Coughs and Colds

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. There are more than 200 different types of viruses that cause a cold¹, though most commonly we get a cold from either rhinoviruses or coronaviruses.

Coughs are usually also caused by viruses (one of them being the common cold) that cause inflammation somewhere in the respiratory system – in the lungs, throat or windpipe. Coughs can present as either chesty or dry.

Although no vaccination exists for the common cold, below are some  important techniques that may help you reduce the risk of getting one:

• Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!
• Regularly wipe down and sanitise any items you use frequently  throughout the day, as well as any hard surfaces such as your desk.
• Dispose of any used tissues immediately and avoid using handkerchiefs.
• Keep a pocket-sized hand sanitiser in your bag when you are at work  or school and use on a regular basis, particularly after touching hard  surfaces in public areas.
• If you are caring for someone who has the flu, keep one metre  distance where possible and use a surgical mask where possible to  prevent catching the virus.
• Use an antiseptic spray in the room to kill germs in the air.
• Boost your immune system with quality supplements such as immune boosters, garlic tablets, echinacea and vitamin C. 

Many people with a common cold will find they experience a chesty  cough, which is characterised by a feeling of heaviness on the chest.  Sufferers tend to find other symptoms of chesty cough include bringing  up mucus or phlegm – a condition that tends to be worse during the  night.

If symptoms persist, sufferers should consult a doctor as there may  be an infection present. Although irritating, chesty coughs are not  usually life-threatening unless there is another underlying health  problem at play.

It is possible to seek treatment for chesty cough in the home, with  products such as lozenges and cough/cold medicines often the best course  of action.

Having a dry cough can be irritating, especially when it persists and will not go away of its own accord.

Dry cough can be caused by a number of factors, including irritants  in the air, smoke, inflammation and infection. For most people, dry  cough is due to an infection in the upper airway that comes immediately  after suffering a cold.

In the majority of cases, the condition will heal itself, but there  are treatments such as cough liquids to help ease the symptoms of dry  cough. Lozenges can also help ease any discomfort and are available from  your TanaPlaza Pharmacy store.

If the dry cough persists, is severe or gets worse please see your doctor.