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Once you are infected with cold or flu viruses (influenza), all you can do to feel better is treat your symptoms while your body fights the virus. During your recovery, the following may help you to feel better:
Rest. Rest is important especially when you have a fever. You will often feel tired from cold and flu symptoms, and you may require more sleep than usual.
Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids will help loosen mucus in your nose and chest. They also will help to prevent dehydration caused by fever. Water, fruit juices, popsicles and ginger ale are some examples of fluids that may help.
Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke is a respiratory irritant that will only make your symptoms worse.
Gargle with warm salt water. Gargling a few times a day can relieve a sore throat.
Suck on cough lozenges or hard candy. This can help to quiet a cough.
Use saline nose drops. When applied to the nasal passages, saline drops help moisten the irritated skin and help to loosen mucus.
Use vaporizers and humidifiers. A vaporizer works by generating steam that can help to loosen secretions and make breathing easier. The possibility of spilling scalding water is a hazard. Keep a vaporizer out of the reach of children. A humidifier sprays cool mist into the air and can produce the same results as a vaporizer. However, both machines can become breeding grounds for mildew and other types of organisms. So, it is necessary to clean and disinfect this equipment according to the manufacturer's guidelines. A vaporizer or a humidifier is particularly useful for small children for whom a cold becomes the "croup."
Although no medication can cure colds or non-influenza viruses, many over-the-counter and prescription drugs are available to help relieve the symptoms associated with these illnesses. Americans spend about $2 billion each year on cold remedies.
Many cold and flu drugs contain more than one medication. Read labels carefully. Choose products that treat only the symptoms you have. Check with your doctor before giving any cold or flu medicine to children.
Listed below is a guide to the ingredients found in over-the-counter cold and flu medicines:
Analgesics: These medications relieve muscle aches and pains and reduce fever. Examples include acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen. Note: Aspirin should not be given to children with a fever because they risk developing Reye's syndrome.
Antihistamines: These medications block histamine, a substance that is released in response to allergies, which causes a runny nose and sneezing. Antihistamines help dry a runny nose and watery eyes. Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness. Examples include chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, pheniramine and tripolidine. A non-sedating antihistamine available over-the-counter is loratadine (Claritin®).
Expectorants: These medications work by thinning mucus so that it can be coughed up more easily. An example is guaifenesin.
Antitussives: These medications work by quieting or suppressing a cough. They are usually recommended for dry coughs when you are not producing mucus. An example is dextromethorphan.
Decongestants: These medications can be administered either orally or by nasal spray. They work by constricting or tightening the blood vessels located in the membranes of the nose and air passages. This action forces much of the blood out of the membranes so that they shrink and the air passages open up again. An example is pseudoephedrine.
Take these medications as directed by your physician or the label on the container. Read the labels carefully. Check with your pharmacist about possible interactions and duplications of ingredients in both over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
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External Sources
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American Academy of Family Physicians
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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World Health Organization
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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