Do's and Don'ts for colds/sore throats

DO:

• Drink LOTS of water

• Rest (stay home if you have a fever or you’re contagious)

• Limit talking (rest your voice)

• Get enough Vitamin C each day

• Eat healthy (fruits & vegetables)

• Use good hand washing

• Use Zinc or Zicam (in moderation)

• Good OTC cold medicines include: Sudafed PE(sinus congestion), Mucinex (congestion/expectorant), Robitussin DM (cough/expectorant), and Tylenol (aches & fever). Take these as directed on the package.

• Use Life Savers or hard candy – they’ll moisten your throat and mouth without the extra ingredients that you don’t need. Avoid peppermint and avoid chewing gum; each one will make your throat dry.

• See a doctor if your symptoms don't improve after trying OTC/Homeopathic remedies.

DON’T:

• Drink Pop/Caffeinated beverages (it causes dehydration)

• Whisper or yell

• Consume a lot of dairy foods or chocolate (it thickens the mucus). Some people don't notice any difference, so test it out and see if you notice a difference.

• Rely on cough drops/lozenges or throat sprays. They contain menthol and other ingredients that will make you think you feel better and then you’ll over use your voice and cause more damage. They’ll dry out your mouth and throat, too.

• Rely on lemon juice (a little bit goes a long way). Too much will upset your stomach and it will mess with your vocal cords by constricting them.