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Guide
to
Colds
and
flues
Beat
the Bug:
Your Guide
to Colds
& Flus
from
PlanetRx.com,
your
online
pharmacy
&
more
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:
- Decongestants
break
down
congestion
and
promote
drainage
- Antihistamines reduce sneezing, dry out mucus, and promote rest
- Cough suppressants subdue coughs and calm prickly throats
- Expectorants help bring up mucus from the lungs
- 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.
Common Cold - Information on the common cold that facilitates informed
decisions about cold prevention and treatment.
Ask
NOAH About: The Common Cold - Information resource about the common cold.
Spanish version also.
Beating
the Common Cold - Prevention.com on symptoms, treatments and natural
remedies for common colds.
Better
Homes and Gardens Cold and Flu Guide - Understanding cold, flu, and allergy
symptoms. Treatments that work. Preventing colds and flu.
Can
Soup Really End Your Cold? - If you've got a cold, can your grandmother's
secret recipe soup really help? What's the evidence?
Children's
Tylenol: Cold and Flu Season - Nutrition advice for colds and flu season,
answers to common questions, and a product guide for cold and flu-like symptoms.
The
Cold and Flu Season - The Daily Apple - Information about symptoms, virus
vs. bacteria, prevention, the role of zinc, and keeping your cold to yourself.
Colds
and Flu - Article on the natural treatment of colds by Dr. J G Knox BA, DC.
Colds,
Flu and Influenza - An article about these conditions, prevention, symptoms
and treatment from essortment.com.
Common
Cold - Patient information page.
The
Common Cold - Information about the common cold, flu and influenza in a real
audio format
The
Common Cold - The Daily Apple - Causes and symptoms of the common cold,
along with information about how cold viruses cause disease, how colds are
spread - and how they can be prevented.
Common
Cold Basics - Information about the common cold from the Common Cold Centre,
in Cardiff, UK.
The
Common Cold in the Child Care Setting - Information about the common cold,
focusing on its prevention where children are around.
Common
Cold Medications (Alternative) - Alternative methods for treating the common
cold.
The
Common Cold, NIAID Fact Sheet - Information about the common cold from the
National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases.
The
Common Cold: Relief But No Cure - Article from the federal Department of
Health and Human Services about treating the common cold, which despite
prescription remedies, has no cure.
Conditions
& Concerns: Cold and Flu - From drkoop.com, information about the common
cold and flu, including differential diagnosis.
Cover
Your Mouth - and Other Stupid Advice - Advice by Diana Maree on the folly of
old advice, and precise directions for proper hand washing.
Home
Remedies for the Common Cold - Try these natural home remedies for this
disorder. Things such as vitamins and herbs by essortment.com.
Is
it a Cold or the Flu? - Both colds and the flu, influenza, stem from viruses
that infect the upper respiratory tract. But the symptoms of influenza are more
pronounced and its complications more severe.
Prevention
from Page Wise - An article containing 10 tips to help you fight off a cold.
UCLA-The
Ashe Center - Common Cold Handouts - Patient information about the common
cold from The Ashe Center.
15
Ways to Prevent the Common Cold - Recommendations to strengthen the immune
system and resist colds, such as more sleep, social activities, herbal remedies,
massages, and walking.
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