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Signs Your Cold Is Getting Better
A cold typically resolves after about a week, although congestion, cough, and runny nose can linger. Your cold may be improving if you have more energy and your symptoms are milder.
A cold is a mild viral infection that often lasts for about a week. Cold symptoms include:
Generally, these symptoms are most severe in the middle of a cold, around days 3 to 5.
By the last days of a cold, most symptoms will have faded, and your energy will have returned to your usual levels. However, you might still have a lingering cough or some mild congestion and nasal discharge.
This article takes a closer look at symptoms that signal your cold is almost over.
What symptoms indicate your cold is almost over?
Colds typically end after about a week. Many people find that symptoms start to ease on days 7 to 10 of their cold. On these days, you might notice your energy picking up, and it might be easier to work, attend school, and do your daily tasks.
At this stage, you might still have some lingering symptoms. These can include:
A runny nose and congestion can last up to 14 days, and it’s possible for a cough to last weeks. It’s common for nasal discharge in the final days of a cold to be yellow or green. This happens as a result of your immune system fighting the cold.
What are the stages of most colds, and how long does each stage last?
A cold is often broken into stages. People experience different symptoms in each stage and might feel sicker in some stages than in others. For instance, it’s common to feel worse in stage 2 than in stage 1 or 3.
Stage 1 lasts for 1 to 2 days. Symptoms in this stage are typically mild, and the most common symptom people report is a sore throat. You can also experience:
Symptoms normally increase on days 3 to 5, also called stage 2. This is normally when you feel the sickest. In stage 2 of a cold, you often have the following symptoms:
Symptoms start to get better after about a week. This is stage 3. In this stage, symptoms are mild and might resolve completely. The remaining symptoms in stage 3 typically include cough, congestion, and a runny nose.
Blowing your nose can help relieve some of your symptoms. It can make it easier to breathe and can make you feel less congested. However, it probably won’t make your cold resolve any faster.
Plus, some
that blowing your nose can sometimes be harmful. Too much repeated or forceful nose-blowing can irritate your nasal passages and increase inflammation, making you feel worse.
When nose blowing is done forcefully, it can even cause injuries such as nosebleeds and eardrum ruptures.
What can you do to ease symptoms of a common cold?
Typically, it’s best to recover from a cold at home with plenty of rest and some at-home remedies.
Steps you can take to help relieve your symptoms include:
You don’t normally need to see a doctor for a cold. The common cold is caused by a virus. This means it can’t be treated with antibiotics. Since cold symptoms are typically mild, at-home treatment is typically best. However, there are times when it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
See a doctor if:
Any of the above could be a sign that your cold has become a more serious infection.
Takeaway
A cold typically resolves in about a week. Around day 7, your symptoms will often start to lessen. You might still have congestion, a stuffy nose, and a cough. These symptoms can last weeks longer than other cold symptoms.
As your symptoms fade, your energy levels should return to their usual levels. You’ll likely find it easier to do everyday activities.
You typically don’t need to see a doctor for a cold. At-home treatment with rest, OTC medications, and using heat and steam to soothe your throat or open your nasal passages can help relieve your symptoms.
If your symptoms last longer than a week or if they get worse instead of better, it’s best to see a doctor.
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