"Cold Cures"
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Updated: 8:26 PM Nov 13, 2006
"Cold Cures"
Doctors say there's no cure for the cold, but there are ways to reduce symptoms if you're sick, or even you are at risk of getting sick
Posted: 6:34 PM Nov 2, 2006
Reporter: Lindsay Veremis
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We've all had colds and most likely we'll all get them again. But doctors and nutritionists say there are ways to reduce your symptoms if you're sick or even you're at risk of getting sick.

Doctors say there's no cure for the common cold but medicine and natural remedies can do a lot to make you feel better.

"Basic things are doing higher doses of vitamin C than an average person does, maybe 1000 milligrams three times a day instead of once a day, will be able to help boost the immune system," nutritionist Dr. Amy Emch said.

She says another great remedy is garlic. Whether you eat it or take a supplement, she says there are natural properties in garlic that will attack mucous-causing bacteria.

Chicken soup made from scratch also helps. She says its not a myth. When you heat the chicken a chemical is created that attacks the cold virus.

Dr. Paul Green agrees, but says the important thing is to find what works for you. He says everyone's different and no method works the best.

"Basically once you get your cold you want to take things that make you feel better, if aches are what you are having trouble with, taking something like Tylenol for aches can be helpful," Green said.

He says if you have a stuffy head, decongestants or antihistamines can help but you need to remember the side effects. Those medications could make you drowsy. He says if you need to drive a long way, you should test your response first.

For a sore throat, he says cough drops, throat sprays or a warm salt water gargle can be soothing. But his most important advice is to be courteous of others. He says if you're feeling bad, you should stay home when you can.

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