Cold and Flu Survival Guide
Symptoms
1. Throat feels like you’ve swallowed 206 red hot razor blades.
2. Voice is gradually lowering in tone until you sound like a Barry White impersonator.
3. Nose feels three times the size and is haemorrhaging mucus.
4. Brain feels like it’s too small for your skull and for some reason elevating your eyebrows helps limit the ensuing pain.
Not to mention the muscle aches, lethargy, coughing, sneezing and wretching up phlegm.
Sympathy rating from friends, family and colleagues - 0.6/100
No, it’s not the bubonic plague.
It’s Rhinovirus
It’s Influenzae
It’s the common cold
It’s a pain in the arse
The Solution
1. Water
Yes, the first weapon is the cheapest and most effective. Nemesis of the headache caused by the dehydration. This will be a good 50% of the solution.
2. Strepsils
These things are a godsend. I’d recommend Strepsils Extra. With Anaesthetic and Antiseptic properties these are exactly what you need to relieve the throat based symptoms even after the lozenge is finished. Hexylresorcinol never sounded so good. Get the cherry ones 
3. Phenylephrine and Paracetamol
There are a million different cold and flu remedy tablets out there but as long as it has both phenylephrine and paracetamol in it, you’re sorted. Tesco’s own did it for me. Phenylephrine helps relieve the congestion by constricting the dilated blood vessels in your nose. Consider the stuffyness dealt with. Paracetamol reduces pain and inhibits fever. Most crucial.
4. Kleenex AntiViral Tissues
Essential for the ‘runny nose’ period once the worst of it is over. Unless you know someone you really, really wouldn’t mind sharing it with 
5. Olbas Oil
My pillow has been drenched in the stuff over the last 2 weeks. Menthol is a powerful decongestant and is vital for a good nights sleep when suffering with the cold.
