Drinking plain water for about 1 week after a cold has the possibility of self-healing, but the specific time needs to be combined with their own conditions, can not be generalized. Colds are caused by pathogens that invade the body, causing inflammation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Drinking a lot of water when you have a cold can enhance the body’s metabolism, accelerate the body’s inflammatory substances, promote the recovery of inflammatory reactions, and alleviate the symptoms of colds. If accompanied by fever, drinking more water can promote urination and sweating, take away the body heat, in order to reduce body temperature and relieve symptoms. Colds are categorized into common colds and influenza. Common cold symptoms are usually mild, and most people with strong immunity can recover within 1 week by drinking more water. Influenza symptoms are usually more serious, patients may have a high fever, fatigue, muscle aches and other symptoms, it is recommended to drink more water at the same time under the guidance of a medical professional to use antiviral drugs and other treatments, so as not to aggravate the condition. In short, drinking water after a cold may be self-curing, but serious cases need to be treated with relevant medications, which should be combined with your own condition and given the best treatment plan by a professional doctor.