Colds this winter are horrible.
Not only are they sticking around for weeks on end, but your
symptoms are more intense and seem less affected by antibiotics.
So when you’ve got a horrendous cold what can you do
to feel better when nothing else does! Here are some quick
and easy things you can do to ease the aches and pains of
your cold symptoms – and some will even help your body
get rid of it!!
By
Kathleen Gordon-Ross, associate editor
Drink
lots of liquids!
Water
is one of the first things we think of when we hear “Drink
Lots of Liquids” and sometimes it’s the last
thing you want to drink. When you’re sick your body
needs more liquids because it’s using more liquids
to get rid of the infection. Every time you cough or blow
your nose, you loose fluids that need to be replenished.
The dryer your body gets, the less likely it is to If
you’re looking for something a little more interesting
than water, consider drinking:
• Herbal tea with honey
• Hot/Warm Jell-O (make as directed, but serve as
a liquid, not a solid)
• Replenishing Sports Drinks
• Power Shakes and Fruit Smoothies packed with vitamins
Take
it easy
Rest
is essential to allowing your body the necessary resources
to fight off a cold. Forcing your body to keep up your
busy day-to-day routine means there aren’t any additional
resources available to send your cold packing. A cold
is the perfect excuse to:
• Rent 3-4 of your favorite movies (or maybe you
simply need your child’s favorite movies so you can
sleep)
• Call in Sick – good grief, no one wants you
sharing that nasty cold!
• Have an active toddler? Get a babysitter so you
can take an afternoon nap.
• Order dinner in – Pizza, Chinese, whatever
sounds good
Eat
Comfort Foods
Everyone
has their “sick” foods. The foods that only
sound good when your not feeling up to par. For some it’s
a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich cut
into triangles, for others it’s chicken noodle soup
or an egg salad sandwich on toasted bread. What ever your
comfort food is, indulge yourself – it’s amazing
how much better you feel after a bowl of homemade chicken
noodle soup, or a grilled cheese sandwich.
Warm
Bubble Baths
Take
a relaxing bubble bath or stay in the shower for a few
extra minutes. The hot water and steam will do wonders
for your head congestion and sore throat. And those achy
muscles will get some much-needed relief from the hot
water. Plus you will feel 100 times better just getting
out of bed and putting clean clothes on.
Lounge
Wear
Just
because your cough sounds like a barking dog and your
nose is a running faucet, doesn’t mean you have to
throw fashion to the wind. Fashionable lounge ware is
everywhere. Designers have created incredible cute lounge
pants that although they were meant to be worn and not
seen in public, would be acceptable for a quick trip to
the pharmacy or local market. Consider investing in a
pair of flannel PJ bottoms, team it up with a t-shirt
and fleece hoodie; or what about a jersey pant and top
set – they are as comfortable as sweats but not quite
as casual.
Kids
& Colds
Helping
your little one get through the cold and flu season
can be tough. Here are some helpful articles from
Parents.com:
•
Good
Advice from PediaCare Read what the makers of PediaCare, the leading child's
cold medicine, has to say about kids & colds.
•
Choosing
the right cold medicine And other answer questions like: Helping your child
avoid getting a cold, Safety care for your sick child,
When is it time to call the pediatrician, and Comforting
your child
