And of course, nothing can undo your hydration efforts quite like coffee and alcohol. Assuming that the cough is caused by enough post-nasal drippage, and you can stop the post-nasal drippage by using decongestants, I don't see any reason to let the mucus run it's course and potentially cause an annoying weeks-long cough.

If you aren’t sure what the reason is, ask and your doctor will explain.

By ... the kind you get with a cold? Personally, I rarely use any medication for the cold.

Try these foods rich in choline.Emerging research suggests that nasal breathing might be more effective and better than mouth breathing during exercise.This fad diet restricts calories for rapid weight loss but includes healthy foods that should be part of a more balanced diet.Help make the time you spend in the gym more effective with these performance- and recovery-boosting tips.The eating plan focuses on foods and lifestyle changes that promote longevity. High in saturated fat, coconut oil nonetheless carries numerous health claims. Favorite Answer. Definition of run its course in the Idioms Dictionary. Last winter I tried Zicam and that did seem to make the cold shorter.I'm not a doctor, but I've found that using decongestants and drinking lots of water early on in a cold seems to prevent me from developing the post-cold cough that most people seem to get.
I now only take expectorants (preferably time-release guaifenesen like Mucinex), plus ibuprofen and saline spray. Is it better to let a very bad cold run its course naturally?

"Here's your battle plan, with advice from Bennett and William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn.:"If you're drinking water and aim for a tall glass every couple hours, I'd say that's probably good," Bennett says. It will run it course no matter what you do. One way to support efforts to eradicate racial injustice is by shopping at Black-owned businesses.

In addition to water, go for teas and broths.

Breathe in that hot, moist air.Just be sure to cover your sneeze at the gym and sanitize your treadmill handle. If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics or anything else, there’s a reason.

Dry up the mucus, keep your sinuses moist with saline spray & drinking lots of fluids, and you will probably feel better in a few days.I am another "drain, not dry" person. So, if you don't want to cough, clear up the postnasal drip with meds.

7 years ago. You can choose to treat the symptoms or not; whichever you choose won't make a major difference in your overall life.
The tips below – many of them old fashioned and cheap, if not free – will help you manage those symptoms while the cold runs its course. Or get dosed up with medicine :(Answer Save. The cost/benefit ratio favours them.

Bennett points out that if you're one to max out at the gym every day, you may want to cut back on your routine.

For this round with the cold, don't drop your gloves and resign to days of coughing, sneezing, aching and nose-dripping. Why you need to let that cough run its course. TommyApache. A twist on the question "is it better to let a cold run its course or is it better to medicate?".

If I'm reading your question right, then yes, this is sound medicine. Why letting your nose run could be good for you. ... You just have to let it run its course. There have already been AskMeFi threads to this regard A cold is a virus, and OTC medications don't affect the progress of a virus. Postnasal drip is definitely associated with developing a cough, yes. I am sorry, but I do not agree that one should just let a cold or flu run its course. Don't stress about Susan's new boyfriend.