TREATMENT

Home remedies

There are many ways that you can help soothe the symptoms associated with a cold just by looking around your home.

• For years hot chicken soup has been touted as a remedy for colds - it's a comfort food, and the steam helps break up the nasal congestion by speeding up the movement of mucus through the nose.
• Drinking lots of fluids helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they can make dehydration worse.
• Gargling with saltwater and warm water can help to relieve a sore throat.
• Keeping the humidity up by utilizing a humidifier helps prevent cold viruses from thriving and keeps the mucus membranes from drying out, which can cause a stuffy nose. Be sure to clean your humidifier according to the product's specifications to prevent bacteria from building up.

Decongestants

Decongestants can help unclog a stuffy nose by shrinking the blood vessels in the lining of the nose. Many come in oral and nasal spray forms. They are available over-the-counter as in the case of Neo-Synephrine.

One advantage of utilizing a nasal spray over tablets is that it works immediately since it is applied locally where the congestion occurs - in your nose.