There was a fast, seven-year interval between getting my first cellphone and coming into nursing school when my group chats have been buzzing with fairly common conversations. As I entered my nursing school interval, my texts shortly went from, “OMG, Selena and Justin broke up,” to, “Must I get this mole checked out?” throughout the blink of a watch fastened. And with six years of emergency nursing beneath my belt, I’ve with out finish solidified myself as On-Title Nurse of the group chat.
My notifications on a regular basis seem to double all through chilly and flu season, and fortuitously, I’m well-versed in serving to my pals actually really feel greater when widespread colds get them down. When summer 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 lots 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 chances are you’ll title a frequent flyer. Now’s the perfect time to refill on meds, dietary dietary supplements, cough drops, humidifiers, and further—listed below are the over-the-counter objects I on a regular basis recommend that my buddies have accessible all through sick season:
Ache and fever meds
When issues, fevers, aches, and pains strike, I on a regular basis attain for Advil (AKA one in all many widespread mannequin names for ibuprofen). Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory remedy that reduces ache attributable to irritation and reduces fevers, so I on a regular basis have these accessible from that time of the month to cold-and-flu season and previous (plus, these ones have a coating on them, which makes them really one in all many greatest tablets to swallow).
If I’ve a fever or pains that the Advil isn’t single-handedly tackling, I’m likely moreover leaning on Tylenol (AKA one in all many mannequin names for acetaminophen) for assist. Whereas they every struggle ache and fever, they work in quite a few strategies and are cleared by completely completely different components of the physique. As a result of this, chances are you’ll take them once more to once more, which is important once you’re feeling like crap. Since chances are you’ll take Advil every six hours and Tylenol every six hours, I want 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 technique, you’re sustaining collectively together with your ache and fever discount nonetheless in a method that retains your Tylenol-to-Tylenol and your Advil-to-Advil doses six hours apart from each other. Breakthrough ache and fevers? In no way heard of ’em.
An electrolyte different
I’m not good at hydrating on an outstanding day, nonetheless significantly when sick indicators are wreaking havoc on my spirits. Within the occasion you’re beneath the local weather and don’t have a variety of an urge for meals, chances are you’ll find yourself reaching to your emotional assist water bottle a lot much less. And once you moreover happen to have a fever made full with an elevated respiratory cost and sweating, you likely will need electrolyte different. After I’m sick, water offers me the ick, nonetheless as soon as I pop a packet of this in my bottle, I do know that my water is putting in extra work for me.
Immune assist
As with nearly all sicknesses in life, the perfect remedy is prevention, so come fall, I like to supply my immune system the TLC it deserves. I on a regular basis go for one factor with vitamin C in it because of it performs an important perform in immune nicely being, nonetheless I significantly love this one from Airborne because of it has 12 completely different dietary nutritional vitamins and minerals, along with Zinc, which helps to stimulate immune cells. These are moreover super easy 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 utterly swears by Mucinex DM for when you’re in these horrible early phases of being sick, and also you wish to title in reinforcements to get just a few of that… mucus… up and out (sorry, women, there’s no demure method 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 vital pairing to your Advil-Tylenol routine.
Allergy meds
One amongst my favorite video video games to play as soon as I stand up with an shocking stuffy nostril is “Is it the flu or is it merely allergy signs?” For these of us who’re delicate to ragweed pollen, mould spores, and dust mites, fall is often a time for allergy signs and will make discerning your indicators from illness extra sturdy than ever. To help administration among the many stuffy-nosed, watery-eyed noise, I on a regular basis recommend that my buddies maintain with their allergy meds to help protect these autumnal allergy signs at bay.
One factor that’ll work fast when you’re throughout the trenches
On lately when you’re down harmful and need a med that’s going to do all of it, this fast-acting Alka-Seltzer Chilly and Flu state of affairs must do the trick. Because of it carries a mix 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 because of 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 a protracted day of hacking up a lung, solely to be met with a night of tossing and turning as you try to ignore that incessant tickle in your throat. And whereas I’ll take any type of cough drop as soon as I’m in a state of sickly desperation, the fact is that each one cough drops are often not made equal. I want 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 remedy cabinet, in my work bag, and on my nightstand as soon as I have to get points beneath administration.
A cool-mist humidifier
For a lot of of my life, I in no way paid any ideas to sit back mist humidifiers—that is, until I took my second nursing job in a pediatric emergency division. After learning tons of upon tons of of discharge instructions that impressed dad and mother to help deal with the woes of chilly and flu season with a cool mist humidifier, I lastly broke down and acknowledged, “Prime quality, I’ll give this issue a attempt.” 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 respiratory dry air can extra irritate sore throats. By together with moisture once more into the air once you’re sleeping, it’ll allow you to a) skinny congestion as a approach 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 nicely being expert sooner than beginning any therapies, dietary dietary supplements, or medication. On a regular basis search the advice of your physician or completely different licensed nicely being provider with any questions you should have regarding a medical scenario. In no way disregard expert medical advice or delay in looking for it because of one factor you have 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 cherished the issue that acquired right here with being on the frontlines of affected particular person care in high-acuity settings, her passion for storytelling has fueled her editorial career at The Everygirl since 2019.
*Flu pictures on the market when a licensed immunizer is on obligation. Age restrictions apply. Eligible victims will not pay any copayments till in some other case required by their plan, along with Medicare Half B. The Flu vaccine is presently on the market at most CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® areas and isn’t any worth with most insurance coverage protection.
This submit is sponsored by CVS Pharmacy nonetheless all of the opinions inside are these of The Everygirl editorial board.