Do’s

• Keep hydrated - drink water. Doing this helps your immune system fight the sickness and can also help loosen mucus and replenish the lost fluids from blowing your nose.
• Stay rested - give you immune system a little help by resting, this will help your body direct the energy towards to immune battle and help get you back to feeling yourself again.
• Steamy shower - help moisturise your nasal passages and relax by sitting near, or having a steamy shower.
• Ice cubes - if your throat hurts from a tickly or dry cough, try eating some ice cubes to help soothe the soreness and pain.
• Elevate you head - If you’re suffering from a cold, try sleeping with an extra pillow. Being slightly elevated can help drain the congestion so you sleep better.
• Use sanitizer - by keeping an alcohol based hand sanitizer with you, you can kill the germs and prevent any of your friends and family also getting sick.

Don’ts

• Smoking – by avoiding smoke or second hand smoke will help avoid unnecessary irritation to your nose, throat and lungs.
• Spread the germs - by coughing into a tissue and washing your hands with soap after you can avoid the spread of germs.
• Sleeping on your back - try and avoid phlegm flowing up and irritating your throat, but sleeping in an inclined position which will help prevent coughing at night.

Parents: how you can help your little one

Hearing your child cough can be tough, especially if it’s keeping them – and you – up through the night. With a whole range of products designed especially for children, BENYLIN^® is here to help ease many different kinds of coughs in children, including dry, chesty and night-time coughs. Discover the BENYLIN^® Children’s Cough Relief range here.

We have listed a few tips for you to help ease the symptoms of a cough in your child:

• Sit with your child in a steamy bathroom for 15-20 mins, the moist air will help ease the breathing
• Inhaling vapour rub on a towel, do not rub directly onto the skin unless a doctor advises it
• Ensure they are drinking plenty of fluids
• Try using a cool-mist humidifier and a warm bath to help clear the mucus which is causing the cough

When to see your GP:

There's usually no need to see your GP if you or your child have a mild cough for a week or two. However, you should seek medical advice if:

• You or your child have had the cough for more than three weeks
• The cough is severe or is getting worse
• You or your child cough up blood or experience shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or chest pain
• You have any other worrying symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in your voice, or lumps or swellings in your neck