• Home
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science & Tech
Monday, August 15, 2022
No Result
View All Result
SUBSCRIBE
The Outlooker
27 °c
Delhi
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science & Tech
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science & Tech
No Result
View All Result
The Outlooker
No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Science
  • World
  • Health
Home Health

Learn from Harvard: medicines to choose this cough and cold season

by The Outlooker Web Desk
September 23, 2020
in Health
0
1.8k
SHARES
12.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

With the summer winding down and fall moving in, colder weather will arrive soon — along with cold and flu season. Millions of Americans get the common cold each year, often more than once. To counter coughs and runny noses, many will turn to over-the-counter (OTC) medications available for relief without a prescription.

Heading to the pharmacy for some relief? Read this first

While OTC medicines do not cure or shorten the common cold or flu, they can ease some symptoms. Finding a product that fits your needs, however, may not be so straightforward. A recent study evaluated brand-name OTC medications marketed as cold, allergy, sinus, and nasal remedies. It found that 14 common brand names, such as Mucinex, Tylenol, Robitussin, Benadryl, and Theraflu, accounted for 211 unique products, yet all of these products contained only eight active ingredients, alone or in combination.

Half of those ingredients turned up in more than 100 different products, very often combined with up to three other active ingredients. In total, 688 combination products were found. Many appear under the same brand name, and all aim to remedy colds, allergies, or sinus and nasal ailments. No wonder a trip to a pharmacy aisle can be confusing (and the study did not even include store-branded and generic products).

How to safely choose cough and cold medicines

So, how to choose from a myriad of similar products? First, understand that many products contain more active ingredients than you need. And yes, those extra active ingredients have side effects and may interact with other medicines you take. The simplest advice is to check the list of active ingredients on the package, and pick a product that targets your particular symptoms.

  • For sore throats, headaches, and muscle aches a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen will do the trick. These will also break a fever.
  • Runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing may be relieved by an antihistamine, such as chlorpheniramine. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, so caution is advised when taking an antihistamine during the day.
  • Nasal congestion responds temporarily to decongestants, such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. However, decongestants can cause insomnia and agitation. These medications can also increase blood pressure and heart rate, so check with your doctor or a pharmacist if you have diabetes, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, prostate problems, or thyroid problems. Some decongestants are available as a nasal spray. These should not be used for more than three days, as longer use can lead to rebound congestion.
  • Common cough medicine ingredients are guaifenesin, which can help clear mucus, and dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant. The relief they provide is minor, if any. Guaifenesin is relatively safe; on the other hand, excessive use of dextromethorphan may increase blood pressure, cause irregular heartbeat, and make you feel dizzy.

What to be careful about

Despite glamourous claims and an ever-growing arsenal of products, over-the-counter cough, cold, and flu medications provide only minor relief for some symptoms, which will go away on their own without any treatment.

  • Be aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any over-the-counter cough and cold preparations for children under the age of 6.
  • If you’re taking more than one product, make sure you don’t double up on ingredients. Acetaminophen, in particular, is present in many cough and cold medications, as well as in some prescription pain medications. While safe in low doses, it can be toxic to the liver in high doses (above 4 grams daily), so check the labels.
  • Most of these products contain multiple ingredients, many of which have potentially serious side effects. Do not assume they are safe for you, and do read labels carefully. Talk to a pharmacist or your doctor when in doubt.
  • Always let your doctor know about all the medicines and supplements you’re taking. A brand name may not offer enough information, so bring products or packages to your visit.

These precautions are especially important if you have underlying medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart problems.

The best treatment for common colds is plenty of rest and liquids. Prevention is better still. So wash your hands and stay away from sick people, if possible. And get a flu shot — it won’t prevent a cold, but it’s the best way to prevent flu, and you don’t want to be worrying about flu this year.

The post Cough and cold season is arriving: Choose medicines safely appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

With inputs taken from Harvard Health Blog

The Outlooker Web Desk

The Outlooker Web Desk

Next Post
man wearing white long sleeve shirt sitting near white wooden door

Rajasthan, Gujarat top the list of states with most homeless people in India

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

AAP’s Raghav Chadha’s Special Video Message On Independence Day
National

AAP’s Raghav Chadha’s Special Video Message On Independence Day

August 15, 2022
India ranked 11th in ISSF’s World Soft Power Index 2022
National

India ranked 11th in ISSF’s World Soft Power Index 2022

August 15, 2022
For Threat Calls To Mukesh Ambani, Man Detained By Mumbai Police
National

For Threat Calls To Mukesh Ambani, Man Detained By Mumbai Police

August 15, 2022
Aligarh: 21-year-old Brahmin youth who was reportedly abducted for 4 months, drugged & forced to drink urine, put under house arrest
National

Aligarh: 21-year-old Brahmin youth who was reportedly abducted for 4 months, drugged & forced to drink urine, put under house arrest

August 15, 2022

Connect with us

No Result
View All Result

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020

Category

  • Artistic
  • Business
  • Crypto
  • Design
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • featured
  • Food
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • Human
  • Lifestyle
  • Movie
  • Music
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Spaces
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • World

Recent Posts

  • AAP’s Raghav Chadha’s Special Video Message On Independence Day
  • India ranked 11th in ISSF’s World Soft Power Index 2022
  • For Threat Calls To Mukesh Ambani, Man Detained By Mumbai Police

About Us

The Outlooker

The Outlooker is your source of authentic, hand-picked news, stories, analysis from India & the World.

  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • About us
  • Submit your story
  • Contact

© 2019-2021 The Outlooker. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Movie
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Food

© 2019-2021 The Outlooker. All rights reserved.