Constantly Catching Cold? This is How You Get Rid of The Infection

Do you also have the feeling that you have a constant cold? But are the infections really getting more and more persistent, or is there another reason why we get sick again and again? And how do you finally get rid of the cold?

After how many days should I feel better with a normal cold with a stuffy nose?

“Usually after five to seven days,” says Dr. Matthias Tisch, Professor of Otolaryngology. However, this is an average value, which means that some people are fit again after two days, others only after two weeks. And different complaints take different lengths of time. They are most persistent when they affect the lower respiratory tract, i.e. when coughing is added.

Constantly Catching a Cold: Why Do Some Infections Stay on Longer or More Intensively Than Others?

Cold and sniffles are almost exclusively caused by viruses, there are more than 200 different ones. They belong to different families of viruses, such as the rhino or corona viruses, and also have different disease potential – some pathogens simply make you sicker or sick longer than others.

And What Do I Myself Have to Do with The Duration of a Cold?

“A person between the ages of 20 and 50 with a fit immune system will be healthy again after a relatively short time,” says ENT physician Tisch. In younger years, on the other hand, the body’s own defence is not yet fully developed, and in the second half of life the defence against pathogens no longer functions so well in some cases, many people suffer from an immune deficiency. The risk of colds or even a real flu increases.

Regardless of age, stress, a lack of sleep, lack of exercise or unhealthy nutrition can trigger an immune deficiency and ensure that we constantly catch colds. A cold is particularly protracted when there is a bacterial inflammation of the airways in addition to the viral one, a so-called superinfection.

Is There any Benefit at All from Treating Infections – and If So, Which Ones?

“The assertion that it has no influence on whether and how a cold is treated is in any case scientifically dubious”, explains ENT specialist Dr. Matthias Tisch. Of course, our body can usually cope with colds without help. But: “If not treated, the risk of chronicity increases; complaints remain longer or even become a permanent problem”.

This does not mean, however, that one must always immediately resort to medical cudgels such as antibiotics in case of infections. Antibiotics are ineffective against the cold viruses themselves, and even a bacterial super-infection cannot prevent a precautionary intake. “This was claimed in the past, but it is a fairy tale,” says Tisch. Herbal remedies and also traditional household remedies for colds, such as inhalation and compresses, provide relief. If your throat is scratched, home remedies for sore throats also help.

What else can I Do if I Have a Constant Cold?

A balanced diet with plenty of vitamin C as well as sufficient rest and sleep support the immune system to cope with the infection. Smoking on the other hand damages the mucous membranes and can prolong the healing process. The same applies to heavy physical strain. These put additional strain on our immune system, and the danger increases that the pathogens attack other organs, in the most dramatic case the heart muscle. Studies suggest, however, that it is possible to continue training at least with a runny nose if you feel well otherwise and do not exhaust yourself. The duration of the complaints did not change for joggers with a cold compared to people who took a week off.

On the other hand, as soon as the area from the neck downwards is also affected (swollen lymph nodes, aching limbs, fever, coughing), it is advised to refrain from exercise. Only a few days after recovery you should start again and observe your body to see whether it can already tolerate the full workload again or whether it is better to start more slowly. If you have a real flu, you should take it easy for at least another week after recovery.

And What If My Cold Lasts Longer or Does not End at All?

Then the cause should be clarified, for example by means of X-rays of the sinuses. Doctors can also check whether there is an allergy or the reflux of gastric acid behind a persistent cold or cough.