The common cold generally involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms. Over 200 viruses can cause a cold.

The three most frequent symptoms of a cold are:

• Runny nose


• Nasal congestion


• Sneezing
  

Depending on which virus is the culprit, the virus might also produce:

• Sore throat


• Cough


• Muscle aches


• Headache


• Postnasal drip


• Decreased appetite

• Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter cold remedies may help ease your symptoms. These won't actually shorten the length of a cold, but can help you feel better.


• Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold. They will not help and may make the situation worse. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge is not a reason for antibiotics, unless it doesn't get better within 10 to 14 days.


• Chicken soup does indeed help congestion and body aches.


• Spicy foods that contain hot peppers or horseradish may help clear sinuses.


• Foods rich in vitamins A and C are always recommended and may be helpful during a respiratory infection. They include oranges, kiwi, and tomatoes for vitamin C, and sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli for vitamin A.
  

Different studies have found that large doses of vitamin C may reduce the duration of a cold. Some precautions against taking high doses of vitamin C include the following :

• High doses of vitamin C may cause headaches, intestinal and urinary problems, and even kidney stones.
  


• Because vitamin C increases iron absorption, people with certain blood disorders, such as hemochromatosis, thalassemia, or sideroblastic anemia, should avoid high doses of this vitamin.
  


• Large doses of vitamin C can also interfere with anticoagulant medications ("blood thinners"), blood tests used in diabetes, and stool tests.
  

[To be continued]