Treating the Common Cold
The common cold often presents with many different symptoms. Sufferers could experience cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, fever, chills, and muscle aches. Although there is not a cure for the common cold, treatment of these symptoms often provides adequate relief to help people get through the seven to ten days that is typically required to conquer the cold bug.
However, there is one symptom that is hardly ever addressed - frustration. This symptom usually kicks in once you have forced yourself out of bed to your local pharmacy and find the cough/cold aisle. There awaits an endless wall of remedies which claim to have everything you need to make yourself feel better. Putting your frustration at bay to choose the right medication is simple. Know your symptoms and know your ingredients. Once you have a handle on this, picking one of the hundreds of brand name and combination products available will be easy.
Cough: Coughing is your body’s natural way to keep the throat clean and clear; allowing yourself to cough will help you get rid of mucus and phlegm. Despite its benefits, however, coughing can be bothersome. A cough should only be treated if it is hindering sleep or every day activities. Cough drops and/or hard candies can help to alleviate a "dry tickle." Drinking lots of water is another way to lessen a cough. If medication is needed, guaifenesin (an expectorant) can be used to help loosen phlegm so that it can be brought up and expelled. Again, this works much better when combined with lots of water. Cough suppressants, like dextromethorphan, can also be used.
Congestion: Congestion results when the blood vessels in the nose become very swollen causing the face and nasal passages to feel "stuffy." The best way to treat this symptom is by using a decongestant. The most popular decongestant on the market today is pseudoephedrine. There are also topical decongestants, like phenylephrine or oxymetolazone, that can be found in many nasal sprays. Topical decongestants should not be used for longer than three days. Nasal saline sprays also work well to treat the symptoms of congestion. Be sure to check with your doctor before using any decongestant if you have high blood pressure.
Runny Nose: Overproduction of mucus is one of the most common symptoms of the cold. To decrease this production, use an antihistamine such as brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, or diphenhydramine. Antihistamines can decrease the production of mucus which will help with an annoying, snotty nose.
Fever: Fever associated with the common cold is rare. Children are much more likely than adults to run a temperature, and when it occurs, it is usually mild and self-limiting. The best thing you can do for this kind of fever is drink plenty of fluids and rest. However, if the fever persists, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin may be used. Remember, a fever is the body’s natural way of fighting an infection. The goal should be to lower a fever to become more comfortable, not to totally eliminate it. Aspirin should not be used for children. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to obtain doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for small children and infants.
Muscle aches: Muscle aches are not commonly associated with a cold, but if they occur, using acetaminophen or ibuprofen should help to alleviate any discomfort.
An adult will usually experience one or two colds per year. For a child, that number may be as high as three to eight. The key to choosing the right products for your symptoms is having a general idea of what each active ingredient does. All labels list what each active ingredient is and what drug class it falls into. Therefore, it is not necessary to know each particular ingredient. You just need to know what each of the three or four different drug classes will do for you and your cold symptoms. There are also many combination products on the market which will allow you to treat multiple symptoms with just one purchase. So, when you are congested this winter with a runny nose and sore throat, you can go to the drug store, know exactly what ingredients you need to treat your symptoms, and not have to deal with the frustration of the cough/cold aisle any longer.
