LURGY season is upon us – and I appear to be one of its early victims.

Long gone are the sniffle-free days of summer (ignoring the occasional bout of hayfever).

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Instead, say hello to the next six months of coughs, stuffy ears and bunged-up noses galore – what joy.

As we all know, getting a cold is incredibly common – in fact, adults can expect to have two to three colds each year, while kids can have up to 10 or more.

My throat is itchy, ears are blocked, nose is running and head is pounding, to name just a few of my symptoms.

While there’s no proven way to get rid of a cold, there are a number of medicines and home remedies which promise to help manage the symptoms and make you feel better. 

But do any actually work?

I put several products to the test over the course of a week – taking into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.

Many of the products targeted all symptoms associated with colds and flu, but I also tested treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.

I also spoke to TV Pharmacist Thorrun Govind to find out a little more about the science behind these methods and which ones she recommends to her own patients.

She tells me: “It’s important to remember with all of these remedies that none are going to fix your cough or cold, our immune systems will do that, but taking some of these products can make you feel better while you wait!”

1. Hot honey & lemon

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Best for: Cough and sore throat

• Pain reduction: 6/10
• Efficiency: 6/10
• Longevity: 4/10

An oldie but a goodie: hot honey and lemon water has been used for generations to ease the symptoms of a cold or flu.

After just a few sips, I noticed my persistent coughing had died down, much to my boyfriend’s relief.

And this is hardly surprising, considering one Canadian study found honey to be as effective as common cough suppressant ingredient dextromethorphan, found in many over-the-counter drugs.

There was also something very comforting about holding something warm when you feel under the weather – like a hug, just in a mug.

Agreeing, pharmacist Thorrun says: “Drinking something warm will likely sooth your throat, whatever it is.

“But the greatest benefit you’re likely to get from this drink is hydration.

“Keeping yourself well-hydrated can help with symptom and help your immune system fight.”

It’s important to remember that honey shouldn’t be given to children younger than 12 months.

That’s because it contains bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby’s tummy, leading to infant botulism, which can prove serious.

Where to buy: find a bag of four lemons and a jar of honey at Aldi for 79p and 75p, respectively.

2. Steam inhalation/Vicks VapoRub

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Best for: Congestion

• Pain reduction: 7/10
• