There was a brief, seven-year interval between getting my first cell phone and coming into nursing college when my group chats have been buzzing with fairly common conversations. As I entered my nursing college interval, my texts quickly went from, “OMG, Selena and Justin broke up,” to, “Must I get this mole checked out?” inside the blink of a watch. And with six years of emergency nursing beneath my belt, I’ve perpetually solidified myself as On-Title Nurse of the group chat.
My notifications always seem to double all through chilly and flu season, and thankfully, I’m well-versed in serving to my buddies actually really feel larger when frequent colds get them down. When summer season season includes an end and comes knocking, me and CVS Pharmacy are inclined to convey our relationship from casual to devoted, and my Extracare Card will get merely as quite a bit movement as my AMEX. From the second I get my flu shot* to the hours I spend perusing aisles all through their Fall Wellness Event, I’m what you’d identify a frequent flyer. Now’s top-of-the-line time to replenish on meds, dietary dietary supplements, cough drops, humidifiers, and additional—listed under are the over-the-counter objects I always advocate that my associates have obtainable all through sick season:
Ache and fever meds
When issues, fevers, aches, and pains strike, I always attain for Advil (AKA one among many frequent mannequin names for ibuprofen). Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication that reduces ache introduced on by irritation and reduces fevers, so I always have these obtainable from that time of the month to cold-and-flu season and previous (plus, these ones have a coating on them, which makes them truly one among many greatest tablets to swallow).
If I’ve a fever or pains that the Advil isn’t single-handedly tackling, I’m in all probability moreover leaning on Tylenol (AKA one among many mannequin names for acetaminophen) for help. Whereas they every struggle ache and fever, they work in quite a few strategies and are cleared by fully totally different components of the physique. On account of this, it’s possible you’ll take them once more to once more, which is crucial for many who’re feeling like crap. Since it’s possible you’ll take Advil every six hours and Tylenol every six hours, I desire to take my Advil dosage first, Tylenol three hours later, Advil three hours after that, and once more to Tylenol three hours after that. With this system, you’re sustaining alongside together with your ache and fever discount nevertheless in a technique that retains your Tylenol-to-Tylenol and your Advil-to-Advil doses six hours aside from each other. Breakthrough ache and fevers? Under no circumstances heard of ’em.
An electrolyte different
I’m not good at hydrating on an important day, nevertheless notably when sick indicators are wreaking havoc on my spirits. Whenever you’re beneath the local weather and don’t have a variety of an urge for meals, it’s possible you’ll find yourself reaching in your emotional help water bottle a lot much less. And for many who moreover happen to have a fever made full with an elevated respiratory price and sweating, you in all probability will need electrolyte different. After I’m sick, water offers me the ick, nevertheless as soon as I pop a packet of this in my bottle, I do know that my water is inserting in extra work for me.
Immune help
As with just about all sicknesses in life, top-of-the-line treatment is prevention, so come fall, I wish to current my immune system the TLC it deserves. I always go for one factor with vitamin C in it because of it performs a vital place in immune properly being, nevertheless I notably love this one from Airborne because of it has 12 totally different dietary nutritional vitamins and minerals, along with Zinc, which helps to stimulate immune cells. These are moreover large simple to take on-the-go, which makes them good for journey or bringing in your morning commute.
A cough suppressant-expectorant combo
Even with my nursing expertise, I am no stranger to calling my mom in a decided plea for a long-distance hug and a med rec as soon as I’m feeling sorry for myself. My mom fully swears by Mucinex DM for everytime you’re in these horrible early phases of being sick, and it is important identify in reinforcements to get a number of of that… mucus… up and out (sorry, ladies, there’s no demure approach to say it). It eases these dry coughing fits that don’t scratch the ground of chest congestion and makes the coughs that you simply simply do have additional productive. It lasts for 12 hours and doesn’t have any sneaky acetaminophen or ibuprofen in it, so it’s an superior pairing to your Advil-Tylenol routine.
Allergy meds
One amongst my favorite video video games to play as soon as I rise up with an sudden stuffy nostril is “Is it the flu or is it merely allergic reactions?” For these of us who’re delicate to ragweed pollen, mould spores, and dust mites, fall might be a time for allergic reactions and may make discerning your indicators from illness extra sturdy than ever. To help administration a number of of the stuffy-nosed, watery-eyed noise, I always advocate that my associates maintain with their allergy meds to help keep these autumnal allergic reactions at bay.
One factor that’ll work fast everytime you’re inside the trenches
On lately everytime you’re down unhealthy and need a med that’s going to do all of it, this fast-acting Alka-Seltzer Chilly and Flu situation must do the trick. On account of it carries a mixture of 4 meds, it tackles the entire thing of chilly and flu indicators: nasal and sinus congestion, sneezing, runny nostril, cough, sore throat, headache, physique aches, and fevers due to it having acetaminophen in it. Merely dissolve it in 4 ounces of water and let it do its issue.
Cough drops
There’s nothing worse than wrapping up an prolonged day of hacking up a lung, solely to be met with a night of tossing and turning as you try and ignore that incessant tickle in your throat. And whereas I’ll take any sort of cough drop as soon as I’m in a state of sickly desperation, the fact is that all cough drops normally should not made equal. I desire to go for cough drops that double as a cough suppressant and oral anesthetic like Ricola’s Pure Herb Cough Drops, which pack a punch. They’re my best-kept secret for soothing a cough and relieving an itchy, sore throat all through chilly and flu season. You’ll uncover these in my medication cabinet, in my work bag, and on my nightstand as soon as I’ve to get points beneath administration.
A cool-mist humidifier
For a lot of of my life, I not at all paid any ideas to sit back mist humidifiers—that is, until I took my second nursing job in a pediatric emergency division. After learning plenty of upon plenty of of discharge instructions that impressed mom and father to help deal with the woes of chilly and flu season with a cool mist humidifier, I lastly broke down and talked about, “Constructive, I’ll give this issue a try.” So many chilly and flu indicators are made worse with dry air. Runny noses flip into crusty noses, already dry mouths flip into chapped lips, and mouth respiration dry air can extra irritate sore throats. By together with moisture once more into the air while you’re sleeping, it’ll help you to a) skinny congestion in an effort to get it out additional merely and b) stay away from the worsening of indicators by the all-dreaded dry air.
Please search the recommendation of a well being care supplier or a properly being expert sooner than beginning any therapies, dietary dietary supplements, or medicines. Always search the advice of your physician or totally different licensed properly being provider with any questions you possibly can have regarding a medical state of affairs. Under no circumstances disregard expert medical suggestion or delay in searching for it as a result of one factor you’ve got study on this text.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Selleke, RN, Branded Content material materials Managing Editor
After receiving her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, Ashley first pursued a career as an emergency division nurse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Whereas she liked the issue that bought right here with being on the frontlines of affected individual care in high-acuity settings, her passion for storytelling has fueled her editorial career at The Everygirl since 2019.
*Flu images on the market when a licensed immunizer is on duty. Age restrictions apply. Eligible victims will not pay any copayments till in every other case required by their plan, along with Medicare Half B. The Flu vaccine is in the intervening time on the market at most CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® areas and is not any worth with most insurance coverage protection.
This submit is sponsored by CVS Pharmacy nevertheless your entire opinions inside are these of The Everygirl editorial board.
