As hard as you try, sometimes you just can't avoid catching a cold. More than just a nasal inconvenience, colds can be a real burden on your body, causing symptoms of sniffling, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Colds can range from mild to severe, though, and might last longer than you think. In an otherwise healthy person, a cold typically lasts seven to 10 days, but expect symptoms to linger if you are a smoker (via The Mayo Clinic).

尽管你很努力，有时还是难免感冒。感冒不仅会给鼻腔带来不便，还会给你的身体带来真正的负担，引起鼻塞、打喷嚏、咳嗽和喘息等症状。不过，感冒的症状从轻微到严重，持续时间可能比你想象的要长。对于一个健康的人来说，感冒通常会持续7到10天，但如果你是一个吸烟者，感冒症状会持续。

According to Healthline, there are three stages of the common cold, and you may be nodding your head in agreement when you learn the first stage is usually a sore throat. In this stage, you may also experience fatigue and a runny nose. During the second stage of a cold, you can expect your current symptoms to worsen and you may develop a cough, congestion, and a headache. The final stage of a cold is the beginning of the end as you will start to recover, with your symptoms diminishing and energy returning.

根据Healthline，普通感冒有三个阶段，第一阶段通常是喉咙痛，你可能会表示同意。在这个阶段，你可能会感到疲劳和流鼻涕。在感冒的第二阶段，你可以预期你目前的症状会恶化，你可能会咳嗽、充血和头痛。感冒的最后阶段是结束，因为你开始恢复，症状减轻，精力恢复。

Can you shorten the duration of a cold?

你能缩短感冒的持续时间吗?

Let's face it, no one has time for a two-week cold, which is why we will try everything from old wives' tales to trendy immunity boosters if they promise relief. But do any of these alleged remedies actually work? According to Medical News Today, some research suggests there are four supplements that may shorten the length of your cold; zinc, echinacea, and vitamins C and D. Another treatment that is worth trying is homemade chicken soup, which proves not only to be good for the soul — but also for your cold (via CNN).

让我们面对现实吧，没有人有时间患两周的感冒，这就是为什么我们会尝试一切方法，从老太太的偏方到时髦的免疫增强剂，只要它们承诺缓解有效。但这些所谓的补救措施真的有效吗?根据Medical News Today介绍，一些研究表明有四种补充剂可以缩短感冒的时间;锌、紫锥菊、维生素C和D。另一种值得尝试的治疗方法是自制鸡汤，它不仅对灵魂有益，而且对感冒也有好处。

It is comforting to know that there are some other precautionary actions to take when trying to stay in good health. The Centers for Disease Control says one of the best ways to avoid getting sick is diligent hand washing and to avoid touching your face (via the CDC). Getting sufficient rest, eliminating stress, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising can also help reduce your risk of catching a cold (per OnHealth).

当你试图保持健康的时候，令人欣慰的是，还有一些其他的预防措施需要采取。疾病控制中心表示，避免生病的最好方法之一是勤洗手，避免触摸你的脸。充分休息、消除压力、营养饮食和锻炼也有助于降低患感冒的风险。