how long for cold or flu to run its course

For most healthy people, the flu is an uncomfortable but short-term illness that resolves itself as the immune system fights it off. Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days. For people who've had a flu shot, the symptoms may last a shorter amount of time, or be less severe.

Full Answer

How long does it take for a cold virus to run its course?

The common cold is an infection of your nose and throat. It's easily passed to others, especially within homes, classrooms and workplaces. More than 200 different viruses can cause colds. There's no cure for a common cold, but it typically runs its course in a week to 10 days.

How long does it take for your body to fight off a cold?

Most colds do not last very long. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that most people recover from a cold within around 7–10 days. In many cases, the body gets rid of an infection without the need for medical treatment.

What lasts longer a cold or flu?

Flu symptoms are usually much worse than a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly and lasts longer.

What are the worst days of a cold?

Stage 2: Days 4 to 7 (Active/Peak) This is when the virus is at its peak intensity. You might find during this time that everything hurts, and your face feels like a running faucet. You may even experience a fever, which can be alarming.

How do I know if my cold is getting 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.

Does blowing your nose help get rid of a cold?

Sept. 29, 1999 (San Francisco) -- On average, adults blow their nose 45 times a day during the first three days of a cold, according to doctors at the University of Virginia. But in a new study, they have found that doing so may actually make a cold worse, because the blow propels mucus into the nasal sinuses.

How can I speed up my cold recovery?

These remedies might help you feel better:Stay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. ... Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.Soothe a sore throat. ... Combat stuffiness. ... Relieve pain. ... Sip warm liquids. ... Try honey. ... Add moisture to the air.More items...

What are the five stages of a cold?

The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery....Symptoms of a cold appear and usually peak within one to three days and may include:Sore throat.Runny nose.Stuffy nose.Coughing.Sneezing.Headaches.Body aches.Post-nasal drip.More items...•

What is the quickest way to get rid of the flu?

12 Tips for a Speedy Flu RecoveryStay home. Your body needs time and energy to fight off the flu virus, which means that your daily routine should be put on the backburner. ... Hydrate. ... Sleep as much as possible. ... Ease your breathing. ... Eat healthy foods. ... Add moisture to the air. ... Take OTC medications. ... Try elderberry.More items...

What stage of cold is contagious?

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.

Does vitamin C help with colds?

In studies in which people took vitamin C only after they got a cold, vitamin C did not improve their symptoms. A note about safety: Vitamin C is generally considered safe; however, high doses can cause digestive disturbances such as diarrhea and nausea. Echinacea has not been proven to help prevent or treat colds.

Why do colds get worse at night?

At night, there is less cortisol in your blood. As a result, your white blood cells readily detect and fight infections in your body at this time, provoking the symptoms of the infection to surface, such as fever, congestion, chills, or sweating. Therefore, you feel sicker during the night.

What are the five stages of a cold?

The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery....Symptoms of a cold appear and usually peak within one to three days and may include:Sore throat.Runny nose.Stuffy nose.Coughing.Sneezing.Headaches.Body aches.Post-nasal drip.More items...•

How do you quickly get rid of a cold?

Cold remedies that workStay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. ... Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.Soothe a sore throat. ... Combat stuffiness. ... Relieve pain. ... Sip warm liquids. ... Try honey. ... Add moisture to the air.More items...

Can a cold go away in 3 days?

But more often, those pesky symptoms stick around and leave you feeling sneezy and sniffly. Colds usually last 3 to 7 days, but sometimes they hang on as long as 2 weeks. If you're under the weather for longer than that, one of these things could be to blame.

How can I recover from a cold fast?

To help you get better more quickly: rest and sleep. drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is OK) to avoid dehydration. gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children)

What Are The Stages of A Cold?

Cold symptoms can differ from person to person, but they generally appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. In most c...

What Are The Stages of The Flu?

Flu symptoms usually start within one to four days after infection. Unlike a common cold, the effects of an influenza virus infection can come on v...

How Long Is The Flu Contagious?

A 2013 survey conducted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases revealed that 41 percent of people think the flu is only contagious afte...

What If A Cold Or The Flu Won’T Go away?

When complications develop, a person will likely be sick for longer than a week or two, depending on the severity of the complication, how quickly...

How Long Does Immunity Last?

With some viral illnesses, once you have been infected with it or have been vaccinated against it, you're immune for life.With the flu, however, im...

How long does it take for a cold to start?

The symptoms of a cold can begin as soon as 10 to 12 hours #N#Trusted Source#N#after you’ve been infected. You may notice that your throat feels scratchy or sore and that you have less energy than normal. These symptoms typically last a couple of days.

How long does it take to recover from a cold?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source. , most adults recover from a cold in about 7 to 10 days. Typically, a common cold includes three different phases, each with slightly different symptoms. 1.

