of these symptoms and plan to wear an appropriate mask when you arrive for your appointment.

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You might be immunodeficient

Lingering colds can also be a sign of that your body’s defense system—your immunity—is compromised. This means you’re less able to fight off infection, explains Dr. Bidaisee. Dietary insufficiency, inadequate sleep, dehydration, stress, genetic conditions, certain medications, and systemic viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can reduce the body’s ability to resolve a cold. “Immunocompromised conditions require supportive treatment such as dietary supplementation, rest, fluids, stress management, and antimicrobial therapy,” says Dr. Bidaisee. Check out these 12 simple ways to boost your immune system.

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It’s rare, but you might have cancer

Finally, if you have a cough that persists despite your use of over-the-counter or prescription meds—and particularly if you are or were a smoker or have had exposure to asbestos—you may have a symptom of cancer, says Dr. Arthur. “Typically symptoms are present for weeks to months, and there may be no other symptoms although some people may have generalized weakness, decreased appetite, shortness of breath, and weight loss,” she says. As a precaution, always make an appointment with your doctor to rule out such a serious diagnosis. Next, find out more signs your common cold could be something worse.

Sources

• Satesh Bidaisee, MSPH, EdD, professor of public health and preventive medicine at St. George’s University
• Joshua Scott, MD, a physician at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, California
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others”
• Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California
• National Institutes of Health: “Definition & Facts for GER & GERD”

Originally Published: January 03, 2019

Jenn Sinrich

Jenn Sinrich is an experienced digital and social editor in New York City. She’s written for several publications including SELF, Women’s Health, Fitness, Parents, American Baby, Ladies’ Home Journal and more.She covers various topics from health, fitness and food to pregnancy and parenting. In addition to writing, Jenn also volunteers with Ed2010, serving as the deputy director to Ed’s Buddy System, a program that pairs recent graduates with young editors to give them a guide to the publishing industry and to navigating New York.When she’s not busy writing, editing or reading, she’s enjoying and discovering the city she’s always dreamed of living in with her loving fiancé, Dan, and two feline friends, Janis and Jimi. Visit her website: Jenn Sinrich.

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According to Natalya Esaulova, post-viral syndrome cannot last more than two weeks, otherwise you should definitely go to the doctor

org/Person”> Photo: Artem Ustyuzhanin / E1.RU

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We rejoice in the first spring warmth not only because the hated snowdrifts are melting before our eyes, but also the season of SARS and flu, which did not allow us to live in peace, is ending. Many have been ill with SARS (or influenza) since the fall, some even more than once. What if, after an illness, a person cannot fully recover, and, as the inhabitants of Prostokvashino wrote, “it hurts his paws, then his tail falls off”? With these questions, we came to the pulmonologist, candidate of medical sciences Natalya Esaulova.

— Natalya Alexandrovna, very often after SARS a person has no strength for almost anything. Is it really connected with the fact that the person has been ill? What should be done in such a case?

– Weakness, loss of appetite and disability – these symptoms really fit into the so-called post-viral asthenia syndrome. Yes, it has its own separate name and is described in the medical literature. But this syndrome cannot last more than one and a half to two weeks. If the discomfort lasts longer, other symptoms join, then you don’t need to wait, you should go to the doctor.

— Is it worth it to take vitamins, immunostimulants, other drugs during these one and a half weeks or maybe longer? Some begin to advise ginseng, others adaptogens. How much are they needed?

— If we are in the position of evidence-based medicine, then we must honestly admit that the clinical effect of taking adaptogens, vitamins and immunomodulatory drugs has not been proven. And I would not advise taking immunomodulators without consulting a doctor.

— Well, what should a recovering person do then?

— The most important thing is to protect yourself from re-infection. This does not mean that you have to wear a mask to work. By the way, a medical mask has an effect only when it is worn not by a healthy, but by a sick person. She closes his nose, mouth, preventing the spread of droplets of saliva, which contains a large number of viral particles. Moreover, the mask must be changed every two hours.

