Here it comes again. That tell-tale tickle in the throat. Within a few hours you’ll be red-nosed and sneezy; within a day you’ll be snotty as well. Every year Australian adults succumb to around two colds while children come down with a whopping six to ten. With each ‘achoo’ your heart sinks – it’s too late to go into sneeze control now. Or is it? This winter why not try a new plan of attack? Instead of superdosing on cold and flu tablets in the hope they will do the trick, be more discerning about your treatment choices. By combining the right remedies from your kitchen, medicine cabinet and health store, you can reduce cold discomfort and stop symptoms lingering for weeks.
Cold Hard Facts
- There are almost 200 viruses that cause the common cold.
- Nothing shortens the duration of a cold – treatments on offer simply make us feel better while coughing and sneezing.
- Your body cures itself of a cold by producing antibodies, which destroy the virus – a process that takes about a week.
- Cold viruses can live on surfaces for anywhere between several hours to several days.
Is It Cold Or Flu?
Cold Symptoms include:
Runny or blocked nose
Sore throat
Red, watery eyes
Sneezing
Coughing
Mild fever
Headache
Tiredness
Flu symptoms are similar to a cold, but are usually more severe, including:
High fevers
Shivering attacks
Aching muscles and joints
Weakness
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Antibiotics? Don’t Ask
Antibiotics have no affect on reducing cold symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat and ear infection shows a 2007 study published in the British Medical Journal. But it’s a different story with flu. If taken within the first 24 hours of symptoms, anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenze may give you the upper hand. “By interrupting the way the flu replicates, anti-virals can lessen the severity of flu symptoms by 40% and shorten the length of illness by about 30%,” explains Dr Rod Pearce, chair of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Council of General Practice. The best prevention strategy? Have an influenza vaccination. It’s especially important if you are over 65, prone to colds, suffer severe asthma or have a condition that suppresses your immune system.