What is the best pain reliever for a fever?

OTC pain relievers can help relieve symptoms like fever, headache, and aches and pains. Some options include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin, and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

What does it feel like to have a cold?

Coming down with a cold can sap your energy and make you feel downright miserable. Having a sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough can really get in the way of going about your daily life.

How to treat a common cold?

The best way to treat a common cold is to focus on alleviating the symptoms until the infection has run its course. Since a cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics aren’t an effective treatment.

What is the difference between a head cold and a chest cold?

Head colds, like the common cold, are different from chest colds, which can affect your lower airways and lungs and can involve chest congestion and coughing up mucus.

How to prevent spreading a cold to others?

If you’re sick, follow the pointers below to prevent spreading your cold to others: Avoid close contact with others, such as shaking hands, hugging, or kissing. Stay home if you can instead of going out in public. Cover your face with a tissue if you cough or sneeze, and dispose of used tissues promptly.

What is the difference between a cold and a flu?

The main difference between cold and flu is that you’re more likely to have a fever and chills with flu. Adults don’t usually get a fever with a common cold, although kids sometimes do. The flu also causes body aches and more severe symptoms than a cold. Although both the cold and flu can lead to complications, ...

How does the cold virus spread?

For you to become infected, the virus has to get to one of your mucous membranes — the moist lining of the nostrils, eyes or mouth. That happens when you touch a surface or breathe moist air that contains the cold virus.

Why do children get colds?

Because young children haven’t been exposed to viruses before, they get more colds than adults. Their immune systems have to learn how to recognize and deal with these new germs. By the time you become an adult, you’ve had many colds. It’s easier for your immune system to identify and attack similar viruses.

What is the common cold?

You might have heard that the common cold is a coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause upper respiratory infections. While rhinoviruses cause most types of common cold, a few are caused by different coronaviruses. Most people recover quickly from these common colds.

Why don't antibiotics work for colds?

Antibiotics are medications that fight infections caused by bacteria. Because viruses cause colds, antibiotics don’t work for colds.

What is the cold in Cleveland Clinic?

What is a cold? A cold is a contagious upper respiratory infection that affects your nose, throat, sinuses and trachea (windpipe). More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but most colds are caused by a rhinovirus. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

What happens when you breathe in a cold?

If you breathe in those droplets, the cold virus takes root in your nose. You can also leave virus particles on surfaces you touch when you’re sick.

How to recover from the flu?

However, it’s still important to do your due diligence in the recovery process: sleeping, eating healthily, and washing your hands can help you recover from the flu. In this article, you will learn about the different stages of flu recovery and ways you can help support the recovery process. Read on to learn more.

How long does it take for the flu to show symptoms?

In general, flu symptoms appear from one to four days after virus exposure and last around five to seven days. 5 Symptom duration may vary depending on the person. Here is a general overview to the stages of flu recovery: 6

How to prevent the flu?

In most cases, the flu isn’t a reason for serious concern. That being said, it’s important to be careful and take preventive measures to protect yourself from the virus—especially during cold and flu season. Start by getting the flu vaccine to help reduce your risk of catching the flu. 2 Another easy move: wash your hands often. Using soap and hot water is a simple, affordable way to prevent the spreading of the flu virus.

When do you start to get the flu symptoms?

Days 1-4: Flu symptoms begin to show. As mentioned above, the onset of these flu symptoms is less gradual than that of a cold. Be on the lookout for fever, fatigue, chills, and other symptoms of flu. You are most contagious at this point in the timeline. 7

What Are Some Common Flu Symptoms?

Flu and cold can present themselves in similar ways. With both cold and flu, you may experience cough, stuffy nose, and sore throat. 3 However, cold symptoms are usually milder than flu symptoms and come with a more gradual onset. 3 In addition, fever usually accompanies the flu virus, while fever is rare with colds. 3

How long does the flu last?

Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days. For people who've had a flu shot, the symptoms may last a shorter amount of time, or be less severe. For other people, the symptoms may last longer. Even when symptoms resolve, you may continue to feel fatigued.

How to predict how long the flu will last?

To better predict how long the flu will last, take steps to reduce your risk of contracting the virus and experiencing severe symptoms. Consider the following steps, as suggested in the Harvard Special Report A Guide to Women's Health: Fifty and Forward. Get an annual flu vaccine. Wash your hands with soap and water before eating ...

What to do if you have the flu?

If you get the flu, you should get rest and drink plenty of fluids. Take pain relievers to lower your fever and relieve the aches, such as:

What are the risks of the flu?

Some people are at increased risk for complications from influenza. These people include: 1 the very young 2 people 65 or older 3 people with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, HIV, or diabetes 4 pregnant women 5 people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher

Do smokers get the flu?