Remember, if you are healthy, then wearing a medical mask is useless

Photo: Artem Ustyuzhanin / E1.RU

people, especially if they are poorly ventilated. Viral particles remain active for hours in dry, warm and still air, but are destroyed almost instantly in cool, humid and moving air. Wash your hands more often and avoid touching your face. The patient touches his face, the virus gets on his hands, from his hands – on doorknobs, furniture, dishes, etc. A healthy person, touching all this with his hand, has a high chance of getting sick too. You need to try to get enough sleep and eat right. Be sure to additionally moisturize the nasal mucosa. By the way, if after SARS you could not refuse vasoconstrictor drops and continue to dry the nasal mucosa with them, then it will become much more difficult to fight a new infection of your overdried mucosa, and the risk of getting sick again will be higher.

— When can I start playing sports?

— Unless otherwise advised by the doctor, two weeks after recovery, you can gradually return to your normal activities. But the first training should still be at half strength.

— Can I drink alcohol?

— With the abolition of antiviral therapy and antibiotics, alcoholic beverages can theoretically be consumed. But, of course, everything needs a measure.

— What about a cough? Patients and especially young mothers have such a term – “residual cough”. How long can it last?

– Cough after a respiratory viral infection may persist, but not more than a week and a half after the doctor discharged the patient from the hospital. At the same time, it should have a clear tendency to decrease. If you cough longer, and against this background there is a feeling of lack of air from time to time, there is a feeling of an incomplete inhalation or exhalation, chest pains appear, sputum comes out – here you need to immediately run to the doctor.

A prolonged cough after a cold can lead to bronchial asthma

Photo: Artem Ustyuzhanin / E1.RU

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— What could it be?

— The most common cause of prolonged cough after SARS is secondary broncho-obstructive syndrome (BOS) or pathology of the upper respiratory tract. The main mechanism of biofeedback is bronchial hyperreactivity after an infection that a person has had. The bronchi are in a state of constant readiness to respond with spasm and swelling to the slightest irritant. I admit that in rare cases, obstruction (bronchospasm) may eventually pass without treatment. But at the same time, it is not excluded that in the future it will become a bridge to the development of bronchial asthma. I think that no one will be happy with this diagnosis, and therefore this syndrome needs to be treated.

— Are inhalers used for this? You come to the office and breathe it in, colleagues are interested, and some already consider you sick and old. .. There are many drugs in other forms, including tablets, but the doctor must select and prescribe them. No need to go to the pharmacy for weeks and ask, they say, give me something for a cough. Take pity on yourself, treat yourself wisely.

Both inhalers and tablets help cough, but they are effective only when prescribed by a doctor

Photo: Artem Ustyuzhanin / E1.RU

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— Can you still have a temperature after SARS?

— Temperature, if we are talking about SARS and influenza, can only be after pneumonia or if a person has other complications. If after SARS during the day the temperature rises to 37.1–37.5, this is an alarming symptom. The focus of inflammation can be anywhere: from the ENT organs to the kidneys, only a doctor should search for it.

— What symptoms, besides a prolonged cough and fever, should alert you after SARS?

— Any infection, and especially the flu, is stressful for the body. In order to recover, we mobilize all our strength, and against this background, chronic diseases can make themselves felt.

Has the person had high blood pressure at least once before? During or after SARS, a hypertensive crisis may occur. This suggests that such a patient needs to be more attentive to his blood pressure, normalize weight, follow a diet, limit salt intake, and stop smoking. So he will save himself from the development of a hypertensive crisis and, perhaps, a stroke in the future.

If you have problems with blood pressure, then during or after SARS, a hypertensive crisis can occur. Before a viral infection, there might not have been pain in the heart, but if they appeared during SARS or within a week or two after, you should go to the doctor and deal with the problem that has arisen. This is a warning signal, but when an intelligent person hears this signal, he uses it to his advantage. No need to be afraid, you need to act.

Myocarditis, that is, inflammation of the heart muscle tissue, can become a rather formidable complication after acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections, and here a visit to a doctor is mandatory. Myocarditis can manifest itself with symptoms such as weakness, sweating, fever. A person has a heartbeat, pain in the heart, he does not tolerate any physical activity. In this case, the sooner treatment begins, the lower the risk of disability and even disability in the future. Cardiomyopathy, which also occurs as an outcome of myocarditis, is one of the indications for a heart transplant operation.

