Treating your symptoms will not make your cold go away, but it will help you feel better.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help lower fever and relieve muscle aches. Aspirin can also treat a cold, but it may have potential serious side effects, such as stomach bleeding. So it’s best to avoid using aspirin. Aspirin should never be used in children and teens due to the risk of Reye syndrome.

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OTC cold and cough medicines may help ease symptoms in adults and older childre:

• Do not give OTC cough and cold medicine to children under age 4, as they can have serious side effects.
• For children ages 4 to 6 years, contact your provider before giving your child OTC cold medicine.
• If you take prescription medicines for another health problem, ask your provider which OTC cold medicines are safe for you.
• Instead of buying OTC remedies with multiple medicines, treat each symptom individually. That way you know how much you are taking of each medicine.
• If you do opt for these medicines, be sure to read the labels carefully to make sure you do not take too much of any one medicine.

To treat individual symptoms:

• A nasal decongestant can help relieve stuffiness and a runny nose.
• Throat lozenges or sprays can help ease a sore throat.
• Coughing is your body’s way of getting mucus out of your lungs. So only use cough medicines if needed.
• A cough suppressant can help if your cough keeps you from getting enough rest or sleeping at night.
• If you are coughing up thick mucus, a cough expectorant may help. It thins mucus so it’s easier to cough it up.

Here are other things you can do to help relieve a cold:

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids without caffeine. You lose a lot of fluid from coughing and blowing your nose, and this will help you stay hydrated.
• Gargle with warm salt water to help relieve a sore throat.
• Prop yourself up with pillows at night to help relieve your cough so you can sleep.
• A humidifier may help ease symptoms. Follow all instructions for cleaning the machine.
• Breathe in steam by taking a hot shower, or putting your head under a towel and over a bowl of hot water.
• Take time to rest and get plenty of sleep.
• Stay away from secondhand smoke.
• Use your rescue inhaler as prescribed if you are wheezing.
• See your provider immediately if it becomes hard to breathe.

Many home remedies are popular treatments for the common cold. These include vitamin C, zinc supplements, and echinacea. Although not proven to be helpful, most home remedies are safe for most people.

• Some remedies may cause side effects or allergic reactions.
• Certain remedies may change the way other medicines work.
• Contact your provider before trying any herbs and supplements.

Wash your hands often. This is the best way to stop the spread of germs. To wash your hands correctly:

• Rub soap onto wet hands for 20 seconds. Make sure to get under your fingernails. Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer and turn the faucet off with a towel.
• You can also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol. Use a dime sized amount and rub all over your hands until they are dry.