Reasons Why My Cold Isn't Going Away

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on June 23, 2024
Written by Kristin Mitchell, WebMD Editorial Contributor, Allison Torres Burtka
7 min read

Colds are common, and they usually last for about 7 to 10 days. 

In today’s fast-paced world, it may be hard to slow down for a mere case of the sniffles and sneezes. Sure, you can try to work through it and hope you’ll feel better quickly. And sometimes that happens. But other times, symptoms stick around.

If you’re under the weather for longer than 10 days, many things could be to blame. 

Sleep helps keep your immune system working like it should. Once you have a cold, you need to catch enough ZZZs to help your body fight off the virus. Try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night to help recharge your immune system.

Too little shut-eye can also make you more likely to get a cold. One study found that people who got less than 5 hours of sleep per night were 4.5 times more likely to get a cold than people who slept for 7 hours or more.

When you’re sick, it’s easy to get dehydrated. You lose fluid as your body makes mucus and it drains away, and if you have a fever, that draws moisture out of your body. And when you take an over-the-counter cold medicine to dry up your runny nose, it can dry out the rest of you, too. Also, a sore throat can make it painful to swallow.

It’s important to stay hydrated. This helps keep your nose and throat moist and helps loosen up the mucus.

So drink plenty of water, juice, or soup. Stay away from alcohol, coffee, and caffeine when you’re looking for things to sip, though, because they can dehydrate you.

When you’re stressed out about work or other things in your life, it takes a toll on your immune system. You can’t fight off viruses as well as you should, and that makes you more likely to get a cold.

Ongoing stress can reduce your body’s lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that fight infection. This can make you more likely to get the common cold and other viruses. Chronic stress can also throw your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, out of whack, which can increase inflammation.

It's easy to confuse a cold with other illnesses. You might treat what you think is a cold for a few weeks, only to realize that the reason you aren’t getting better is because you’re dealing with something else, like allergies.

Allergies vs. cold

The common cold and allergies share some symptoms, like a cough, runny nose, and sneezing. Here’s how to tell them apart:

Although you may not know exactly how long your cold will last, cold symptoms usually take a few days to fully show up. Allergies can come on quickly, and they last for as long as you are exposed to the allergen. If you have aches, pains, or a fever, it’s more likely to be a cold.

Cold vs. sinus infection

Both a sinus infection and a cold can cause pain around your eyes and nose, as well as icky, yellowish mucus. With a cold, these symptoms usually happen within the first few days of a cold. But a sinus infection typically shows up after the normal time it takes for a cold to run its course. So if you’re dealing with these symptoms after a couple of weeks, it might be a sinus infection. You might want to call your doctor if you think it’s a sinus infection.

You’ve probably heard about remedies that promise to cure your cold. Many product claims aren't proven, and it’s important to remember that even if a label says "herbal," it could still be harmful.

Echinacea is one of the first natural treatments people suggest when you have a cold, but most studies show it doesn’t work.

Many people take vitamin C thinking it’ll speed up the cold process. But there’s little evidence that it helps shorten a cold once you have it. 

People also take zinc to help end a cold, but again, the evidence is weak. And some people who used a nasal spray with zinc lost their sense of smell. So your best bet may be to leave it on the shelf.

Antibiotics are another treatment people often try when they’re sick, but they won’t help with a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses.

There is no cure for the common cold, but home remedies and over-the-counter medicines may help ease your symptoms regardless of how long your cold lasts. 

Rest is important when you’re trying to get over a cold — and rest is not just getting enough sleep. If you have a cold, you might want to avoid strenuous exercise for 2 or 3 days. 

If your cold symptoms are all above your neck, like a runny nose, stuffy head, and sneezing, it may be OK to be active. But if you have symptoms below the neck, like chest congestion, a hacking cough, an upset stomach, fever, muscle aches, or fatigue, give yourself permission to sit it out. Rest is what gives your immune system time to recharge. 

In the first few days of your cold, you might want to consider staying home from work or school to help you get more rest.

Depending on how long your cold lasts, you may have different symptoms in the beginning, middle, and end of your illness. For example, your cold might start with a sore throat and runny nose and then progress into fatigue and a fever, and then your symptoms might start to go away. 

If your symptoms keep getting worse or you start having new ones, your cold may be getting worse. A fever is a common cold symptom, but if you have a fever of over 100 degrees for more than 3 days, you should see a doctor. And if your fever goes away and then comes back, that’s another sign that your cold is getting worse. 

You should also get medical attention if you have intense chest pain or shortness of breath. These may be signs of other issues that need treatment.

If your symptoms start to bother you less and you start to feel better in general, your cold may be getting better. Sometimes a cough lasts longer than other symptoms, like a stuffy nose, sore throat, and body aches. But if your other symptoms seem to be going away, your cold may be getting better even if you still have a cough.

Also consider how long your cold has lasted. If you felt bad for a few days and then felt better, and it’s been 7 to 10 days since your cold started, you may be nearing the end of your cold.

If you have a cold, rest is the best medicine. It’s also important to stay hydrated. 

Although you can’t exactly cure a cold, getting enough rest and fluids can help you feel better, no matter how long your cold lasts. Here are some other ways to help ease your symptoms:

  • Drink warm fluids like soup or tea (without caffeine).
  • If you have a sore throat, gargle with salt water.
  • Use a humidifier.
  • If you have a fever or a headache, try an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever.
  • Try an OTC antihistamine, decongestant, or cough medicine, depending on which symptoms you have.

Colds can spread easily. If you have a cold, you might be contagious for up to 2 weeks. You could spread your cold even before you know you have it, but you're most contagious when your symptoms are their worst. That’s usually the first few days you feel sick.

To avoid spreading a cold while you’re contagious, be sure to wash your hands frequently and clean surfaces that you and others touch frequently, like doorknobs.

There’s no cure for the common cold, so if you have one, you’ll probably have to deal with it for several days. But if you’re not getting enough rest and not drinking enough fluids, your immune system might have a hard time doing its job, and your symptoms might continue. 

Some remedies and medicines are unlikely to work on your cold. Instead, making sure you get enough rest, stay hydrated, and avoid stress can help you feel better.

Why does a cold never go away? Usually, a cold goes away in 7 to 10 days, but you might still have some symptoms, like a cough, that linger after that. If your cold symptoms keep bothering you or get worse, you should see a health care provider to make sure you don’t have another complication, like an infection.

Why can't a cold be cured? Colds are caused by viruses, but these viruses come in many different varieties, so it’s difficult to make a vaccine for colds. Also, antibiotics don’t work on viruses, so there is no cure for the common cold. 

What is day 6 of a cold? Usually, days 4 to 7 of your cold are considered the active stage, when your symptoms are the worst. You might have body aches, fatigue, or a fever around day 6.

How to get rid of a cold in 24 hours? A cold usually lasts much longer than 24 hours. Because there’s no cure for the common cold, all you can do is try to ease your symptoms, and getting enough sleep can help you feel better.

How long does a head cold last in adults? A head cold usually lasts 7 to 10 days, but sometimes it can hang on for longer than that.