Surprise, surprise, we don't treat flu/colds properly...

[Dogwatcher]

Australians suffering winter ailments needlessly


Australians are failing to treat their sore throats properly and putting themselves through unnecessary pain and misery.

A recent Galaxy poll has revealed the majority of Australians are slow to respond when treating the symptoms of a sore throat and when they do, 90% of people surveyed reached for products that may only offer temporary relief of the symptoms rather than products that actually treat the cause of the pain.

The research1 shows almost 70% of the people surveyed have the right intentions though rarely give their sore throat due attention, relying on supermarket or convenience store products as opposed to consulting their local pharmacist for advice about the most appropriate treatments.

“The lack of attention in addressing their sore throats means most people are suffering quite unnecessarily, when in fact they could alleviate the pain from the first sign of a sore throat,” explained Mr Lachlan Rose, Managing Pharmacist of Manly Vale Pharmacist Advice, Sydney and member of NSW Branch Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

With a tough flu season already underway it appears most people are misinformed about the effective treatments that are available to help them through the winter months.

Most Australians surveyed1 seemed to reach for supermarket-bought lozenges in the belief that they will actually treat the cause of the pain, although in reality these will often only provide temporary relief of symptoms.

“People don’t tend to treat a sore throat seriously - nobody enjoys the misery and we all want to get over it and back on track as soon as possible,” Mr Rose continued, “though it seems there’s a general misunderstanding as to how best to treat the pain it brings.”

Turning to home remedies, staying wrapped up and making a few lifestyle changes often helps to nurture and soothe, yet even when coupled with a symptom-relieving treatment it still doesn’t address the real problem.

“If people sought advice from their local pharmacy and adopted an effective anti-inflammatory treatment, not only would they get back to normality sooner, it would save them going to work feeling quite lousy too.” Concluded Mr. Rose.

[Dogwatcher]

Definitely can say I'm one of those people who don't treat it properly.
Partly because it's too difficult to get in and see a doctor.
By the time you can get in, you're over the worst of it.
Well that's the theory anyway....

[JK]

I generally find a good hard session on the slops has me right 24-248 hours later

[Q.]

Why actually cure the problem when you've got an excuse to keep taking Dextromethorphan

[Choccies]

I always say "What happens in the Dextromethorphan rooms, stays in the Dextromethorphan rooms".......

[Q.]

Lots of wierd shit goes on in those rooms...

[Booney]

The only medicine required to admininster to somebody "with a sore throat" is a good dose of HTFU. Didums....

[wycbloods]

The only medicine required to admininster to somebody "with a sore throat" is a good dose of HTFU. Didums....

A carton of beer does the trick for me usually. Drown the bastard i say .

[fisho mcspaz]

Codeine for me. Works on everything. And if it doesn't work, it at least makes me care less about the pain I'm in.

[Media Park]

What's a cold? "JEWEL ENCRUSTED SCEPTER"

[JK]

Codeine for me. Works on everything. And if it doesn't work, it at least makes me care less about the pain I'm in.

Until you can't go to the toilet for the next month

[Psyber]

There is no actual treatment for a viral sore throat beyond whatever soothes it for you. [idoxuridine [Zovirax] cream in the nose may inhibit the virus and help a little.]
Pharmaceutical advice may lead you to antihistamines and related medications which can relieve the stuffiness or runny nose.
Medical treatment only becomes relevant if it is a bacterial sore throat in the first place, or a viral one complicated by a secondary bacterial infection.
Then antibiotics may be indicated.

And I wouldn't touch Codeine with a 40 foot pole, partly because of the constipation, and partly due to its addictiveness.
I had the experience of getting addicted to a related narcotic substance - the dextro-propoxyphene in Di-Gesic.
I'd been on Di-Gesic 5 days and got all the standard withdrawal effects 2 days after stopping it - the classic pattern Heroin addicts get.

[Dog_ger]

RAW Garlic.

Sliced very fine on toast.

Beautiful.

1 clove a day keeps the germs away...

[cennals05]

RAW Garlic.

Sliced very fine on toast.

Beautiful.

1 clove a day keeps the germs away...

And everyone else.

[Barto]

RAW Garlic.

Sliced very fine on toast.

Beautiful.

1 clove a day keeps the germs away...

I felt this head cold coming on one day and ate a garlic naan bread from Hawkers Corner on West Tce and I swear it killed it.

[Farmy]

Salt water

[A Mum]

Salt water

Okay - don't all laugh at me at once

Whenever we 'start to get/or get' a sore throat in this family we head straight for a packet of salted chips.
Works for us...lol.

Another thing I've heard:
A friend of mine swears by gargling Apple Cider Vinegar.

[Psyber]

One of the Respiratory Physicians at the QEH, when I was a student there, always swore by Whisky & lemon for a cold or sore throat.
His line was, " It doesn't cure anything but enough of it makes you feel much better!"

[Booney]

My Great-Aunt and much of my Grand-Mothers family used to place a large dollop of Vicks Vapour Rub on the back of their tongue, yes, on the back of their tongue.... and just let it melt away over the next 4 or 5 minutes.

Cant have been too bad as the last of that family recently passed away at age 86 and many of them made 80+.

Not for me though, built them tough in the old days.

[Dogwatcher]

If I'm a bit fluey leading into a footy game, I eat a big dollop of Vicks.
Not just for old timers Boondog...