I have not been running at full capacity lately because I have had a cold that has been going on forever. As it is almost impossible to think about anything else but the cold, perhaps this is a good time to talk about colds in general. There are some really nasty ones out there.
When I was younger it seemed like colds never lasted more than 3-5 days, but I have had colds in adulthood that lasted for a month.
Now, there are things that can make colds last longer for some individuals. For the month-long cold, I remember when it was new to me, someone told me that theirs had lasted a month, as well as some other people they knew. I hoped that was not going to be the case for me, but then it was. Of course, I picked up a secondary infection and got pneumonia, so I did worse in a way, but not for duration.
Secondary infections are a real issue. Once the original cold lowers your immune system, you are more susceptible to other things. Keep an eye out for new symptoms.
That doesn't necessarily mean the cold working its way through from sneezing, to stuffed and runny nose, to a cough, because that can be pretty normal with a cold. Do keep an eye out for new symptoms though. If you start running a fever, for example, or get something that seems to be worse than a simple congestion headache, then it might be time to see a doctor.
When I got my pneumonia, I had just been at the doctor's for the cold two days before, and was told it was just a cold. One nice thing the second doctor did - before diagnosing and treating the pneumonia - was acknowledged that a cold can be pretty miserable. When I mention keeping track of if it changes into something else, that is not to diminish your suffering when it remains a cold. That suffering is real. It's only important to keep track because the danger and treatment necessary may change. Colds don't benefit from antibiotics, but pneumonia, bronchitis, and strep do, and if it's flu you should check with a doctor, especially this year.
Having been sick for a few weeks now, writing about prevention seems like a cruel joke, but it is something to think about. For one thing, I think what happened here is that I picked up a second cold before the first one was done, and that can happen. So, don't assume hanging around with other sick people doesn't matter; it might.
We probably all remember what to do, but just in case, it is better to cough and sneeze into your elbow or shirt than your hands, with which you touch everything, including other people.
Even if you are pretty good about not spraying germs directly onto your hands, it is still good to wash them regularly. After all, you are touching other surfaces that may have been sprayed by other people.
Taking vitamin C after you catch the cold won't do much for you, but strengthening your immune system with good nutrition (including vitamin C) before might help you not catch it.
Once you have it, it's pretty much rest and fluids.
Yes, other health issues might make it take longer. People with asthma will often find that the cold triggers inflammation that is hard to shake. Those might be cases where at least checking with your regular doctor is advisable. Stress - with its deleterious effect on your immune system - might have first made you more susceptible and then delayed your healing. (I am under a lot of stress right now.) But what you need most is rest and fluids.
You may very well not feel like drinking when your throat is coated and scratchy, but you need it.
You may not think you have time to rest, but you need it.
You can exercise too, if your symptoms are above the neck. A walk might make you feel better, but then get some rest.
You need it.
Additional reading:
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/your-cold-wont-go-away#3
http://www.health.com/cold-flu-sinus/signs-more-serious-common-cold#symptoms-one-location
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