Health Tip: If You Have a Cold

Here’s what you can do to feel better

The common cold is caused by a virus, which means it shouldn’t be treated with an antibiotic. But there are things you can do to feel better.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions to help calm cold symptoms:

  - Drink a lot of fluids.
  - Get plenty of sleep.
  - Run a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier.
  - Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke and air pollutants.
  - Use an over-the-counter pain reliever.
  - Take an over-the-counter symptom reliever, such as a decongestant or nasal spray. Always carefully read and follow package instructions.