Common Cold Remedies

Recurring Sore Throat

What is cool and why it is common

The cold is the most common disease worldwide, with more than 1 billion colds per years reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limited disease caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses.

The common cold produces mild symptoms usually lasting only days 5-10. In contrast, the "flu" (influenza), which is caused by a different kind of virus can have severe symptoms.

Common complaints associated with the cold usually are mild and can be managed with prescription drugs over cold you can buy at a drugstore or grocery store. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, nasal and sinus obstruction, headache, sore throat and cough.

You usually do not need to call your doctor if you catch a cold. However, if symptoms become severe or you develop chills, sweating profuse, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting or high fever (greater than 102F) may have the flu virus, bacterial pneumonia, or another illness that must be reported to your doctor.

For mild to moderate cold symptoms usually do not need to see a doctor. Almost everything a doctor can prescribe to relieve symptoms are available without prescription.

For more severe symptoms or prolonged duration of symptoms, you should visit your doctor. An office visit will usually be fine. However, if you are very ill and seem to be getting worse, go to the emergency department of your hospital nearest medical attention immediately.

Of the viruses that cause colds, the subtype that are usually a group that lives in the nasal passages known as the "rhinovirus. Other less common cold viruses include coronavirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of cold viruses do not spread through the air and seldom are transmitted from airborne particles expelled when a person cold coughs or sneezes.

The primary means of spreading a cold is through hand-to-hand contact or from objects that have been touched by someone with a cold.

The typical transmission occurs when a patient rubs his nose cold and then, shortly thereafter, shakes hands with someone who, in turn, plays his own nose or eyes.

Alternatively, virus transmission often occurs via doorknobs and other hard surfaces such as handrails subway, shopping carts, office telephones and computer keyboards.

Her symptoms and physical examination are to your doctor for diagnosis the needs of the common cold. Initial diagnosis is often made of their symptoms.

Generally, no blood tests or X-rays are needed. During physical examination, your doctor will pay close attention to your head, neck and chest. Then the doctor examines the eyes, ears, throat, chest, and to ensure that a source of bacteria is not causing the disease.

To date, no specific cure has been found for the group of viruses that cause the common cold. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, and are not useful in treating a cold.

It seems unlikely that a single antiviral drug is discovered in the near future that can target more than 200 different cold viruses. That is true in part because the viruses genetically change (mutate) each season just enough to prevent the development of specific treatment for this virus.

The good news is that you can take several steps to alleviate the symptoms once you have contracted a virus.

Drink plenty of fluids to help break up congestion. Drinking water or juice to prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. You should drink at least 8-10, 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Fluids can include water, sports drinks, teas, fruit drinks, or ginger ale. Chicken Soup Your mother may really help.

You can give your children the queues, but not included in the 8-10 glasses of fluid per day. Cola, coffee and other caffeinated beverages work to increase urine output when your goal is to increase the liquid in the system.

Inhaled steam may ease congestion and runny nose. Keep your head in a pot of boiling water and breathe through your nose. Be careful. If the steam burns your nose, breathe more slowly. You can put a pot or kettle on a trivet on a table and hold a steam towel around his head. You can buy a humidifier, but the steam will be the same. The humidity of a hot shower with the door closed, a saline nasal spray, or a room humidifier is just as useful.

Medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) will help reduce fever, sore throat pain, and relieve body aches. High fever, usually not associated with the common cold and may be indicative of influenza illness more serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Tell your doctor about any temperature above 102F.

Never give a child aspirin or medications containing aspirin. In children under 12 years, aspirin has been associated with Reye's syndrome a potentially fatal disorder of the liver.

Coughing is a reflex that occurs when irritated airway. Cough preparations are divided into 2 main categories. Suppressants act by blocking the cough reflex. As a general rule, use cough suppressant for dry and rough.

The agent usually found in over-the-cough suppressants is dextromethorphan (Benylin, Pertussin CS or DM, Robitussin Maximum Strength, Vicks 44 Cough Relief). Expectorants are cough associated with excessive production of mucus or phlegm, warrants the use of an expectorant. Guaifenesin is the active ingredient more common over-the-counter expectorants (such as Anti-Tuss, Fenesin, Robitussin, Sinumist-SR).

Pills and topical sprays can provide relief sore throat. In particular, lozenges containing zinc may relieve many cold symptoms better than other types of throat lozenges. The benefits of zinc has not been proven, however, and can cause stomach upset. Gargling warm salt water can soothe a throat. Nasal decongestants help relieve nasal and sinus passages clogged due to excessive secretion of mucus.

Oral medications come in pill or liquid form and act for the reduction of blood vessels congested in the nasal passages and sinuses. They work well because the medication is distributed in the bloodstream. Oral decongestants often are associated with effects secondary stimulants such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and insomnia. A common use over-the-counter oral decongestant pseudoephedrine (Actifed, Sudafed, Triaminic).

Importantly, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory about the drug phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which has been used for many years in over-the-nasal decongestants.

A recent study reported that PPA increases the risk of stroke bleeding, especially in women. Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is low, FDA recommends that PPA be discontinued and removed from all medications. Although most pharmacies have removed this product from their shelves, it is prudent to carefully examine the label to ensure that the drug you buy (or at home) does not contain PPA.

Nasal spray decongestants act similarly to oral decongestants but have the advantage of acting only in the area of application, usually without the side effects of stimulants. The most common active ingredient in nasal sprays is oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan nasal spray, phenylephrine, Vicks Sinex).

Nasal sprays do have side effects, however. Overuse of nasal decongestants has been associated with dependency. In addition, a "bounce" adverse effect on nasal symptoms recur after stopping the medication abruptly. Use these instructions no more than package indicated generally 3 days.

Finally, to avoid getting your next cold washing your hands frequently, avoid touching your nose and eyes, not sharing eating utensils or towels at home and wear gloves during the winter season, while in public places such as public transportation.

Eight Flavor Rehmanni Extract (Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan) $3.95 Eight Flavor Rehmanni Extract (Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan). Packing: 200 concentrated pills (160mg each). Manufactured by Lanzhou Traditional Herbs, China. Note: Eight Flavor Rehmanni Extract is a modern preparation of the ancient prescription “Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan” which is the modification of the fundamental prescription “Six Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia” by adding Anemarrhena and Phellodendron….