Adult Self-Care for Colds   When you catch a cold, there are ways to help your body get better. Colds are often caused by viruses, they cannot be cured by antibiotics.   You can ease symptoms and support your body's efforts to heal itself. Be sure to: -Drink plenty of fluids such as water or clear soup. -Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. -Get plenty of rest.

 

Learn about fever

Take your temperature a few times a day. If your fever is 100.4°F (38.0°C) for more than a day, call your doctor. Relax, lie down. Go to bed if you want. Just get off your feet and slow down. Also, drink plenty of fluids to avoid loss of water. You can take over the counter cold medicines to help you feel better.

 

Help for stuffy nose

Breathe steam or heated moist air to open stuffy nose. Stand in a hot shower or use a vaporizer. Be careful not to get burned by the steam. Saline nasal sprays and decongestant tablets help open a stuffy nose. Over the counter medicines may help, but they may cause side effects to make you drowsy with dry eyes, nose, and mouth.

 

Soothe a sore throat and cough

Gargle every 2 hours with 1/4 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water. Suck on throat lozenges and cough drops to moisten your throat. You can take over the counter medicines to help you relieve your symptoms.

 

Ease stomach problems

 

Put fluids back into your body. Take sips of clear liquids such as water or broth often. Avoid drinks that have a lot of sugar in them, such as juices and sodas. These can make you feel worse. Older children and adults can drink sports drinks. As you feel better and can eat more, you can resume your normal diet. Ask your doctor if there are any foods you should avoid.

 

When to seek care

When you first notice symptoms, ask your doctor if medicines can help. Call your doctor if you have any of the symptoms below or if you are not feeling better after 7 days:

-Shortness of breath
-Pain or pressure in the chest or belly area Your symptoms got worse
-Fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher, or fever that does not go down with medicine Sudden dizziness or confusion
-Severe or frequent vomiting
-Signs of dehydration, such as extreme thirst, dark urine, less urination, dry mouth Spotted, red, or very sore throat

 

Health Net is contracted with Medicare for HMO and HMO SNP plan, and with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in Health Net depends on contract renewal.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Please always follow your health care provider's instructions. Programs and services are subject to change.

 

 

 

Adult Self-Care for Colds   When you catch a cold, there are ways to help your body get better. Colds are often caused by viruses, they cannot be cured by antibiotics.   You can ease symptoms and support your body's efforts to heal itself. Be sure to: -Drink plenty of fluids such as water or clear soup. -Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. -Get plenty of rest.

 

Learn about fever

Take your temperature a few times a day. If your fever is 100.4°F (38.0°C) for more than a day, call your doctor. Relax, lie down. Go to bed if you want. Just get off your feet and slow down. Also, drink plenty of fluids to avoid loss of water. You can take over the counter cold medicines to help you feel better.

 

Help for stuffy nose

Breathe steam or heated moist air to open stuffy nose. Stand in a hot shower or use a vaporizer. Be careful not to get burned by the steam. Saline nasal sprays and decongestant tablets help open a stuffy nose. Over the counter medicines may help, but they may cause side effects to make you drowsy with dry eyes, nose, and mouth.

 

Soothe a sore throat and cough

Gargle every 2 hours with 1/4 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water. Suck on throat lozenges and cough drops to moisten your throat. You can take over the counter medicines to help you relieve your symptoms.

 

Ease stomach problems

 

Put fluids back into your body. Take sips of clear liquids such as water or broth often. Avoid drinks that have a lot of sugar in them, such as juices and sodas. These can make you feel worse. Older children and adults can drink sports drinks. As you feel better and can eat more, you can resume your normal diet. Ask your doctor if there are any foods you should avoid.

 

When to seek care

When you first notice symptoms, ask your doctor if medicines can help. Call your doctor if you have any of the symptoms below or if you are not feeling better after 7 days:

-Shortness of breath
-Pain or pressure in the chest or belly area Your symptoms got worse
-Fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher, or fever that does not go down with medicine Sudden dizziness or confusion
-Severe or frequent vomiting
-Signs of dehydration, such as extreme thirst, dark urine, less urination, dry mouth Spotted, red, or very sore throat

 

Health Net is contracted with Medicare for HMO and HMO SNP plan, and with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in Health Net depends on contract renewal.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Please always follow your health care provider's instructions. Programs and services are subject to change.

 

 

 

Adult Self-Care for Colds   When you catch a cold, there are ways to help your body get better. Colds are often caused by viruses, they cannot be cured by antibiotics.   You can ease symptoms and support your body's efforts to heal itself. Be sure to: -Drink plenty of fluids such as water or clear soup. -Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. -Get plenty of rest.

 

Learn about fever

Take your temperature a few times a day. If your fever is 100.4°F (38.0°C) for more than a day, call your doctor. Relax, lie down. Go to bed if you want. Just get off your feet and slow down. Also, drink plenty of fluids to avoid loss of water. You can take over the counter cold medicines to help you feel better.

 

Help for stuffy nose

Breathe steam or heated moist air to open stuffy nose. Stand in a hot shower or use a vaporizer. Be careful not to get burned by the steam. Saline nasal sprays and decongestant tablets help open a stuffy nose. Over the counter medicines may help, but they may cause side effects to make you drowsy with dry eyes, nose, and mouth.

 

Soothe a sore throat and cough

Gargle every 2 hours with 1/4 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water. Suck on throat lozenges and cough drops to moisten your throat. You can take over the counter medicines to help you relieve your symptoms.

 

Ease stomach problems

 

Put fluids back into your body. Take sips of clear liquids such as water or broth often. Avoid drinks that have a lot of sugar in them, such as juices and sodas. These can make you feel worse. Older children and adults can drink sports drinks. As you feel better and can eat more, you can resume your normal diet. Ask your doctor if there are any foods you should avoid.

 

When to seek care

When you first notice symptoms, ask your doctor if medicines can help. Call your doctor if you have any of the symptoms below or if you are not feeling better after 7 days:

-Shortness of breath
-Pain or pressure in the chest or belly area Your symptoms got worse
-Fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher, or fever that does not go down with medicine Sudden dizziness or confusion
-Severe or frequent vomiting
-Signs of dehydration, such as extreme thirst, dark urine, less urination, dry mouth Spotted, red, or very sore throat

 

Health Net is contracted with Medicare for HMO and HMO SNP plan, and with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in Health Net depends on contract renewal.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Please always follow your health care provider's instructions. Programs and services are subject to change.