The body is amazing in that it is always striving for a healthy state despite the abuse it gets from our daily lives. Most of the time, it is able to overcome even the most grueling of demands, but when it cannot, we need to listen sooner rather than later.

The first step in fighting off a cold, that requires no additional supplies, is sleep. It is the simplest and most important home remedy you can do for yourself. How many times have you known that you were not quite feeling right, yet continued to push your body and ended up really sick? Well, if you had only chosen to stay home to sleep instead of going to work the first day you noticed you weren’t feeling quite up to par, you wouldn’t be as sick and for so long.

Warm fluids such as chicken soup help liquefy mucous, clear congestion, and reduce a fever by causing you to sweat. One study at the Pulmonary & Critical Care Section of the Nebraska Medical Center found that chicken soup may even have a mild infection-fighting capability. Hormone-free, low sodium chicken broth or chicken soup is a good choice.

To help relieve the discomfort of a sore throat, Traditional Medicinals has a terrific tea called “Throat Coat.” It contains ingredients that lightly coat the irritated tissue in your throat. It has a light sweet taste which makes it an easy tea to give children, plus it is safe for all to use. Excessive consumption may be a problem for people with hypertension, so please drink the tea within reason. (Don’t drink several cups a day for months on end!)

For both local antiviral action and systemic immune system enhancement, try zinc lozenges at the first sign of a sore throat. The best form of lozenge is zinc gluconate because this form releases the zinc from its stored form easier, and therefore is able to act as an antiviral on the local tissue. A typical maximum dosage is 90 mg per day total for no longer than 7 days. Take in divided doses of about 15-30 mg every 2-3 hours. You can have too much zinc, so more is not better; too much zinc can actually suppress the immune system.

If you experience a rash, broken blood vessels, stiff neck, or fever higher than 101°, you may have more than a simple viral infection. Please seek immediate medical care.

Also, be aware Strep throat shares the symptoms of a cold and is caused by a bacteria not a virus. You can get a quick, easy, and painless Strep test at your doctor’s office.

If you would like more information on what you can do to fight off the common cold and flu, contact the office at (415) 785-3347 to find out about the 2-hour informative lecture Surviving the Cold & Flu Season or schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller..