Antibiotics Cannot Help In Fighting Colds

It is very important to remember that antibiotics only help in infections caused by bacteria. They have no effects on viruses. Hence antibiotics do not help with colds. You have to allow your immune system to fight the viruses. Beside that, antibiotics do not help with any of the cold and cough symptoms either. They do not stop your condition from getting worse and also do not stop you from spreading the viruses to other people. Very importantly, the use of antibiotics when you do not need them makes them less effective when you eventually do need antibiotics for a bacterial infection. This also increases resistance to antibiotics in the community. Use of antibiotics can also cause unwanted side effects such as stomach discomfort, diarrhea, fungal infections such as thrush and all allergic reactions. It usually suffices to get adequate rest and use symptomatic treatments.

Treat yourself:

- Rest, resting helps your immune system build up to fight the virus off.

- Drink at least eight glass of water a day, helps loosen mucus hence easier to cough or blow out.
- Avoid drink that dehydrate further like coffee or tea.

- Take symptomatic medications to give you some comfort.

- Inhale, use a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus oil in a bowl of steaming water. Put a towel over your head, close your eyes and breathe in the vapor.

-Decongestant rubs help

- Gargle with warm, salty water to ease throat irritations.

Nothing cures colds but at the very least there are good symptom relievers on the market.

Decongestants:

Topical decongestants such as nasal sprays must not be used longer than five days at a time. They should be kept refrigerated and be discarded after a month. Oral decongestant can cause insomnia, restlessness and should be avoided in patients with hypertension and heart problems.

Antihistamines:

Help with runny noses, watery eyes and dry cough.

Combination products. (Seek Doctors Advice first!)

- Decongestant and paracetamol, a useful combination if you have a mild fever and do not take excessive doses.

- Decongestant, paracetamol and cough suppressant, good when you also have a dry cough.

- Decongestant, paracetamol and antihistamines, useful if you are suffering from a runny nose.