It can be the most unwanted feeling and un-wonderful time of the year of the year if sniffles and sneezes are making the rounds in your house. In fact, adults contract an average of two to four colds per year, and women who have kids usually suffer from even more. School-age children get up to 12 colds per year and are two to three times more likely than adults to come down with the flu. The good news is that you can steer clear of the season?s under the weather blues by following a few simple yet effective strategies. Read the following tricks that doctors use on their own families:
Quiet a cough Have a tea party. Warm drinks ? like a cup of chamomile tea ? help thin mucus, making you less likely to cough. ?Tea also contains the chemical theophylline, which has decongestant effect, opening up airways in the lungs and soothing irritation,? says Jennifer Derebery, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist in Los Angeles who has 14-year-old twins. Plus, you can add two teatime staples to your mug for extra cough-stopping power: honey, which fights bacteria, and lemon, an antioxidant powerhouse.
Linger in the shower. The moisture from the stream helps reduce throat inflammation that may cause a barky cough or hoarseness. ?It also loosens thick, dry mucus, easing congestion,? says Laura Jana, M.D., a pediatrician in Omaha, Nebraska, and mother of three, ages 9, 8, 6.
Raid the candy jar. A cough drop is the obvious Rx for a cough that just won?t quit. Don?t have one handy? Sucking on a piece of hard candy or a sugarless mint will help, too. ?Anything in the mouth helps calm the cough reflex, which is caused by phlegm tickling the back of the throat,? says Dr. Debebery.
Try an inhaler. If your cough lasts more than a week, your airways may have become hyperreactive, which is what happens to asthma sufferers. ?Ask your doctor if a beta agonist inhaler will help your symptoms,? says Christine Laine, M.D., a clinical associate professor of medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, who has two kids, ages 12 and 10. Using an inhaler four times daily for a few days in a row will help calm the airways and stop the cough.
Curb congestion Sip some soup. Mom knew best when she fixed you a bowl of steaming chicken noodle on a sick day. ?Like all hot liquids, soup thins mucus in your airways, reducing stuffiness,? says Sujana Chandrasekhar, M.D., an ear, nose and throat doctor in New York City and mother of four, ages 10, 9, 7, and 1. But the sick-day standby may also have other infection fighting abilities: A study from the University of Nebraska Medical Centers found that chicken vegetable soup reduces the activity of inflammatory white blood cells, called neutrophils, that can cause cold symptoms.
Spice up your diet. Forget about sticking to a bland diet when you?re feeling under the weather. In fact, this is just the time to spice things up a bit. ?Cayenne pepper, garlic and curry open clogged passageways and make breathing easier,? says Dr. Chandrasekhar. So rediscover those spices hiding in the back of your kitchen cupboard, and add some zest to that pot of soup.
Spray away. ?When you have a cold, your body releases inflammatory chemicals that can cause congestion and dripping,? explains Dr. Deberery. If you you?re really stuffed up, use an over the counter decongestant nasal spray twice daily. Just make sure you don?t use it for longer than five days or you could become dependent.
Soothe a sore throat Put it on ice. Numb aching airways with cold beverages, frozen yogurt or ice pops. You may want to avoid juice, though, because it tends to be acidic and may sting a very sore throat,? says Debra Goldenring, M.D. a pediatrician in Livingston, New Jersey, with two kids, ages 12 and 8.
Pass the salt. Twice a day, mix ½ teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and gargle with it. This helps draw fluid out of inflamed throat tissue,? says Dr. Deberery. It should help the swelling to down, making your throat feel better. ?The salt water may even wash away viruses and bacteria,? she says.
Fight the Flu
Achiness and fever are signs that your body is wrestling with a flu virus. ?Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce inflammation,? suggests Dr. Goldenring. You also need to get plenty of zzzzzzz?s to strengthen your immune system, so opt for ibuprofen before bed it typically lasts longer than acetaminophen.
The best way to protect you and your family from the flu is with the vaccine. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop protective antibodies, so the sooner you get vaccinated the better (the best time is October to November, before cold and flu season is in full swing). ?You have two options,? says Dr. Deberery. ?The traditional shot contains dead flu virus, while the nasal spray (FluMist) is made made with a weakened form of the live virus.? Most kids and any adults who are squeamish about shots will prefer the spray, but keep in mind that it?s normal to feel congested, tired or headachy for a day or so after receiving the live virus. To find a clinic near you, go to flucliniclocator.org
References:
Her Sports magazine November/December 2006 Edition
FamilyCircle magazine November 2006 Edition
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