Five Cold and Flu Fighters to Help You Survive the Winter-time Menace

So, some bug has bit you and you're huddled in bed - pillows propped behind you and notebook computer propped in your lap; tissue in one hand, remote in the other. Is it a flu? Is it a cold? Bronchitis? Allergies? Viral? Bacterial? Does it really matter?

It does really matter if you've been sick for several days in a row, if your fever gets high and stays there, if your throat is sore and red (particularly if it gets white spots), if you're coughing and over the counter medicine isn't helping, you're short of breath, or if you just feel so bad that you want to pull the covers over your head and die. If that's the case, you really should see a doctor - and quickly. You also should consult a doctor if you have any medical conditions that could be worsened by a respiratory infection.

However, most of us don't get sick enough with a cold or flu to garner the sympathy of the doctor. We just have to suffer at home. Having a cold or flu is several straight days of misery. If you live with others, germs fly around and several people end up sharing the love. Here are several ways to get on track to feeling better from a cold or flu - fast!

#1 - This may sound obvious, but if you're sick with a cold or the flu, you need to take care of yourself. Too many people try to press on when they're sick. Get some rest! There may be things that have to be done, like taking the dog out, but it really is ok to let the laundry go for a couple of days. Curl up in bed and get lots of extra rest instead of trying to do too much. If you can't stand being in bed all day, opt for the couch or your recliner. If you feel sleepy, sleep - but if you don't, don't try to force yourself. Just letting your body be in a resting position may be enough.

If you have someone who can run to the video store or the library, you can have plenty to do! Or if there are other sickies in the house, you can all sit around and play cards or board games. Who knew that having the flu could mean family time? If you have young children, you could even make a game out of it and camp out on the living room floor together in sleeping bags!

When you start to feel better, don't push it. You're likely to end up with a rebound case of the flu! Relax for a few more days, and ease back into your normal routine.

#2 - Get enough to eat and drink. Sick people often neglect both. Doctors say that drinking lots of fluids, especially water, is the best thing to help you get through a cold or the flu. If you don't like plain water, try adding some lemon or lime to it. You can also drink juice, either full strength or mixed with ginger ale. Hot tea is another good choice. Many people enjoy regular hot tea (black tea), but if you add milk, it might worsen your congestion. You can also try herbal teas, some of which are great cold and flu remedies. Try ginger, chamomile, or peppermint.

Also, make sure you eat. The old adage, "Feed a cold, starve a fever" may have some wisdom to it... but that doesn't mean that if you're feverish you should forgo eating! If you are not hungry, try a little bit of toast, oatmeal, popsicles, or jello.

Make a big pot of chicken soup (or get someone to make it for you!) The easiest way is to throw a whole chicken in a big pot - or some chicken pieces (legs or thighs work well) and let it cook on low all day with a whole onion and several pieces of celery. After it's cooked a while, crack some of the bones so the marrow cooks into the broth. Strain it into another pot, and pick the meat from the bones. Chop the meat and the onion and celery and add it all to the broth. What you do next is up to you... eat as is, or add garlic, red pepper flakes, sauteed green pepper, cooked bacon, steamed vegetables, seasonings... really, anything you like! You can also add cubed potatoes, rice, or noodles and let them cook. Serve yourself several large bowls a day - doctors haven't figured out exactly why, but chicken soup really DOES help you get better faster!

#3 - Try medications, herbs and supplements to bring relief from colds and the flu.Please keep in mind that most herbs and supplements have a DRUG effect on the body, and therefore should be considered as such. If you mix them with other drugs (medicine from the drug store or your doctor, or other herbs and supplements) you could have a drug interaction. Herbs and supplements can also affect your unborn baby. I cannot emphasize strongly enough that you must approach this with caution and when in doubt, consult a professional. (I am not a professional - just a layman who's been sick a time or three!)

There are dozens of over the counter and prescription medicines that you can try, in literally hundreds of combinations. Some are designed to treat a cold or the flu at the outset, and if you wait too long, they won't work. Others are more symptom-specific: if you take the wrong medicine, nothing will happen or you'll get worse. Often, a pharmacist can help you choose a good over the counter cold medicine. If you are feeling poorly, get checked out by your doctor. However, don't be surprised if you are not given antibiotics. While some respiratory and sore throat illnesses are caused by bacteria, most are truly colds and flu. These are caused by viruses, and antibiotics don't help there. Let your doctor be the judge of how to best help.

Herbal remedies and supplements are often worth a try - Echinacea, garlic, zinc, and vitamin C are all purported to help with colds. Cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, and peppermint may help with congestion, and are commonly found in the spice cabinet. Licorice and slippery elm may help with coughs. There are several other herbs that may be good for cold remedies as well, however, they are either not as commonly known or there are safety concerns with them. Again, be sure to research anything you take and be certain that it will not interact with any other drug you are taking for any purpose.

#4 - Pamper Thyself. Take a long hot bath with bath salts made for colds and flu. Yes, they're a little pricy, but they're worth every penny. If you have ginger root in the house, add some minced ginger to the bath for an invigorating, detoxifying effect. Have a quick rinse in the shower afterwards and cover up with warm blankets. You'll sweat like a horse, of course, but often this will help you feel better and sleep quite well all night.

Buy the tissues with lotion added. Your runny nose will thank you over and over. Stock up on cough drops and put some in every room. Keep a good supply of Vicks or mentholated rub on hand, too. Put a pot of water to boil on the stove to add moisture to the air, and add some cinnamon and oranges to it (you might not be able to smell it, but everyone else will notice!) The steam will help your congestion, too!

Put on your plushest pajamas and your sweetest slippers. Give your hair a good brushing, even if you don't feel like styling it. (there's nothing worse than hair that's got a big tangle in it from laying around sick!) Give yourself a pedicure. Get your spouse to give you a backrub with your nicest lotion. Doctors have found that if you look better, you will feel better too - even if you're still sick with a cold or the flu.

#5 - If a sore throat is your complaint, there are several remedies you can consider. Before you treat a sore throat at home, be sure that it's not serious. If it's lasted more than three days, is accompanied by a high fever or white spots, or seems to come and go, come and go, come and go - it's time to see a doctor. However, during cold and flu season it's common to get a sore throat from a viral or bacterial infection, or even just from coughing.

Try gargling. There are several over the counter gargles available, all with a mild painkiller as part of the preparation. You can also try gargling with salt water. An old Southern home remedy is to gargle with vinegar (preferably apple cider vinegar).

If gargling makes you feel strangled, there are alternatives. Try lozenges (rather like cough drops), sprays, or even a mixture of honey and lemon (either taken straight, or mixed in a little hot tea and sipped). If you have a sore throat and you're also experiencing heartburn as a side effect of a cold medicine, try an antacid for a few days to see if it helps.

While having a cold or the flu may not be your favorite thing, it doesn't have to be absolutely miserable. There's a lot you can to do make it tolerable and even fun! Even if you're coughing and congested, spending a day camped out watching videos with your kids or giving yourself a pedicure can be a blast!