How to shorten the duration of a cold?

Answer 1

There is an old joke that if you treat a cold, you'll get over it in seven days; otherwise, it takes a week.

That is only partially a joke. It takes the body about three to four days to build up antibodies, and then another three or four to recover. After that, there will probably be a period where irritation (especially in the lungs) remains after the virus has been killed.

The best treatment for a cold is rest, plenty of liquids, nutritious food, and an analgesic to relieve discomfort and fever. Decongestants can be of help as well.

During cold season we often acquire more than one cold at a time, which can lead to overlapping symptoms that last much longer than a week. A given cold, however, should improve noticeably by the eighth day.

Interesting factoids: We never catch the same cold twice. Once we have immunity, it is for many years. That is why older people catch fewer colds -- they are immune to more of them already. Also (and this is important), antibiotics do nothing to help a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not kill viruses. Taking them unnecessarily is what leads to the development of bacteria that are immune to antibiotics.

Answer 2

Take zinc and vitamin C, they are both helpful to the body's immune system and will help it fight a cold better.

Answer 3

1000 milligrams vitamin c a day.