Smokers are more likely to get the flu than nonsmokers. These steps won't guarantee that you'll escape the flu this year, but they may help prevent it. And they may help reduce the amount of time the flu lasts if you do become infected with the virus. – By Heidi Godman. Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter.

What is the difference between a cold and flu?

Seasonal coronaviruses should not be confused with SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Because flu and the common cold have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly. Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have serious associated complications.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

The symptoms of flu can include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue (tiredness). Cold symptoms are usually milder than the symptoms of flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.

Is it normal to have a runny nose with a cold?

Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have very serious associated complications.

How long does it take to recover from the flu?

Some symptoms, such as a cough, can persist for more than two weeks. Even if you have a quick recovery from the flu, you can still infect others five to seven days after becoming sick.

What is the difference between the flu and the cold?

In general, the symptoms of the flu are more severe and more common. Colds are typically milder. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than those with the flu.

How to prevent the flu?

A flu shot is the best way to prevent the flu. Practicing preventative habits can also cut down on your chances of exposing yourself to the flu.#N#“Germs like the flu spread when people touch their eyes, nose, mouth, or even the food that they eat,” explains Dr. Tyeese L. Gaines, board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician and Medical Director of UltraMed Urgent Care in Skokie, Illinois. “It’s a good habit to always wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub, but especially during flu season. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.”#N#The CDC advises you utilize several health habits to protect yourself:#N#• Avoid close contact with those who are sick#N#• Wash your hands thoroughly and often#N#• Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth — especially when in public#N#• Disinfect surfaces, especially if someone is sick#N#• Eat well and get enough sleep#N#• Stay hydrated#N#You can also prevent the flu by stopping the spread of germs to others. Always cover your coughs and sneezes. And should you come down with the flu yourself, stay home to avoid spreading the virus.

How long does it take to recover from a cold?

The average duration of a cold is 7 to 10 days, and most people recover without any specific treatment. But cold symptoms may last longer or become more severe in people who have immune problems or other underlying health issues, such as diabetes, says Soma Mandal, MD, an internist with the Summit Medical Group in New Jersey. If you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk for complications, reach out to your healthcare provider.

How long does it take for a cold to show up?

Yep, those are the first symptoms of a cold, which typically appear in adults about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.

How long do allergies last?

Symptoms commonly associated with allergies, which can last months, include: Symptoms of a sinus infection, which can last anywhere from one to three months or more, can include: If you suspect allergies or a sinus infection, Dr. Glatt recommends seeing your doctor to get a complete evaluation.

How long does sinus infection last?

Symptoms of a sinus infection, which can last anywhere from one to three months or more, can include: 1 Nasal congestion 2 Sore throat 3 Pressure or pain around the eyes and forehead 4 Fatigue 5 Fever

What are the symptoms of a cold?

Days 1 and 2: Stuffiness, Sore Throat, and Runny Nose. “Although you can have a cold start with a number of different symptoms, the most common first symptoms are congestion, runny nose, and sore throat, signs that the virus is directly affecting your respiratory system,” says Nathan Favini, MD, an internist and the medical director ...

How long does it take for a cough to go away?

Be aware that it may take up to six weeks for a cough to disappear even after other symptoms fade, Dr. Mandal says. Usually, this is due to postnasal drip, which can continue to form while swollen and irritated nasal passages heal, she explains.

What is a germs on a plane study?

A germs-on-a-plane study tracked how infectious diseases are spread on passenger flights.

How long can you be contagious with the flu?

People with the flu may be contagious anywhere between the day before to seven days after their symptoms appear.

How to feel better on day 5 of flu?

On day five of the flu, you should be starting to feel better. Your fever is probably gone. You should have less congestion but may still have a cough. Continue to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids.

What is flu day?

Flu Day 0. The day before any influenza symptoms appear, you are already contagious. You feel fine and go about your daily life without realizing you are about to get sick. 1  You likely came in contact with someone who was contagious with the flu in the past 48 hours.

What to do if you cough at night?

A cough that keeps you up at night may require a prescription cough medicine. Your healthcare provider may want you to come into the office to be checked out. If you still have a cough, your healthcare provider's office may give you a mask to wear in the waiting room. This will keep you from spreading your germs to others.

What happens on day 4 of a fever?

On day four, you may start to feel a little better during the day. At this point, your fever is likely to have broken, and you shouldn't have as many body aches. Congestion may be starting to loosen up. This will make your cough more productive and possibly worse than the day before. 5

How do you get the flu?

A person can also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. 2 .

How does the flu affect people in 2020?

Not everyone who gets the flu will have the same symptoms, and how sick you feel—and for how long that's the case—can vary from person to person. That said, the flu typically cycles through a set of stages and follows a usual day-by-day progression.