Cold and Flu Relief: Cough Remedies and Immune Support

What are the best ways to get rid of a bad, dry cough or shorten a cold's duration? From flu shot reactions to cough remedies while pregnant, managing cold and flu involves targeted nutrition and mucus clearance.

Toddler Girl Swimming

How to Swim With Toddlers With a Cold and Cough

If your toddler loves to swim or play in the water but has a cold and cough, you may wonder if it's still OK to head for the pool. A cold is one of the most frequent illnesses in children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most little ones have had 8 to 10 colds by the time they reach age 2.

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Sick woman  lying in bed

How Does Oscillococcinum work?

Consider taking the homeopathic preparation Oscillococcinum next time you start feeling achy, with fever and chills. An alternative medicine especially made for treating symptoms of flu, Oscillococcinum is made by Boiron, the well-respected, FDA-approved French homeopathic pharmacy.

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Tickly Cough in Children

If your child has a tickly cough, it is most likely the result of an allergic reaction to an airborne substance. A common symptom of allergies in children is throat irritation that feels like a tickle in the back of the throat.

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Home Remedies for Severe Chest Congestion and Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath, often described as suffocating or starving for air, is one of the most unpleasant sensations a person can experience. Mayo Clinic physicians list more than two dozen causes. In severe chest congestion, mucus plugs the air passages making it difficult for fresh air to get in.

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Flu Symptoms in a 16 Month Old

The flu or influenza is an illness caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system. A 16-month-old toddler can get this virus from others who are infected as it is a contagious disease. Young children can develop complications from the flu that can be moderate to serious according to the Mayo Clinic.

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Doctor with girl in examining room

Food Choices for a Child With Croup

If your child has croup, she may not feel like eating or drinking. In croup, inflammation in the upper airway, which includes the larynx and trachea, makes breathing difficult. A child with severe croup can't eat at all and needs hospitalization. If your child has mild croup, it's important to keep her hydrated.

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Cold Symptoms and Anesthesia

Anesthesia may worsen cold symptoms, and having a cold may increase the likelihood of developing breathing-related complications during or after anesthesia.

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Wet Cough Remedies

A wet cough is also called a productive cough because each cough produces mucus from the respiratory tract. Wet coughs are often seen in people who have asthma, bronchitis or other conditions that cause mucus and other fluids to settle in their lungs.

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Woman has Sore Throat at Park

Remedy for a Sore Throat & a Lost Voice

Sore throat is a common symptom of upper respiratory tract infections, such as a cold or the flu. It’s not uncommon to also have varying degrees of hoarseness or to completely lose your voice. Viral infections are the most common cause of hoarseness, or laryngitis.

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She is going to be a mom

Can You Take Cough Drops When You Are Pregnant?

Expectant mothers often worry about taking over-the-counter medications for fear of potentially causing harm to their developing baby. This may even include cough drops, which come in a variety of flavors and include a diverse range of ingredients.

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Person receiving a vaccine

List of Air Borne Diseases

Airborne diseases, caused by microorganisms called pathogens, are primarily dispersed through moist air droplets or dust. Using air as transportation, pathogens use your respiratory tract as a channel for both entrance and exit via breathing, coughing or sneezing.

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Food Often Seems to Make Me Cough

Coughing is a reflex that occurs whenever your throat is irritated. It may occur after eating certain foods. Some digestive conditions, related to eating food, may trigger coughing and other symptoms.

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Can a Cold Hurt My Baby if I'm Pregnant?

Although a mother-to-be and her unborn child share many things during pregnancy, the common cold is not one of them. Common cold viruses typically pose no threat to a developing baby in the womb. Mother, however, is more prone to catch a cold during pregnancy, and symptoms are likely to last longer and be more intense.

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The Benefits of an Air Humidifier

Humidity refers to the amount of atmospheric water vapor, and humidifiers are devices that increase it. Indoor humidity levels should ideally remain between 30 and 50 percent, according to MayoClinic.com. Levels can be monitored with a device called a hygrometer, and many humidifiers have them built in.

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Closeup of doctor pouring eye drops in eye patient

Cold in the Eye Symptoms

Many people experience eye symptoms toward the end of or just after a head cold. This condition is aptly termed a "cold in the eye" because it typically represents spread of the virus responsible for the cold spreading to the eye.

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The Healthiest Types of Humidifiers

Home humidifiers add moisture to the air and help counteract the effects of dry winter heat. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, humidifiers can ease dry sinuses, itchy eyes or skin and even protect your furniture and finishes from damage.

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Coughs & Pink Cheeks in Children

Fifth disease has been called slapped cheek disease because of the unmistakable redness on the face of children. If your child has a cough and pink cheeks, this virus is likely the culprit causing your child’s mild discomfort.

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Little girl having breakfast indoors

Should a Toddler With Phlegm Drink Milk?

Toddlers can get colds and infections that cause coughing and congestion. A wet, or mucus-filled, cough can produce phlegm in toddlers. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that there is no evidence that milk will worsen mucus in toddlers or anyone else.

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