Keeping a few things on hand can make weathering a cold a lot easier: cough medicine, tissues, a thermometer to check your temperature, and hot cups of tea.
Yesterday you felt fine, but today your nose is running and your throat feels scratchy. 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.
What are you likely to feel like the rest of your week? Most often, symptoms of this upper respiratory tract infection crest around day four, and go away on their own within 7 to 10 days, says Aaron E. Glatt, MD, the chief of infectious diseases and a hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York.
Keep in mind that while seasonal colds peak in the winter and spring, it is possible to get one any time of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cold symptoms vary from person to person and can include:
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Headache
- Aching joints
- Fatigue
Be aware that a cold’s contagious period has its own life span; it usually starts one or two days before cold symptoms kick in and continues as long as your symptoms are present, according to Cedars-Sinai. So it’s important to prevent spreading the infection by washing your hands frequently, fully covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and not touching others if at all possible.
What are the stages of a cold? Typically there are three.
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 of the nationwide healthcare system Forward.
In this first stage, it’s especially important to rest as much as possible to minimize fatigue and keep your immune system at full power.
Days 3 to 5: Cough and More Nasal Congestion
Nasal symptoms continue to develop, peaking during the third and fourth days. You may notice that mucus from your runny nose has become thicker, with a yellow or green tinge. 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. In the meantime, however, a cough may develop in response to postnasal drip, says Dr. Favini.
Days 6 and 7: Symptoms Ease
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.
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.
Beyond a Week: Could It Be Something Else?
If you’ve been nursing a cold, but haven’t gotten better after a week, or if cold symptoms return often, you may be dealing with allergies or a sinus infection rather than a cold.
Symptoms commonly associated with allergies, which can last months, include:
- Itchy eyes
- Clear runny nose
- Nasal congestion
Symptoms of a sinus infection, which can last anywhere from one to three months or more, can include:
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- Pressure or pain around the eyes and forehead
- Fatigue
- Fever
If you suspect allergies or a sinus infection, Dr. Glatt recommends seeing your doctor to get a complete evaluation.
Distinguishing Between Cold, COVID-19, and the Flu
It can be difficult to tell these illnesses apart because they share so many traits. What’s more, because they are caused by different germs that affect the respiratory system, it’s possible — although rare — for them to overlap. In other words, you could have more than one ailment at the same time, according to the CDC.
One clue for distinguishing between them is fever, Mandal notes. “Fevers typically are not present for adults with the common cold, whereas with COVID it’s kind of common to have a low-grade fever, and you will probably experience a fever initially with the flu,” she says.
In general, CDC experts say, flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly rather than build up gradually as they do with the common cold. They are also more intense and last longer.
Symptoms of COVID-19 also seem to develop gradually, according to a study published on May 5, 2020, in Annals of Internal Medicine. And COVID-19 symptoms can include ones not typically seen with a cold or the flu, such as diarrhea and a new loss of taste or smell, according to the CDC.
As always, call your medical provider if any symptoms become severe or concerning to you. Be especially aware of the emergency warning signs for COVID-19. Someone showing any of the following signs should seek emergency medical care immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake up or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
Additional reporting by Nuna Alberts.