How To Take Iron Pills Without Getting Sick

You wake up one morning and feel the telltale tickle in your throat that means you're getting a cold. Or there's that twinge in your temple that signals a bad headache is on its way. Is there anything you can do besides just wait to get sick?Surprisingly, the answer is yes for a number of illnesses. If you act at the first sign of symptoms, you may be able to lessen their severity or decrease your downtime. Stockpile your sick days with our guide to heading off some common complaints.

Common Cold

Telltale clues: Drippy/stuffy nose, sore throat, wet cough.
At the first sign: 1.Use a humidifier to keep your nasal membranes and respiratory tract moist and wash away mucus. 2. Crank up your fluid intake to prevent dehydration, which impairs your ability to fight illness. "The body's way of ridding itself of the infection is to flush it out," says David Baron, M.D., chief of staff at Santa Monica–UCLA Medical Center and founder of Primary Caring of Malibu. 3. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever every two to four hours. A fever dehydrates you, so reducing a temp can shorten sickness. See your doctor within 24 to 48 hours if you think it's the flu (you've got a high fever and severe body aches). A prescription flu medication, such as Tamiflu, can significantly decrease severity and duration of symptoms—but if you wait until day 4 or 5, it's too late for the drug to work.

Headache

Telltale clues: For tension headaches: pain that hits above the eyes or in the back of the head, tight jaw or neck muscles.
For migraines: severe throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head; nausea; sensitivity to light, noise or smell.
At the first sign: 1. Pop an OTC painkiller such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for tension headaches, or ask your doctor for a prescription drug if you have frequent migraines. "Taking medication immediately could abort a migraine before the process of inflammation begins," says Rima M. Dafer, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. 2. Lie down in a dark room with a cool compress on your forehead and a bag of frozen veggies behind your neck. Ice numbs pain and can literally freeze inflammation in its tracks. 3. Ask your partner for a neck rub, which relaxes muscles and helps to diminish the headache. 4. Relax! Stress can cause a headache to spiral out of control. Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing to keep it in check. See your doctor ifyou get more than three severe headaches a month or find that you need pain relievers every day. Prescription medications like beta blockers, antiseizure drugs or antidepressants may prevent the release of chemical substances that trigger the pain.

Sore Throat

Telltale clues: Painful swallowing, a bright red throat, fever.
At the first sign: 1. Dissolve a zinc lozenge on your tongue up to five times a day. Zinc coats and cools raw throats. 2. Mix one teaspoon salt into a cup of warm water and gargle two or three times a day. The mixture flushes away mucus and soothes pain. 3. Try a numbing lozenge or throat spray containing a topical anesthetic to make eating and drinking less painful. See your doctor if you suspect strep throat, which is marked by a high fever, swollen glands and tonsils coated with white mucus. If it's confirmed with a positive throat culture, taking an antibiotic will reduce symptoms within 48 hours.

PMS

Telltale clues: Bloating, cramps, constipation, back pain.
At the first sign: 1. Take an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen up to a week before your period to head off cramps. It can actually block the production of prostaglandins, hormones that stimulate the uterus to contract before and during menstruation. Jennifer Wu, M.D., an OB/GYN affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, recommends one to two tablets every eight hours. 2. To reduce bloating, put down the salt shaker and lay off sodium-rich foods like Chinese takeout, canned soup and frozen meals one week before your period. 3. For constipation, get more fiber with extra fruits, veggies and whole grains the week before your period. See your doctor if you've suddenly had several severe cycles in a row, to rule out pelvic infection or endometriosis. While you're there, ask about taking the Pill. It regulates your cycle and lessens the production of prostaglandins, nixing bloating and cramps.

Allergic Reaction

Telltale clues: A rash, hives or red blotches, which can be itchy.
At the first sign: 1. Take an OTC antihistamine such as Benadryl for mild reactions from bug bites and poison ivy. "Taking it right away can sometimes nip an allergic reaction in the bud," says Dr. Baron. Most adults will need 50 to 75 mg every eight hours, but the medication is sedating, so the more you take, the sleepier you'll become. 2. Use an ice pack to shrink localized pain and swelling immediately. 3. Spread on an OTC hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching. 4. See your doctor if you have a severe reaction involving throat swelling or difficulty swallowing or breathing. For mild reactions, make an appointment after four to five days if symptoms haven't improved.

Tummy Troubles

Telltale clues: Bloating, diarrhea, cramps, nausea or heartburn.
At the first sign: 1. Stay hydrated and immediately start the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). This easily digestible foursome helps soothe abdominal pain and bowel trouble. 2. Sip chamomile or ginger tea, which can neutralize stomach acid. 3. If you're prone to heartburn, take an acid reducer, such as Zantac or Pepcid, before a big meal like Thanksgiving dinner. It will reduce stomach acids and fight bloat. 4. Pop a Tums or Rolaids immediately if you overindulge. These relieve initial symptoms quickly by neutralizing stomach acid, thereby preventing heartburn, reflux and indigestion. See your doctor if you get frequent heartburn (more than three times a month) or if tummy troubles continue after a week. You could have a more serious condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Yeast Infection

Telltale clues: Itchiness and white, cottage-cheese–like discharge.
At the first sign: 1. If you've had a yeast infection before and recognize the symptoms, start an OTC treatment ASAP, which can halt painful itching and burning and shorten the duration of the infection, says Dr. Wu. The three- or seven-day treatments are most effective. 2. Eat an 8-oz container of yogurt that includes "live cultures" every day. The lactobacillius in yogurt helps neutralize overactive candida bacteria, which cause the yeast infection. 3. See your doctor if the treatment hasn't helped after a week, or if your symptoms are worse after three days on medication. You could have resistant yeast or another infection, such as trichomoniasis, which requires a prescription.

Illness: Colds and flu
Natural Remedy: Vitamin C
Will it help? About 500 mg (not thousands) a day may decrease the duration of a cold by a day of two, but it hasn't yet shown promise for the flu.

Illness: Colds
Natural Remedy: Echinacea
Will it help? Not likely. A 2005 study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine found that Echinacea was no more effective than a placebo at treating or preventing colds.

Illness: Yeast Infection
Natural Remedy: Plain yogurt applied topically
Will it help? Probably not. Some women swear by this home remedy, btu it's not nearly as effective as the OTC treatments available.

Illness: Migraines
Natural Remedy: Magnesium, feverfew and viamin B2
Will it help? Likely yes. These three, plus ginko biloba and ginger, have been shown to help control migraine attacks.

Illness: PMS
Natural Remedy: Vitamin B6
Will it help? B6 may decrease levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters in the brain that can promote PMS symptoms like cramps and bloating.

Jennifer Nelson Jennifer Nelson, a full-time freelance health writer, lives and works in sunny Florida.

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