Health and wellbeing

When you are suffering from a cough, a full-blown cold or flu, your immune system has a lot of work to do. Look at our tips below which can help to make you feel better soon.

Do’s

Keep hydrated - drink water and avoid alcohol which will dehydrate you. 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 your immune system a little help by resting. This will help your body direct the energy towards the 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 unnecessary irritation to your nose, throat and lungs
Spread the germs - by coughing into a tissue and washing your hands with soap afterwards, you can avoid the spread of germs
Sleeping on your back - try and avoid phlegm flowing up and irritating your throat by sleeping in an inclined position, this 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 products designed especially for children (ask your pharmacist for advice on BENYLIN^® Children’s products), BENYLIN^® is here to help ease many different kinds of coughs in children, including dry, chesty and night-time coughs.

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 min, the moist air will help ease the breathing
Put some vapour rub on a towel and help you child inhale it. Do not rub the vapour gel 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