Caring for Your Family

 

Taking care of your family this winter

While common colds can make your family feel sick and miserable for a week or more, there are some simple caring techniques you can use to help them feel better, like getting plenty of rest, fluids, healthy foods and lots of TLC.

All families have their own unique comfort recipe, drawn on traditions passed down from generations. No two are quite the same, from a bowl of Dad’s famous chicken soup, rugging up on the couch with the blanket Nan knitted, or a reassuring hug from Mum.

But there is one item that all families can rely on to keep them happy and healthy this winter, and that’s Butter-Menthol.

When the winter chill starts to take hold and you feel the first signs of a cold, relieve your symptoms with Butter-Menthol. Butter-Menthol medicated lozenges have been taking care of generations of Australian families, providing effective relief from sore throats and stuffy noses. Each lozenge provides medicated relief with the added goodness of Vitamin C and the Butter-Menthol taste your family know and love.

Six ingredients to add to your family’s comfort recipe

1. Eat Healthy – A sick family member will often lose their appetite, but it’s important to eat regular healthy meals. Try making a hearty vegetable soup packed full of vitamins. It will make them feel warm and comforted because it’s been made with love.
2. Lots of hugs – Sometimes the best thing you can do for your family is to let them know you care. If a cold has a loved one feeling under the weather, a mother’s hug can help them feel better.
3. Hydrate – Get them to drink plenty of fluids to help replace fluids lost through sweating and having a runny nose. Drinking water is also a great way to help thin mucus and prevent de-hydration.
4. Wash hands – To help stop the spread of any bugs picked up from light switches and door handles, keep everyone’s hands washed regularly. It’s also important to keep cups, glasses and towels clean, as well as children’s toys and play areas.
5. Keep warm and rest up – Getting plenty of rest and staying comfortably warm can help sick family members to fight the cold virus and feel better. Wrapping them up on the couch with their favourite DVDs and a hot water bottle can help do the trick!
6. Medicated lozenges – Medicated lozenges are great for relieving symptoms at the first signs of a winter cold. Butter-Menthol medicated lozenges provide effective relief from sore throats and stuffy noses. Each lozenge provides medicated relief with the added goodness of Vitamin C and the Butter-Menthol taste they know and love.

 

Taking care of colds and sore throats

Common colds

When winter strikes, so do common colds. There are more than 200 viruses known to cause a cold, so it’s important to teach your family members to wash their hands frequently during winter to help prevent one.

If your loved ones happen to catch a cold, they’ll most likely be feeling miserable with typical symptoms such as:

• a sore throat
• occasionally fever ( a temperature of 38.5°C or higher)
• sneezing
• a blocked or runny nose
• a cough

Sore throats

Sore throats in particular are very common in winter. In fact, they are second most common illness for which Australians seek medical attention. In a recent survey, it was found that people suffer from sore throat as often as four times each year, with over 75% of these being mild-moderate in severity.

The causes of a sore throat vary, but can include:

• inflammation caused by viral or bacterial infection
• coughing
• post-nasal drip
• mouth-breathing (due to nasal congestion)

Most people with sore throat describe their symptoms as having a swollen, tender throat (“like razor blades”) that can cause pain on swallowing, or a dry, scratchy sore throat.

While a sore throat runs its course, there are some simple caring techniques that can be used to help ease the symptoms;

• medicated lozenges, like Butter-Menthol with Vitamin C
• using a humidifier
• keeping warm
• staying well hydrated
• eating immune boosting foods like fruit and vegetables
• paracetamol or ibuprofen for more severe pain relief

Most sore throats will make good after a few days, however if symptoms persist longer, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional.