Your Guide to Cold and Flu Relief

Despite best efforts to stay healthy throughout the rainy months, catching a cold or flu bug can naturally get the better of us. Take a look at a few tips and tricks to ease any existing symptoms and help speed up recovery:

• Scrub, scrub, scrub – washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of any illness. The cold and flu viruses can spread through the air and by indirect contact with objects like door handles, so frequent hand washing with soap and water is vital. No soap and water? Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to stop germs in their tracks.

• Drink Up – fluids help with nasal and chest congestion. Drink six to eight glasses daily.

• Soothe your Throat – sucking on a hard lozenge or candy helps to soothe a sore throat or cough. Gargling with salt water is also an effective natural remedy that helps relieve an inflamed throat.

• Manage the pain – with the flu often comes aches and pains. Ibuprofen will help to soothe sore joints and muscles.

• All day relief – a day and night extra strength cold relief medication will keep you from being drowsy during the day and help you actually sleep through the night.

• Stay rested – be sure to take time to rest, especially if you feel something coming on. Fatigue and emotional stress are key factors that increase the risk of catching a cold or the flu and can cause a longer period of recovery too.

• Cosy up at home – if you aren’t feeling well, take a sick day or work from home to prevent spreading your illness to others around you.

• When in doubt – check it out. Some people mistake the flu for simply a cold, and vice versa. But it’s important to know the difference and manage your illness accordingly. If symptoms persist, be sure to consult your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

“There are a variety of non-prescription and prescription medications that are useful for relieving symptoms and controlling pain, “says Bowen Chen, a pharmacist at Target. “Be sure to consult a pharmacist, or healthcare professional to determine what medication is best for you. And of course, a little chicken soup and TLC from family and friends always helps any patient feel better.”

Additional information is available online at www.target.ca/pharmacy.

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