Home treatment can help you feel more comfortable when you have mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.

• Prevent dehydration. Hot fluids, such as tea or soup, may help relieve congestion in your nose and throat. If you have a productive cough, fluids may help thin the mucus in your lungs so your cough can clear it out.
• Get extra rest; let your symptoms be your guide. If you have a cold, you may be able to stick to your usual routine and just get some extra sleep.
• Let yourself cough if you have a cough that brings up mucus from the lungs. It can help prevent bacterial infections. People who have chronic bronchitis or emphysema need to cough to help clear mucus from their lungs.
• For a sore throat, gargle at least once each hour with warm salt water [1tsp (5g) of salt in 8fl oz of water] to reduce swelling and discomfort. For more information, see the topic Sore Throat.

Keep in mind the following guidelines for taking nonprescription medicine for your symptoms:

• Use decongestant nasal sprays sparingly and for only 3 days or less. Continued use may lead to a rebound effect, which causes the mucous membranes to become more swollen than they were before you started using the spray. Learn how to make saline nose drops at home that will not cause a rebound effect.
• For more detailed information on decongestants or antihistamines and cough medicines, go to the Cold and Allergy Remedies section of the topic Nonprescription Medicines and Products. Studies show that over-the-counter cough medicines do not work very well. And some of these medicines can cause problems if you use too much of them. It is important to use medicines correctly and to keep them out of the reach of children to prevent accidental use.
• If you have a dry, hacking cough that does not bring up any sputum, ask your doctor about an effective cough suppressant medicine. For more information, see the topic Coughs.

Alternative medicines or supplements