Sneeze, Cough, Stuffy Nose...and LOTS of Medicines

Allergy season is in full swing, and there are so many allergy remedies out there. How do you decide what you need? Do you understand the difference between an antihistamine and a decongestant? And where does an expectorant fit in? It's often tough to figure out when to take which drug might help. Here are the basics:

1. Decongestants simply narrow the blood vessels in the lining of the nose, allowing air to pass more easily. Use these when your nose is "stopped up". Caution: do not use if you have high blood pressure, as they can potentially raise your pressure.

2. Antihistamines block the release of histamine, the chemical in your body that cause cells to swell and leak fluid, resulting in itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. Use these to DRY UP (but not when you are simply "stuffy")

3. Expectorants are all medications that include guaifenesin. This drug breaks up mucus, allowing it to drain down from sinuses or be coughed up from your lungs. It wont work if you are dehydrated, so drink extra water- especially if you are also taking an antihistamine, because they DRY UP mucus and that makes it tougher to break up and clear. Use these when you have sinus and ear pressure, or if you have a cold "go to your chest." There is little evidence-based medicine to support the use of these, but clinically I have seen them help a great deal to relieve head congestion, and often avoid the use of antibiotics.

The AAFP a great website with more detail: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/otc-medicines/857.html

BOTTOM LINE: Don't always grab the "do everything" medicine for your stuffy, sneezy, coughy, itchy symptoms- understand which drug works for which complaint!

Myth #11- Symptoms Gone, Disease Gone?

Okay, this myth ties in with the earlier one that you'd KNOW if you had an STD. How many women out there have used an over-the-counter (OTC) product to treat a presumed yeast infection? Well, here's the thing. An itch, burn or discharge is NOT always a yeast infection, regardless of whether or not the symptoms go away when you use an OTC treatment.
Many sexually transmitted diseases have transient symptoms, causing an initial itch, burn, or discharge, but then those symptoms resolve on their own, although the infection is still there. This is not only true, but very common, especially with chlamydial infections. The problem is that even though now silent, this infection can be damaging your reproductive tract, possibly even leading to infertility.
So, when is a yeast infection "just" a yeast infection (which is really a yeast overgrowth, not a true infection)? Well, if you are taking an antibiotic (which kills off the good bacteria in your vagina along with the problem bacteria causing an infection elsewhere, like your sinuses), AND you have not ever had a sexual partner (or are in a long-standing monogamous relationship), it is likely yeast. If you have had a new sexual partner, however, I'd suggest you go to your doctor and be diagnosed accurately.
BOTTOM LINE: Don't assume that symptoms resolving with the use of a yeast medicine confirms that you "only" had yeast!