How to stock your medicine cabinet for cold and flu season

Marielle Segarra (0:00)

So I was on the train today, and this lady started coughing. And, you know, my first thought, of course, is, is she sick?

Andy Tagel (0:10)

Right?

Marielle Segarra (0:11)

Like, you're like hoping she's choking, which sounds actually terrible.

But maybe she just choked on her own spit or on some water or something. But then as she starts coughing more, you're like trying to diagnose it. Does it sound wet? Is it phlegmy? You know? And like, do I have to get up? Can the germs travel that far?

Mona Amin (0:32)

Right.

Andy Tagel (0:33)

Like, is this a, like, like can I just turn away situation? Is this like a move to a different, like move to a whole different train situation?

Marielle Segarra (0:41)

I feel like I'd notice cold and flu season just by the number of coughs that I hear on the train in October.

Mona Amin (0:49)

Yeah. Yeah.

Andy Tagel (0:49)

That's a real, that's a real thing.

Marielle Segarra (0:53)

Well, you're listening to Life Kit. I'm Marielle Segarra, and I'm talking to reporter Andy Tagel. Andy, what is it about this time of year? Why are we so susceptible to getting sick now?

Andy Tagel (1:03)

There's a lot of things working against us at the same time, Marielle. Let me introduce you to Dr. Mona Amin. She's a board-certified pediatrician and the host of the podcast Peds Doc Talk.

Mona Amin (1:13)

There's so many things that are happening in this time frame. The first one is that different viruses replicate in different climates, and then you add the fact that kids are back in school, and so when you put germs with germy little kids together, it's like a nice little petri dish that everyone's just sharing the love.

Marielle Segarra (1:32)

Nasty.

Andy Tagel (1:34)

I hate it.

Marielle Segarra (1:38)

So what have you got for us? Would you have some tips? You can help me not get sick.

Andy Tagel (1:43)

Well, I'm going to do my best, Marielle. I'm going to do my best. In this episode of Life Kit, let's get you prepped for the cold and flu season as best we can.

Mona will share all of her must-haves for your medicine cabinet. We'll also talk to a pharmacist about reading labels and how to be smarter in the cold and flu aisle. And then we're going to wrap up with tips for understanding when to treat a sickness at home and when to go in to see a doctor.

Marielle Segarra (2:07)

Here's hoping that this is all just good to know and you won't need any of it, and you'll be illness-free.

Andy Tagel (2:14)

Crossing all of my fingers, all of my toes.

Marielle Segarra (2:17)

That's hard to do.

Andy Tagel (2:26)

Take away one.

As the weather turns colder, multiple factors can work against your immune system at once. The very best medicine at your disposal is prevention.

Mona Amin (2:40)

My goat, my greatest of all time hack is saline. So like anytime my nose is feeling dry, even if I'm not sick, I am squirting saline into those nostrils to help keep it moist, almost like the version of washing your hands, but for your nose.

Andy Tagel (2:55)

It's easier for viruses to attach, to stick to you when your nose is dry.

Mona Amin (3:01)

Yes. That being said, it's not a full stop prevention, but it's one layer of that Swiss cheese model, which means adding different layers of the Swiss cheese to reduce the risk of, you know, getting an infection in the first place.

Andy Tagel (3:13)

The idea here, if it's new to you, is that no method of prevention is perfect. They all have holes, but you can reduce your overall risk of getting sick by adding on more layers of protection, like...

Alicia Reed (3:28)

So, I mean, definitely, you want to make sure that you're hand-washing.

Andy Tagel (3:32)

This is Alicia Reed, a licensed pharmacist and health educator based in New Orleans.

Alicia Reed (3:37)

So, you know, like, they have a girl's girl. I consider myself a girl's pharmacist because I, I'm the pharmacist that's going to tell you whether or not something is worth buying.

I don't want you to get fooled by clever marketing. So, I consider myself a girl's pharmacist.

Andy Tagel (3:53)

Together, Alicia and Mona are going to tag team to help get you and everyone in your family ready for this cold and flu season.

Both say it's pretty simple. Just don't skip the basics.

Mona Amin (4:05)

Hydration, fluid helps things move along, and also fluids help keep our throat moist. So, things can't get into our mucus membranes in the throat that can cause viruses.