Drink Plenty of Fluids
Water flushes the system and washes out the poisons as it re-hydrates you. A typical, healthy adult needs eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. If the color of your urine runs close to clear, you’re getting enough. If it’s deep yellow, you need more fluids.
Stay Warm and Rested
    Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle
Gargle
    Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, four times daily. To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle, cough drop or throat lozenges.
Drink Hot Liquids
    Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. Avoid alcohol since alcohol inflames the mucous membrane and is counter productive.
Take a Steamy Shower
     Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you’re dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
Don’t Smoke
    Heavy smokers get more severe colds and more frequent ones. Smoke dries out your nasal passages and paralyzes the hairs that line the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs. Their natural, wavy movements sweep cold and flu viruses out of the nasal cavity.
When to See a Doctor
    Most people recover from the flu in a few days and from colds in a couple of weeks. If your symptoms get worse, instead of better, call your doctor. Also, call you doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:    
Difficultly Breathing
or Chest Pain
    Aside from the stuffy nose and some general muscle aches, a cold should not make you short of breath or cause pain in your chest. These could be symptoms of a more serious problem, such as heart disease, asthma, pneumonia or something else. Contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Persistent Fever
    This can be a sign of a secondary infection in your body that should be treated.
Vomiting or Inability
to Keep Fluids Down
    Your body needs fluids to stay hydrated. If you can’t keep down fluids, call your doctor.