arcJul 11, 2023

How to get rid of a cold fast?

https://lemmy.world/post/1365745

How to get rid of a cold fast? - LemmyWorld

I am going on holiday in 3 days and of course my body decided a couple days ago to catch a cold…right before my long awaited holiday!! Any tips on how to get rid of it asap? Speed up the recovery somehow? I have flu/cold medicine with paracetamol, caffeine and phenylephrine hydrochloride, however I have stopped taking it after 2 doses (of two capsules each) so I can allow my body to do what it needs with no obstruction before I go away… I am resting, eating light meals, plenty of drinks and soothers for the dry/sore throat Does taking medicine to relieve symptoms prolong the actual healing process? Or am I suffering for no reason right now? Please, any help is appreciated, I’m desperate here 🙏🙏

Show threadAidinthelJul 11, 2023

If you’re running a fever you should definitely let that happen (assuming it’s nothing too crazy, of course). Your body does that to try to kill the infection with heat.

Anything that involves spreading bodily fluids around (coughing, runny nose) should probably be treated, in general diseases do that to help themselves spread.

Disclaimer: this only very general advice, if you have any serious medical concerns please talk to a doctor irl and do not rely on internet randos.

Show threadBrerChicken

If you’re running a fever you should definitely let that happen (assuming it’s nothing too crazy, of course). Your body does that to try to kill the infection with heat.

Your body is also trying to kill the infection by finding the virus “cells” end consuming them. The fever’s helpful just in case your body can’t get a handle on things. That was useful back in the days before evidence-based medicine, but not so much now. There’s no good reason not to treat the fever.

Jul 12, 2023 at 2:12amWeb
Show threadThehalfjewJul 12, 2023
health.harvard.edu/…/treating-fever-in-adults#:~:….
Fever in adults: when to worry - Harvard Health

Adults usually have a fever when their temperature reaches 100.4 ° F. Learn the warning signs and when to get medical attention....

Harvard Health
Show threadBrerChicken Jul 12, 2023

This is the largest study published, 700 people randomly assigned to receive acetaminophen or not. They found no difference in the number of ICU days:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26436473/

Acetaminophen for Fever in Critically Ill Patients with Suspected Infection - PubMed

Early administration of acetaminophen to treat fever due to probable infection did not affect the number of ICU-free days. (Funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and others; HEAT Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12612000513819.).

PubMed
Show threadThehalfjewJul 12, 2023
A. Lowering a fever is not the same as no fever B. the study concluded taking Tylenol did not affect number of ICU days. It did not conclude that fevers are not an important part of the immune system.
Show threadThehalfjewJul 12, 2023
C. This is also on an ICU setting, with (presumably) significant treatment protocols in effect. You shouldn’t assume it applies to other situations.