Natalya Aleksandrovna is sure that the best protection against viral infections is vaccination

Photo: Artem Ustyuzhanin / E1.RU

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In a word, ARVI and influenza are a test of strength for the body. I will not be original if I say that the best protection for the future for each person will be vaccination against influenza, as the most dangerous viral infection of this group. Vaccination protects against life-threatening complications and ultimately saves not only our health, but also time and money for subsequent treatment.

Tatyana Vladimirova

ARVI and influenzaCold cold treatment

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Science against influenza. Russian scientists continue to research technologies for developing vaccines against the

virus

12:15 November 14, 2019

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12:15 November 14, 2019

The flu vaccination campaign in St. or mobile point. Of course, this is a purely individual question, and many still avoid this procedure.

Distrust of vaccinations in general was born together with the beginning of mass vaccination in Soviet times. People talked about complications, allergic reactions, about non-healing scars. Today, one of the most common ideas that exists in the public mind is that immunity suffers from any vaccination. This statement is rather based on special cases, information about which is quickly spreading through “word of mouth”. Medical reports and scientific studies do not support these concerns. On the contrary, it is known that due to vaccination, for example, parotitis was practically eliminated, the incidence of tuberculosis and hepatitis B was sharply reduced. As for the influenza virus, official statistics are inexorable here: it is vaccination that reduces the risk of influenza by 700-80%.

First of all, this is possible if modern, high-tech vaccines are used, time-tested and shown to be safe in clinical and preclinical studies. The theme of the latest innovative developments in the field of treatment and prevention of influenza was the topic of the Virology days 2019 symposium, which took place on November 6–7 in the research building of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Aleksey Matveichev, head of the Petrovax Center for Preclinical Research, presented to his colleagues a unique study of the role of the adjuvant azoximer bromide in influenza vaccines.

Time-tested

Azoximer bromide-based vaccines produced by the Russian company Petrovax have been used to prevent influenza since 1996 in Russia and other countries: the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Their use, according to the expert, debunks the myths that influenza vaccination reduces immunity. In his speech, Alexey Matveichev explained how it works. As part of such vaccines, there is an adjuvant of azoximer bromide, which contributes to an adequate immune response of the body. Due to this, the drug itself contains 3 times less antigen, which helps to reduce the development of various negative consequences on the human body. In addition, the latest research has shown the ability of azoximer bromide to activate the main parts of the immune system.

Dmitry Lioznov, Acting Director of the Research Institute of Influenza named after A.I. A.A. Smorodintseva: “In general, adjuvants are widely used in the manufacture of vaccines, they can increase their effectiveness and immunogenicity, especially in individuals with a suspected poor immune response to vaccination. ” The expert expressed confidence that this is why adjuvant vaccines are widely used all over the world today not only for the manufacture of influenza vaccines, but also against other infectious diseases.

Variants are possible

It is known that strains of the influenza virus are constantly changing, so the process of obtaining a new influenza vaccine does not stand still, but is repeated year after year. From the beginning of the year until the end of February, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) gather and, based on previous epidemiological data, decide which strain of the virus to expect in the next season. In the spring, after the entry into force of the relevant official document with a forecast for the year, manufacturers begin to develop the product. By September, everything should be ready for vaccination. Are there emergency situations here? Could an unexpected highly pathogenic influenza virus arrive? Undoubtedly. But when they occur, you need to react quickly. He also spoke about this in his speech at Virology days 2019Alexey Matveichev. Considering that the volumes of production of virus antigens are not unlimited, the creation of adjuvant vaccines containing a minimum amount of antigens becomes a possible solution. In addition, clinical and preclinical studies have shown that azoximer bromide can be combined with a different infectious agent and used in vaccines against different strains of the influenza virus.

Thus, we can say that today we have sufficient scientific and material base to protect the population from almost any influenza virus. To use this protection or not is the responsibility of each individual person. However, it is worth remembering that vaccination prevents the spread of the virus. Experts believe that if you vaccinate against any infectious disease up to 95% of the total population, then the epidemic simply will not arise.

About the study

The study on the effect of the adjuvant azoximer bromide on the immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine was conducted by Russian scientists in accordance with international requirements.