How to recover quickly from a cold: doctors' instructions

The first hours of illness determine whether you will spend three days or two weeks in bed with a cold. Doctors have put together a guide to speeding up recovery.

What to do immediately as soon as you feel a scratchy throat, stuffy nose, body aches, or mild chills:

• Go home and sleep. Don't be a hero and don't drag a cold to work. Sleep helps the immune system function, while lack of sleep suppresses it.
• Rinse your nose. Aquamaris, Dolphin, or any saline solution reduces the viral load on the mucous membrane.
• Gargle. This mechanically washes out the virus. Tantum Verde, Oki, or plain chlorhexidine are suitable options.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water, warm tea, juice — the main thing is not to let yourself get dehydrated. Tea with lemon or raspberry is a natural antibiotic (thins mucus and removes toxins).
• Don't try to 'sweat it out'. Three blankets, a hot bath, and attempts to deliberately induce sweating won't drive out the virus. It will lead to dehydration, weakness, and exhaustion.
• Do not lower a temperature below 38.5°C. Antipyretics are primarily used to relieve symptoms and should be taken according to the instructions.

And an unexpected plus: if you are already sick, you will catch fewer colds in winter — right now you are building the correct immunity.