Honest Information. Better Health.

Keeping Catchy Infections Contained

There’s a vaccine for many common contagious diseases. Make sure your family is up to date on their vaccinations. That includes adults, who should ...

Vitamin C for The Common Cold

At the very first sign of cold symptoms, many people reach for Vitamin C, whether in supplements, juices, cough drops, tea, or other forms. In 2010...

Starve a Cold, Feed a Fever?

If you cook them, use as little liquid as possible to keep the nutrients in the food. Foods rich in beta carotene and other carotenoids include: Ap...

Get Relief from The Aches and Pains of a Cold

Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs can lower your fever and ease muscle aches. But if you need pain relief for more than 10 days, talk to your doctor. F...

Echinacea for The Common Cold

Two studies funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health did not find any help for a cold from echinacea in either childr...

Decongestants & Antihistamines for The Common Cold

Newer antihistamines like fexofenadine (Allegra) and loratidine (Claritin) have not been shown to work for cold symptoms. A decongestant called phe...

Is it a Common Cold or Allergies?

It's a question that puzzles lots of folks when those familiar symptoms hit: Is all that coughing and sneezing from a cold or hay fever? After a co...

Zinc for Colds: Lozenges and Nasal Sprays

The research is also mixed as to whether taking zinc can help prevent colds. Researchers say zinc nasal sprays cause animals to lose their sense of...

Can Antibiotics Treat My Cold?

For example, they can treat bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, ear infection, and pinkeye -- as long as they're caused by bacteria. Sometimes, yo...

Nasal Sprays for Cold Relief

When you're done, don't blow your nose right away and try not to sneeze. That will keep the medication in your nose. Some sprays may have different...

Guide to Cough Medicine

The doctor may tell you not to treat a cough from a cold unless it keeps you up at night or gets in the way of your daily life. Dextromethorphan ca...

What's Causing My Cold?

These viruses cause 20% of colds. About 10% to 15% of adult colds are caused by viruses also responsible for other, more severe respiratory illness...