I have to confess, as I was writing and editing the Cranberry Patch site last week I was in absolute misery.

Not because of anything work related, mind you, but because I—like many others in the area—was suffering from my first seasonal cold of the year. You know, the one you get as soon as the weather turns cold, or warm…or whatever (This is Pittsburgh weather we’re talking about here).

Desperate for relief—my nose only would get stuffier every time I blew it—I asked readers on the Cranberry Patch Facebook page for their best cold advice—and they didn’t disappoint.

In the interest of paying it forward, I’m passing on some of the best tips, plus some professional advice, on how to best battle a cold. 

If you know of any great tips, leave them in the comment section below.

From Readers:

• Try the NeilMed's Sinus Rinse Kit (not the nettipot). Make sure to use with distilled water, not tap water.
• Go for the “behind the counter” medicines at the pharmacist, which you have to sign for, rather than just the “over the counter” meds. Some recommended cold lifesavers from readers are Mucinex, Sudafed, and Advil Cold and Sinus. (Side note: I got the Sudafed D behind the counter and it really cleared me up).   
• Get plenty of rest.
• Stock up on vitamins, especially Vitamin D and Vitamin C.
• Put 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar in the water (distilled or cooled off boiled water) of your humidifier and use overnight.
• At the first sign of a cold, take four to five ecchinacea capsules, plus four to five more 8 to 12 hours later. (This reader said she has gone a DECADE without a cold!).
• Eat lots of chicken noodle soup: This one is from me. When my husband and I both came down with colds, he made homemade chicken noodle soup for us. I swear, it worked better than any medication.

Tips from the Pros

Here’s advice courtesy of the Allegheny County Health Department

• Get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids and avoid using alcohol and tobacco.
• Take medications to relieve the symptoms, but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially fever, without first talking to your doctor.
• If your symptoms are unusually severe, for example, if you’re having difficulty breathing, consult your health care provider right away.

How to Avoid Getting Sick

(Also from the Allegheny Health Department)

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Avoid people who are sick. Stay home from work and school when you’re sick.
• Keep your distance from others when you’re sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw it away immediately. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after touching any objects or surfaces that might be contaminated

Like I said, if you have any great flu or cold advice, leave it in the comment section below. And good luck with this year's cold season!