Cold Prevention

While there is no way to guarantee that you won’t catch a cold virus, there are two ways to greatly reduce your risk:

1. Hand washing and hygiene
2. Avoiding contact and preventing virus spread

Allergy Symptom Prevention

In terms of preventing allergic reactions, the first step is to find out what you’re allergic to. Doctors who specialize in allergy and immunology can help patients discover what might be causing their specific allergies with skin, patch, and blood tests. For example, sometimes it’s difficult to know if your allergy trigger is pollen, pets, mold spores, or a combination of different triggers. Once you have an understanding of your allergy trigger(s), it’s best to avoid contact with them as much as possible. Depending on the category of allergy that you have, you may want to try the following:

• Reduce Allergens in the Home: Frequent dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning (wear a face mask to prevent breathing in dust and dander while cleaning) can reduce allergy triggers. Dehumidifiers and air filters can be helpful in cleaning mold and pollen from the air. Keep windows and doors shut during high pollen seasons. Keep pets out of the bedroom if you’re allergic to their dander; that way you get 7-8 hours of dander-free time each night when you sleep. If dust mites are a trigger, washing your sheets in very hot water or putting them in a hot drier for at least 20 minutes can kill them. Allergen-proof bed covers and washable toys are also helpful.
• Reduce Your Exposure Time: If your allergy trigger is pollen, showering after you come indoors can help to reduce exposure time. Some people find glasses or sunglasses helpful in reducing the amount of pollen that enters the eye and facemasks can help to reduce the number of particles inhaled. Avoid walking outside during peak pollen times (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and keep your vehicle windows up to prevent pollen from entering into your car.

Allergies

Although allergies can be greatly reduced by avoiding your specific allergic triggers, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid them. In these cases, the following OTC allergy medications may be appropriate and helpful:

• Antihistamines: During an allergic reaction, the body releases a substance known as histamine. Histamine causes tiny blood vessels in the nose and throat to become leaky, resulting in tissue swelling and increased mucus production. Histamine may also cause constriction of the smooth muscle in the airways, and can produce asthma symptoms. Antihistamines work by preventing this histamine release. This relieves itching, sneezing, and runny nose. OTC antihistamine tablets for adults and syrups for children are available.
• Nasal Decongestants: Nasal decongestants reduce swelling in your nasal passages and make it easier to breathe. Some OTC allergy tablets combine an antihistamine with a nasal decongestant. Nasal decongestants active ingredients are available in both oral and topical medicines. Topical nasal decongestants are applied directly inside of the nose in the form of drops or sprays. Topical nasal decongestants should not be used for more than three days in a row, however, because frequent or prolonged use may cause nasal congestion to recur or get worse.
• Nasal Allergy Symptom Controllers (Mass Cell Stabilizers):  Like antihistamines, nasal allergy symptom controllers (also known as mast cell stabilizers) also reduce the effects of histamine, but in a different way. Nasal allergy symptom controllers reduce how much histamine is released into the body when a person has an allergic reaction. The nasal allergy symptom controller ingredient contained in OTC allergy medicines is cromolyn sodium. Nasal allergy symptom controllers containing cromolyn sodium are applied directly inside of the nose. They are available to consumers over the counter in the form of nasal sprays.

Colds

Unfortunately, there is no cure for a cold virus once you’ve been infected. The good news is that there are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications and products that can treat your symptoms. If extra rest, drinking hot fluids, nasal irrigation, and saline gargles and washes are not enough to manage your cold symptoms, you could benefit from:

• Pain Relievers and Fever Reducers: Ibuprofen, aspirin (for adults), and acetaminophen, can be used to reduce fever and aches.
• Cough Suppressants: Cough suppressants are helpful if your cough is keeping you awake at night, or is making you uncomfortable. Dextromethorphan is the most common active ingredient in OTC cough medicines.
• Cough Expectorants: Sometimes cold viruses trigger the body to produce a large amount of thick mucus. If you feel that you are having trouble coughing out the mucus because it is too thick, guaifenesin-based medications can be helpful.
• Nasal Decongestants: The membrane in your nose can swell with a cold making it harder to breathe through your nose. Decongestants reduce this swelling. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are the two most common active ingredients in OTC decongestants. There are also nasal decongestant sprays available, but they should not be used for more than three days at a time.
• Multi-Symptom Cold Medicines: Multi-symptom cold medicines often contain a combination of active ingredients to treat pain, fever, nasal and chest congestion, and cough. While these medications may provide extra convenience since they treat a variety of symptoms, it’s really important to only take medications that treat your specific symptoms and to avoid taking two medications with the same active ingredients.