The dos & don’ts of easing cough & cold symptoms
This article is sponsored by Vicks, Night Nurse, Centrum & NytEase
If you find yourself searching “what not to do when you have a cold” or “what makes a cough worse?” at this time of year, you’re not alone. Coughs and colds are common illnesses that we can all experience, especially during the colder months of the year when we can be exposed to more viruses as we typically gather indoors around others.
Coughs and colds can bring on various symptoms, including:
• Headaches and mild muscle aches
• A blocked or runny nose
• A sore throat and cough
• Sneezing
• A raised temperature
If you’re experiencing any of the above, it’s no surprise that you may wish to consider ways to manage your symptoms effectively. We’re sure you’ve read plenty of advice out there on the dos and don’ts of battling these common illnesses in a bid to better your symptoms but understandably it can all get a little confusing.
That’s where we come in. Below, we’ve shared our dos and don’ts for easing cough and cold symptoms to help you feel more at ease during the winter season. Plus, some of the products you may wish to consider to ease how you're feeling, if you have cough and cold symptoms.
DO: Stay hydrated & drink plenty of water
It’s age-old advice but drinking plenty of water is essential both in daily life and when you’re feeling unwell. Not only does it help support the immune system’s response to an infection but it also replaces any lost fluids. When you have a cough or cold, your body loses fluid through sneezing, coughing and other factors. This can contribute to dehydration, so it’s important to keep your intake topped up.
If you struggle to drink enough water each day, our tips for drinking more water can help! Alternatively, you can also invest in a helpful aid like a water reminder bottle. These bottles give you daily goals, guiding you on how much water you should drink each hour and can be a great motivator. There are also plenty of water reminder apps that can send you alerts, reminding you to stop and take a sip of water.
DON’T: Drink alcohol & try to avoid sugary drinks
When you’re ill with a cough and cold, your immune system is working harder. Drinking alcohol can deplete your body of essential nutrients and vitamins and can weaken your body’s ability to fight off the infection, ultimately slowing down your recovery. The NHS recommends adults drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across three days or more. Our advice? Avoid drinking alcohol until you’re feeling much better.
As for sugary drinks, switching to a sugar-free alternative is more beneficial. You might also want to drink more hot drinks if you have a cough or a sore throat as this can have a soothing effect. Hot lemon water and honey can have a soothing effect and it helps to limit excess sugar intake, too. To make it, squeeze half a lemon into a mug of boiled water before adding one to two teaspoons of honey.
DO: Have your tissues at the ready to trap coughs & sneezes
Common coughs and colds are contagious so taking the necessary steps to prevent the infection spreading to others is important. Trapping coughs and sneezes in a tissue is an easy but effective step that you can take. Always remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of it straight away in a bin. Sometimes a cough or sneeze can catch you off guard, so for those times you don’t have a tissue, use your elbow instead, not your hands.
DON’T: Share items with others
Often, we can share our personal items with others without thinking about it. You might let someone take a sip of your drink, or try a bit of food off your fork. When you’re unwell, it’s important to avoid sharing items with others to prevent the risk of spreading infection. That includes items like cups, cutlery and towels. Germs can live on hands and surfaces for up to 24 hours, so ensuring that you also thoroughly wash the items you use can help.
DO: Consider trying symptom relievers
The symptoms associated with a common cold or cough can become quite distracting in your daily life. You may feel achy or have a raised temperature but try not to worry as this is normal. Often, a trip to your GP is not necessary and you can help manage your symptoms at home with the use of symptom relievers. There are plenty of remedies out there that you can purchase online or over the counter.
Here are some of the products you may wish to consider depending on your symptoms:
Try: Vicks VapoRub
• Size: 100g
• With camphor, eucalyptus and menthol
The formula, containing menthol and camphor helps relieve cold symptoms including cough and nasal congestion. Rub onto the chest, throat and back, covering the whole area for maximum effect – a little goes a long way. Avoid tight clothing to allow the vapours to be inhaled easily. Always read the label.
Consider: Night Nurse Liquid
• Size: 160ml
If cough and cold symptoms are keeping you up at night, consider managing your symptoms with this remedy. Whether it’s a tickly cough, sore throat, runny nose, aches, pains, fevers or shivers, this multi-tasking aid is specially formulated to provide relief from cold and flu symptoms so you can enjoy a more comfortable night’s sleep. Always read the label.
DON’T: Exceed the recommended dose of paracetamol & ibuprofen
Some people choose to take ibuprofen or paracetamol when they have a cough or cold, if suitable. Although you can do this, you should be wary if you also wish to take cough and cold medicines too. Some cough and cold medicines also contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, so always read the label to check the ingredients. Do not take paracetamol or ibuprofen if your cough and cold medicines already contain them. Ask your pharmacist for advice when it comes to cough and cold medicines if you’re not sure what’s suitable for you.
DO: Support your little ones’ immune system
Children need just as much support with their health as adults do. And while a healthy and balanced diet is your first port-of-call, you may want to consider giving them a little extra immune system support in the form of a multivitamin food supplement.
At Boots, we have a whole host of vitamins for children but when it comes to immune support, here’s our top pick.
Consider: Centrum Kids Multigummies Mixed Berry
• Size: 30 gummies
• Mixed berry flavour
Help protect your little ones immune system with a helping hand from the World’s No.1 Multivitamin brand.** Backed by 40 years of nutritional science, each delicious gummy contains nutrients like vitamin C and zinc which contribute to the normal function of the immune system.
DO: Get plenty of rest
Allowing your immune system to recover and fight off your infection requires plenty of rest. Those strenuous daily activities can take a back seat for a few days if you don’t feel well enough. Understandably, it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep when cough and cold symptoms get in the way. This, combined with the tiredness that often comes with a cold, can make it extra challenging to take on the day-to-day.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to help such as propping yourself up in bed as sleeping flat on your back can cause mucus to build up in your throat causing you to cough.
Consider: NytEase Mind + Mood Support
• Size: 30 tablets
• Free from gluten, lactose, gelatine, artificial sweeteners and preservatives
If tiredness if getting you down, seek comfort with new NytEase tablets. Designed with vitamins B2, B6 and B12 which each contribute to the reduction of tiredness, combined with natural plants.
*Food supplements are intended to supplement the diet and should not be substituted for a varied diet or healthy lifestyle.
With plenty of rest, fluids and support from cold and flu remedies, you should be able to treat your cough and cold symptoms from the comfort of your own home. You can explore our cough, cold and flu medicines online. Alternatively, you can also visit your local Boots pharmacy for advice and support.
