More than 200 viruses can cause the common cold, according to MedlinePlus. Colds are prevalent during the winter, and symptoms can be quite uncomfortable, especially at night. Sneezing, stuffy nose and sore throat are common features.

Coughing is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A productive cough is one that produces mucus, or phlegm. A continuous, or chronic, productive cough is not normal and may indicate a disorder of the lungs.

If you purchase an over-the-counter expectorant, the active ingredient is almost certain to be guaifenesin. Guaifenesin thins secretions in the lungs and nasal passages, makes it easier to cough up phlegm and eases lung congestion. Guaifenesin has few side effects when taken at recommended dosages.

A humidifier transforms water into airborne moisture to help add humidity to the air surrounding it. This can have several benefits to your health, including relieving irritated respiratory systems, eyes and skin caused by excessively dry air. But using a humidifier is not without its potential cons and drawbacks.

It’s normal for colds and infections to result in a cough, but if your toddler’s cough persists, it may be the symptom of another medical condition.

The flu, also called influenza, is a contagious upper-respiratory virus that causes fever, chills, body aches, nasal congestion, dry cough and fatigue. Stay home, rest and avoid contact with others when you have the flu, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A chest cold, also called bronchitis, often occurs when an upper respiratory infection such as the common cold spreads to the airways of the lungs. Invasion by Streptococcus pneumonia or Haemophilus influenza may follow and complicate the initial viral infection.

The stomach flu is a viral infection in the digestive tract that is commonly caused by rotavirus or noroviruses, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. What you eat can help avoid severe symptoms if you catch a stomach bug.

Influenza, more commonly called the flu, is a viral infection that affects up to 25 to 50 million people each year, according to experts at the Flu Facts. Influenza is highly contagious, spread by droplets breathed or coughed into the air.

Viruses are interesting infectious organisms because they have no capacity to reproduce on their own. They infect the cells of living organisms from plants to people, hijacking the host’s cellular machinery to reproduce itself. Hundreds of viruses infect humans. Some infections are so mild they usually go unrecognized.

Whether loud or soft, coughs make a distinctive, harsh sound as they force your lungs to release air and other substances. Both healthy children and healthy adults cough now and again for various reasons, sometimes on numerous occasions in one day.

Lemons are useful for everything from flushing the kidneys, protecting them against the formation of kidney stones, to alkalizing the blood.