Can You 'Sweat Out A Cold' By Putting On Lots Of Clothes And Covering Yourself In Blankets?

Dr. Bernstein answers the question: 'Can You Sweat Out A Cold?'

ByABC News
September 25, 2008, 11:17 AM

— -- Question: Can you 'sweat out a cold' by putting on lots of clothes and covering yourself in blankets?

Answer: Unfortunately we haven't gotten smart enough in modern medicine to cure the common cold, so a lot of people are looking for their own way to do so. One of those is to possibly cover yourself with blankets and try to sweat out a cold. Unfortunately that's not going to do it. The cold is caused by over 200 viruses, and it just takes its time up to several days to several weeks for your cold to get out of your system.

However do whatever makes you feel better -- whether it's putting more blankets on if you feel a chill, drinking warm liquids, or taking over-the-counter medication. It's just going to take time.

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