![How to deal with the misery of coughs and colds. How to deal with the misery of coughs and colds.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zFAiTDuEg3GdzaaJJ3MGNK/5164ceb7-0b1b-400a-8906-f381eee6094b.jpg/r0_98_1920_1177_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
COLD winds, rain, snow - must be winter and definitely sniffles weather - but coughs and colds aren't exclusive to the colder months.
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Many people will catch a cold at some stage during the year but there are some things you can do to minimise those annoying and often discomforting symptoms of a cold.
Health professionals recommend drinking plenty of fluids, as well as resting and eating a well-balanced diet with contains a variety of fruit and vegetables. These help to supply natural antioxidants which strengthen the immune system.
Knowing your cough is also helpful. If there is a lot of mucus or phlegm irritating the airways and waiting to be coughed up, the cough is known as a 'productive' one. A 'dry' cough on the other hand is characterised by a lack of mucus and phlegm and is just nagging and annoying.
In addition, coughs can be 'acute' or 'chronic'. What we know as acute coughs are usually those which are caused by a viral or bacterial infection such as a cold, the flu or even pneumonia. However, they may also be caused by external factors such as allergies, smoke or fumes.
Chronic coughs are those which last a number of weeks, and perhaps even months, and can be caused by cigarette smoke - both the active and the passive forms of smoking.
If you are a non-smoker and suffer a chronic cough, the most likely causes could be post-nasal drip, asthma or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease which is a persistent and severe form of heartburn. Anyone with a chronic cough should talk to their pharmacist about treatment.
![George Tambassis George Tambassis](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zFAiTDuEg3GdzaaJJ3MGNK/ab78d68f-2f3f-4468-86fc-5afb94d1ee80.jpg/r143_50_1023_883_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia George Tambassis said that people seeking a treatment for coughs and colds needed to talk to the pharmacist or pharmacy staff.
"It is important to talk to your community pharmacist about any other medicines you may be taking," he said.
"Some medicines can interact with each other and your pharmacist can advise if there is a possibility of this.
"They can also help to identify the best treatment for your particular need. There is no one size fits all for coughs and colds and so you need to make sure you get the medicine that is right for you.
It is important to talk to your community pharmacist about any other medicines you may be taking. Some medicines can interact with each other and your pharmacist can advise if there is a possibility of this.
- George Tambassis, Pharmacy Guild of Australia
"Also, many medicines designed to relieve the symptoms of coughs and colds are now available as what are known as 'Pharmacist Only Medicines'.
"What this means is that the pharmacists themselves must personally provide you with the medicines and they can only do that if they are satisfied it's the most appropriate product to treat your symptoms.
"The pharmacist will also help you choose the best possible product for your particular need.
"Sometimes, depending on the ingredients in the medicine, the provision of these products must be recorded and this helps support the health of you and the wider community."
Of course, avoiding catching a cold or getting a cough in the first place is the best course of action.
Here are some tips.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or with a hand wash or hand sanitiser. This is particularly important before handling food, or after you have touched you mouth or nose.
- Discard tissues after coughing or sneezing into them Wash your hands after this.
- Keep surfaces such as phones, keyboards and screens clean
- Avoid sharing towels
- Avoid sharing cups, crockery or cutlery.
The Government also recommends anyone with respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat and shortness of breath, gets tested for COVID-19.
Call your GP or pharmacy for advice before visiting.