For the wheezing, and the sneezing, and the sinus that's really a pip
January is prime time for colds and other respiratory illnesses. Because people tend to equate January sniffles with colds and flu, they may go straight to the cough/cold area and bypass the allergy/sinus aisle, which is also of concern this time of year.
Key Points
January is prime time for colds and other respiratory illnesses. While contagious viruses are active year-round, people are most vulnerable in winter, when they spend more time indoors with others.
Colds can be caused by more than 200 types of viruses, and no vaccine against them exists. But any number of OTC therapies may relieve typical cold symptoms: stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat, and watery eyes.
Don't forget allergies and sinuses
For those who feel fluish
Novartis has 2 new products. Theraflu Max-D Severe Cold & Flu is now the most powerful Theraflu formula available and is sold behind the counter (and by prescription only in Oregon and Mississippi). Active ingredients are acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine. It temporarily relieves chest congestion, nasal congestion, cough, body ache, sore throat pain, headache, and fever.
For children ages 2 to 11, Triaminic Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever temporarily reduces fever and relieves minor aches and pains stemming from the common cold, flu, headache, minor sore throat, and toothache. Available in grape and bubble gum flavors, it is alcohol-, aspirin-, and ibuprofen-free. The sole active ingredient is acetaminophen.
The natural approach
For this cold season, Matrixx Initiatives has added 2 new Zicam Cold Remedy Plus items: Zicam Cold Remedy PlusRapidMelts and Zicam Cold Remedy Plus Oral Mist, which are formulated to reduce the duration of a cold while helping to provide symptom relief. Zicam Cold Remedy products use zinc gluconate and zinc acetate to reduce the duration of a cold when used as directed.
