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.
Days 3 to 5: Cough and More Nasal Congestion
This usually is due to a spike in the number of white blood cells your immune system has dispatched to overcome the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic. As you get better over the next few days, the discharge tends to clear up.
Day 4: Mucus may turn yellow or green (this is normal). Sore throat improves, but coughing begins. 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.
The usual recovery period for a cold lasts seven days. 3 Cold symptoms may linger for up to two weeks but ought to improve during that time. 2 While two weeks may seem like a long period, the cold is usually worst at the start.
When is the worst day of a cold? The worst day of the common cold is often day two or three. That's when symptoms peak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your sore throat is painful, lozenges and over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can make you feel better.
Cold and flu symptoms such as a blocked nose or cough usually subside after 7-10 days and the absence of these things is quite an obvious indication that you are on the mend.
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.
Stage 2 of a cold is days four through seven. Many people find that their symptoms get worse and peak during this time.
In adults, cold can last seven to 10 days. The symptoms usually are at the worst in the first three to four days.
In general, healthy people usually get over a cold in 7 to 10 days. Flu symptoms, including fever, should go away after about 5 days, but you may still have a cough and feel weak a few days longer. All your symptoms should be gone within 1 to 2 weeks.
Nose blowing can relieve some sinus pressure and provide comfort, but it cannot clear the bacterial or viral infection of the sinuses. The infections require medical attention.
If symptoms get worse, rather than better, after 3-7 days, you may have acquired a bacterial infection. These symptoms can also be caused by a cold virus other than a rhinovirus.
Flu-like symptoms that seem to improve but return with a worse fever and cough is one of them, he says. According to the Mayo Clinic, you might have a "secondary infection," which could be anything from bronchitis to pneumonia. Whatever it is, you should have your doctor take a look.
Symptoms usually peak within the first few days before gradually improving. If a person has cold symptoms for longer than 10 days, with no improvement, they should see their doctor. A person should also see their doctor for any severe or unusual symptoms.
Research shows that the immune system follows a circadian rhythm and that the cells involved in healing and inflammation tend to rev up in the evening. Some evidence suggests that more white blood cells (WBCs) are sent to your tissues to fight off infection during the night compared to the day.
A recent study at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in the US suggested that the amount of nasal bacteria (specifically staphylococcus and moraxella), as well as the amount of cold virus present in the body, may influence the type and severity of the cold symptoms people develop.
One of the first signs of a cold is green or yellow mucus. It's no reason for concern, and in fact, it means your body is working extra hard to fight off infection. White blood cells rush to battle infection, and when they've done their job, they get flushed out of the body along with the virus.
Some symptoms, especially runny or stuffy nose and cough, can last for up to 10 to 14 days. Those symptoms should improve over time.
Reinfection Depends on the Virus Strain
But there's good news. It's actually highly unlikely to catch the same cold twice. Colds are caused by viruses, and when your immune system fights one infection off, it builds antibodies to it.
You really do need extra sleep when you're not feeling well because of a cold or the flu, Taneja-Uppal says. That's especially true if you're running a low-grade fever, which can happen with colds, or the higher fever that accompanies the flu. Sleep helps your body fight the infection that's causing you to feel ill.
If you have a fever, try to dress in light, loose clothing that will allow you to sweat properly. This way, your body has a way of cooling itself off, and you reduce your chances of dehydration too! In addition, make sure you sleep with a sheet or light blanket. Avoid heavy comforters and blankets if possible.
During sickness, cells are under stress, and organisms experience sleepiness to promote sleep and recover from the cellular stress.