Surviving the sniff, sneeze and cough of
 a spring cold

Having survived the woes of winter, it was a relief to enjoy warm sunshine. My joy, however, was shortened by the onslaught of sniffles, sneezes and coughs. There is a cruel irony is staying well through winter and getting sick with the first signs of spring.

If misery loves company, then I should feel better by knowing I am not alone. (I do not.) For those who are burrowed into covers and pillows, surrounded by mounds of tissues and cough drops; here are some tips on making it through as safely and quickly as possible.

Is it a cold or the flu? For the lay person (i.e. the patient), the best way to judge is by the speed of onset. A cold creeps up; the flu hits fast.

If symptoms start gradually then take a day or two to grow into full-fledged sick, then it is probably a cold. A cold lasts a week to 10 days.

Your mother had it right when it comes to treating a cold. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter medications recommended by your physician will help alleviate your suffering.

If symptoms start bad and get much worse within 24 hours, flu is the culprit. There are drugs that can lessen the severity and length of the flu but these prescription medications must be taken within 24-48 hours of first symptoms.

Taking an antibiotic if there is no bacterial infection will not make you feel better and exposes you to the harsh side-effects of the drugs. It also leads to drug resistance and possible allergies.

Everytime you take medication, even over-the-counter remedies, read the directions and warnings. They can change based on new studies.

Follow the directions. Dangers associated with colds and flu are often caused by the patient and not the condition. A huge problem is failure of patients to follow directions on medications. Taking medication incorrectly can make a patient sicker, cause permanent damage to organs and, in the most severe cases, not following directions is fatal.

Put a pad and pen with medication. You are sick. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down what you take, how much and the time; every time you take something.

Common mistakes include the following example. A pain reliever states the patient can take up to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours but no more than 8 tablets can be taken in a 24-hour period.

Write down the time you take the first 2 tablets. Once you have taken 8 tablets in the period of the next 24 hours, you cannot take any more. If you take 2 tablets at midnight, 2 tablets at 4AM, 2 tablets at 8AM and 2 tablets at noon; you cannot take any more until midnight – 12 hours later.

Check the instructions on extended relief remedies. With many of these, you cannot take more than 2 every 12 to 24 hours.

Sprays that help with nasal congestion are usually limited to 2 doses in a 24-hour period and cannot be used for more than 3 days. Sprays to ease throat pain can usually be used once every 2-4 hours. They should be sprayed on the affected area, allowed to work for 15-20 seconds and then spit out. Like mouth wash, throat spray should not be swallowed.

Many drugs cannot be used together. If you take a multi-symptom remedy; you probably cannot take anything else. Most doctors suggest you take only remedies for the symptoms you have.

If you cannot read the directions on medication, call a pharmacist or the 800 number usually available on packaging.

If you have any questions about your illness, call or see your doctor. Only a doctor can determine what you have and the best course of action to follow.

Make sure you know how often to take the medication. Should it be taken with or without food? Are there certain foods or other medications you cannot take with the prescribed drug?

If the instructions say take with a full glass of water, that means 8 ounces of water. This is often necessary to dilute the drug, to dissolve the drug or to help it work properly.

Do not cut medication unless a pharmacist and your doctor say it is okay. Half a tablet may not be half the dose.

If you are prescribed any medication, take as directed. That often means taking a prescription until it is completely gone – not until you feel better. This is especially true for antibiotics. If you do not take the medication until it is gone, you may have a relapse of your illness which will be harsher and more difficult to treat.

Before you put anything in or on your body - even items that don’t need a prescription, know what you are taking and how to take it. Ask your pharmacist. Ask your doctor. Being a smart patient is the best way to get well and stay healthy.

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Read Boomer Journeys and other articles by Alex Carrier in the Greene County Record

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