The common cold often follows a timeline and can last up to 3 weeks. Symptoms can take 1 to 3 days to develop, peak at 1 to 3 days, and last up to 10 days. Colds usually go away on their own, so you don't need to see a healthcare provider. But over-the-counter (OTC) products can help with your symptoms.
The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery. The common cold is a mild upper respiratory infection caused by viruses.
In adults and older children, they usually last about 7 to 10 days, but can last longer. A cough in particular can last for two or three weeks. Colds tend to last longer in younger children who are under five, typically lasting around 10 to 14 days. Read more about colds in children.
Within 7–10 days , people will usually start to recover from a cold. Symptoms begin to ease up, and people will start feeling better. People may also find that they have more energy and are more able to carry out tasks as usual.
Days 5-7: Energy and congestion improve. 1 week+: Cough usually tapers off after a week, but can take up to 3-6 weeks to fully resolve.
Days 3 to 5: Cough and More Nasal Congestion
As you get better over the next few days, the discharge tends to clear up. In the meantime, however, a cough may develop in response to postnasal drip, says Dr. Favini.
Smolensky says that this immune system activity and the inflammation it produces is not constant, but instead is “highly circadian rhythmic.” As a result, “you tend to experience symptoms as most severe when your immune system kicks into highest gear, which is normally at night during sleep.”
DAY 4 to 7:
In the peak stage of a cold, your symptoms may reach their maximum intensity, resulting in effects such as a runny nose, cough, sinus/nasal congestion, body aches, headache and fatigue. In some, cases, this may also lead to a fever.
The bottom line. If you have a cold but aren't sure if you should continue exercising, let your symptoms guide you. Generally, mild to moderate exercise is usually okay if your symptoms are above the neck. But, symptoms below the neck may mean that you need to rest.
The common cold often follows a timeline and can last up to 3 weeks. Symptoms can take 1 to 3 days to develop, peak at 1 to 3 days, and last up to 10 days. Colds usually go away on their own, so you don't need to see a healthcare provider.
If symptoms get worse instead of better after 3 days or so, the problem could be strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis, especially if your child smokes.
One popular misconception is that you can “sweat out a cold.” You may think of sweating out a cold as a way to get better, but it actually might cause more complications like dehydration that keep your body from healing fast.
You're generally contagious with a cold 1-2 days before your symptoms start, and you could be contagious as long as your symptoms are present—in rare cases, up to 2 weeks. The contagious period for the flu can last as long as 5-7 days from when you first felt sick.
If you've had cold symptoms for 10 days or fewer and you've been fever-free for 24 hours, you're probably safe to go to work. Keep your tissues, over-the-counter remedies, and hand sanitizer close by, and try to remember that even though you're miserable now, you'll likely feel better in a few days.
The common cold lasts from seven to 10 days and goes through three stages. The incubation period of one to a few days, followed by the first stage with the onset of symptoms. In the second stage (from the fourth to the seventh day) cold symptoms worsen and peak.
Although not fully proven, large doses of vitamin C may help reduce how long a cold lasts. They do not protect against getting a cold. Vitamin C may also be helpful for those exposed to brief periods of severe or extreme physical activity. The likelihood of success may vary from person to person.
Getting extra sleep when you're sick doesn't just give you a few hours of respite from unpleasant symptoms: Sleep is like medicine for the immune system, ultimately helping you make a full recovery from an illness. “Sleep is the only time of anyone's day or night where we have restoration processes happening.
Sleep helps your body fight the infection that's causing you to feel ill. It may seem like a cliché to remind yourself to get plenty of rest, but you have to do so if you want to bounce back quickly and help your treatment do its job.
You Should See a Doctor...
If a cold lasts longer than one week with congestion and headaches. This could be a sign of a sinus infection or allergies. If you experience shortness of breath and a fever that returns after two or three days of not having a fever.