Cold & Flu

Winter brings plenty of joy to our hearts. Sure, it might not have the beach time memories that summer has, and it might not bring to mind the rebirth of all natural things that spring does, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of many. It’s the time for Christmas, for wrapping up warm and staying in on an evening with the family around the fire, passing the time together. It’s also the time, charmingly enough, when we all get a little bit sick, and start feeling sorry for ourselves. Well, sadly, life has an awful habit of going on around us and sometimes we’ve got to be ready to face the world, so what’s the best way of dealing with those seasonal sniffles? Many some would say hot medicine drinks like Lemsip, but why?

The seasons have officially turned and those days spent sitting in parks and walking the dog seem like nothing but a distant dream when you’re wrapped up in more layers than an onion, so it’s fair to say we’ve reached winter and with it all of the mixed blessings we associate – everything from Christmas to Colds, but how do you stay healthy during the winter months?

Getting a cold is an inevitable part of the wintery months, and those first tell-tale signs of a gentle tickle in your throat and a runny nose seem largely like a rite of passage as we get nearer towards Christmas and the New Year. Alas, not all of us have time to put up with those bothersome traits and would much prefer the hours and days to get those last few Christmas gifts bought before everyone arrives for dinner, for those who just nodded their head slightly, we have a top tip for you – Lemsip.

We’re all used to thinking of headaches, sore throats and coughs as colds most of the way through the year, but when the weather turns seasonal, we’re all quick to assume we’re coming down the with flu. But do you really know the difference between the two, and if not, how are we to get the medicine we need to effectively treat them?

As the season draws near and everyone begins wrapping up warm for the oncoming colder weather, we become increasingly aware of the chorus of coughs and sneezes which echo around every building we step inside and seemingly everyone we meet is battling some kinds of symptom. True, these things tend to spread like wildfire and you may well think you’ve caught the flu yourself, but how do you know, and what can you do to battle it if you have influenza?

This week we noticed an article relating to Calvin Lock, who had taken Ibuprofen to treat a sore throat. It is thought that Calvin then went on to suffer from a severe allergic reaction, resulting in him being put on a life support machine.  Thankfully, Calvin is now on the road to recovery.

This is an extreme reaction, but many of us do not realise or consider potential side effects when taking over the counter medicine – perhaps this is because they are so readily available these days, from places like supermarkets, petrol stations and newsagents.

Winter brings plenty of joy for the family; there are those crisp moments of aesthetic perfection where all of nature seems to have found its place. There’s days spent playing in the snow and evenings wrapped in a blanket, by the fire, watching a film. Winter brings all of these things in equal measure, but in between coughing fits, headaches and sore throats it’s hard to apply nostalgia to those moments. So what do we do? We go flocking to the nearest chemist only to find they’ve sold out of all the essentials long before you thought it correct to go and purchase them.  So you’re unlikely to make the same mistake you did last year, but what will you need?