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8 Best Cold Medicines

Puffy eyes? Scratchy throat? Stuffy nose? Head feel like it's under water? You might be coming down with a cold. Although there are no medications to prevent colds, cold and flu medications exist to provide relief from cold symptoms. But which are the best cold medicines? Where can you buy cold and flu medicine without breaking the bank?

Why am I sick?

Colds can strike at any time of the year; however, you probably start feeling that undeniable tickle at the back of your throat in late August and throughout the fall and winter months. It's true that when the weather turns, and people spend more time indoors, they tend to get sick more often. Cold season is practically synonymous with the start of the school. While children aren't the cause of cold season, they are more susceptible to the virus, and more apt to help it spread. What's more is that colder temperatures are ideal for the spread of cold and flu viruses.

That's right. All those times your mother warned you to stay out of the cold if you didn't want to get sick… turns out she was right! Colds and flus are caused by viruses that travel in liquid particles. As cold air is better at absorbing extra moisture, viruses have a better chance of staying airborne. Since cold weather increases mucus secretions, resulting in more coughing, sneezing, and nose blowing, there are more chances of encountering viruses, either airborne or on surfaces.

Cold or flu: What's the difference?

There are more than 100 viruses that can cause a cold. Contrarily, there are only three types of flu viruses: influenza virus type A, B, or C. Every year at the start of cold and flu season vaccines become available to help protect against influence types A and B, which are generally the larger seasonal outbreaks. Influenza type C is usually accompanied by mild respiratory issues.

The common cold, which can manifest in either a head cold or a chest cold, has standard symptoms. If you have a cold you may experience a runny nose, sore throat, chest and sinus congestion, and a cough. Over-the-counter (OTC) medication can be helpful in relieving cold symptoms. Flu symptoms are very similar, however are generally accompanied body aches, fever, headaches and chills. The best cold medicine can help relieve flu symptoms too.

What are some natural cold remedies that work?

Before diving into a list of the best cold medicines, it's important to understand the few things you can do to prevent cold germs from spreading. To combat the spread of colds and flus, be sure to wash your hands regularly, especially after touching someone else's hand or any public surface. You may also want to make a habit of not touching your face, especially your eyes and nose. Furthermore, you might also want to try staying hydrated, and getting ample sleep can keep your immune system working in tip-top shape.

Of course, if you are already feeling under the weather, chances are it's already too late.

You may have heard that the best cold medicine is rest, but getting plenty of rest can be hard when you have a fulltime job. If you aren't ready to jump into the immediate relief felt by the best cold medicines, you might be looking for natural remedies for your cold symptoms, you might want to try increasing your intake of honey, which has natural antiviral properties. Meanwhile, vitamin C and D help boost your immune system, and ginger can help reduce inflammation and clear congestion. Also, regular use of a neti-pot to rinse your sinuses can increase can also help clear your sinuses.

Best OTC Cold Medicine

When natural remedies just aren't cutting it to curb your cold symptoms, OTC medicines are available to help reduce fever, congestion, and pain associated with colds. Additionally, cold medications can be formulated for either daytime and nighttime use. Cough and cold medicine is like cold and flu medicine, with the addition of a cough suppressant.

The active ingredients in the best cold medicines are like those in allergy medicines. One of the main ingredients in the best cold medicines are fever and pain reducers, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium or aspirin. Additionally, multi-symptom cold medicines include antihistamines like chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine among others, these can help narrow your blood vessels and reduce curb itchy watery eyes, and runny nose. Cough and cold medications also include a cough suppressant like dextromethorphan, and some include guaifenesin to alleviate chest congestion.

Over-the-counter, the best cold medicines include:

Top 5 OTC Cold Medicines

Best cold medicine available by prescription

Unfortunately, the nature of a virus makes it resistant to antibiotics. That means that prescription medications are generally ineffective. Still, when the best OTC cold medicine just isn't working, you can get a prescription that is a little stronger to help lessen your cold symptoms.

The best cold medicines available by prescription include:

Top 3 Rx Cold Medicines

Where to buy cold medications?

Buying cold medicines can be an expensive undertaking. Be it nasal sprays, tablets or liquids, always having the best cold medicine on hand to help with your itchy eyes, runny nose and stuffy head can be a challenge. Buying your medications online through reputable, certified pharmacies like Canada Pharmacy can significantly lower your costs. What's more is how convenient it is to order from an online retailer that can ship your medication directly to your door. Ordering your prescriptions online is virtually hassle-free!

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