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Beat the Bug: Your
Guide to Colds & Flus
from PlanetRx.com, your
online pharmacy & more
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How do you know it's cold and flu season?
One word: ah-choo!
About 25 million to 50 million people in the United States will get the flu
this year, and more than 60 million people will catch a cold. Will you be
one of them? Here are PlanetRx.com recommendations for beating these pesky
seasonal sicknesses.
An Ounce of Prevention
There is no cure for
colds and
flu, so it's best to avoid getting sick in the first place.
A strong immune system may help prevent the common cold or flu. Proper nutrition,
hygiene, rest, and stress management can strengthen the immune system.
Since both colds and the flu are highly contagious, good hygiene is important.
Wash your hands often and keep your hands away from your face. Keep common
surfaces in homes and offices clean to prevent spreading the cold & flu
viruses. If possible, steer clear of those who have the flu. Adults are
contagious for three to five days, but kids can remain contagious for up
to 10 days.
Over-the-Counter Remedies
One look at all of the available
cold and flu products and it's easy to see why some people
don't know which product to choose. Many cold and flu remedies contain several
ingredients to treat a variety of possible symptoms. What do PlanetRx.com
pharmacists recommend? Buy products that contain only the active ingredients
you need. This will save you money and prevent unnecessary side effects and
drug interactions. Here's a rundown of the main ingredients in cold and flu
formulas:
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Decongestants break down congestion
and promote drainage
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Antihistamines reduce sneezing,
dry out mucus, and promote rest
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Cough suppressants subdue coughs
and calm prickly throats
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Expectorants help bring up mucus
from the lungs
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Analgesics reduce pain and
fever
Cold and flu remedies cannot cure or even
shorten your sickness, but most can help ease your symptoms. When looking
for cold and flu products, it's really about choosing what makes you feel
the best.
Antibiotics are effective against bacteria but not against colds or the flu,
which are caused by viruses. Antibiotic overuse has produced bacteria that
are resistant to all known antibiotics, a serious public health threat.
Cutting-Edge Alternative Treatments
The next big thing: zinc nasal sprays. A study to be published in February
2000 found that
Zicam zinc nasal spray shortened cold symptoms from almost
10 days to about three days.
Zinc lozenges are also thought to shorten cold symptoms,
but be careful: Large doses of zinc can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Try zinc lozenges after eating.
Many herbalists recommend
goldenseal for flu. Best known as an antibiotic (antibacterial)
herb, goldenseal also has antiviral and immune-stimulating actions.
Echinacea is also said to shorten symptoms when taken at
the start of a cold or flu. But echinacea probably won't help if taken constantly
over a long period of time.
What about
vitamin C? Doses of 500 mg four times a day may shorten
cold symptoms by about a day or so. The jury is still out on whether vitamin
C works as well for the flu as it does for colds.
Hot Fluids and Rest (ahh…)
Mom was right: drink a lot of fluids. Flu can cause fever, and fever is
dehydrating. Sip herbal tea, juices, soups (notably chicken soup), water,
and other nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids throughout the day. Drinking
a lot of fluids will help move the virus out of your system. Hot fluids also
relieve sore throat, nasal congestion, and cough.
No matter what your favorite remedy is, a cold or flu will still have to
run its course. Save your body's energy for your immune system. Grab that
book you've been meaning to read, snuggle in comfortably, and get plenty
of rest. It's the best you can do.
Learn more about caring for a cold in the
PlanetRx.com Cold & Flu eCenter. Shop for cold-relief
products in the
PlanetRx.com Store, or use our new
Cough & Cold Advisor to find exactly the right products
for you.
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