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.
Experiencing a cough while pregnant can cause physical discomfort and generate concern. When simple measures, like sucking on cough drops or sipping hot tea, fail to suppress a cough, some mothers-to-be seek relief with over-the-counter or prescription cough medicine.
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The common cold, with its symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, congestion and cough, strikes at one time or another. According to the Mayo Clinic's website, most adults come down with a cold two to four times a year. If you develop a high fever, extremely swollen glands or intense sinus pain, you should see your doctor.
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Vicks VapoRub is an over-the-counter, topical ointment designed for temporary relief from coughing or sore muscles and is approved for children as young as age 2 and adults. VapoRub contains camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil that operate as cough suppressants through released vapors and as topical analgesics.
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Although numerous over-the-counter medications are available to treat nasal congestion, or a stuffy nose, a prescription decongestant may be necessary in cases of serious cold or chronic conditions. Nasal congestion occurs when blood vessels inside the nose become inflamed and swell.
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Chest congestion is the accumulation of fluid and mucus in the lungs. People with congestion may experience coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. According to FamilyDoctor.org, chest congestion and cough are common cold and flu symptoms.
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Cough drops are frequently used to provide short-term relief from symptoms of an upper-respiratory tract infection -- such as the common cold, the flu or a chest cold. Various brands of cough drops contain different active ingredients intended to temporarily quiet a cough.
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Acidophilus, a healthy bacterium that lives in your digestive system, cannot prevent the stomach flu but can help treat symptoms from the stomach flu. The stomach flu is a viral infection that occurs in your digestive tract and causes vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
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An aching head, sore muscles, runny nose, as well as lack of energy and an upset stomach are all flu symptoms; however, they can also indicate a food allergy or allergic rhinitis, which can be seasonal or year-round, notes MayoClinic.com.
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The 24-hour flu or stomach flu are common terms that refers to an illness with short-lived gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. More accurately termed gastroenteritis, this illness is typically caused by a virus, and sometimes is transmitted through food or water.
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Flu shots contain deactivated, or killed, flu viruses. For the 2010-2011 flu season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months be vaccinated against the flu.
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The influenza virus, or the flu, is an infection that attacks the respiratory tract. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common symptoms of this illness are fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches, fatigue, nasal congestion and loss of appetite.
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A flutter or cough sensation in the chest is medically referred to as an atrial fibrillation, which is a type of heart rhythm disorder known as an arrhythmia.
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A dry tickling cough causes unwanted irritation throughout the day. A persistent cough interrupts school, work and even a good night’s rest, and may be associated with sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis or other underlying conditions. A variety of home remedies and over-the-counter medications bring relief to your cough.
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Nasal congestion is a common ailment that occurs in response to viruses, such as the cold and flu, allergies, sinus infections and other problems. Cleaning out your nose can improve your breathing, help you sleep and reduce your discomfort.
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A cough is a respiratory reaction that helps protect the lungs from irritating or damage substances. Coughing is a reflex action and involves rapid inhalation, closing off of the throat, increase in internal pressure in the chest, and forceful exhalation.
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Coughing sometimes serves an important protective function by expelling materials from the airways so they do not reach the lungs. However, a cough is also a troubling symptom and represents one of the most common reasons why patients seek a physician's help.
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The stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis, is an infection that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Young children typically contract this infection by coming in contact with an infected person or contaminated food or water.
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Coughing is one of the most recognizable symptoms of illness. It can also be one of the most annoying. Frequent coughing can irritate the throat, make the ribs sore and even be embarrassing.
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Breastfeeding has a range of health benefits for both mother and baby, but when a mom gets sick, she might be afraid that her breast milk will carry that illness to the baby. Fortunately, your baby cannot catch the stomach flu from you through your breast milk.
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Vomiting and rapid breathing in your two-year-old are alarming and troublesome. Although they are not always cause for alarm, these symptoms sometimes signal a serious condition or infection that requires a doctor’s treatment.
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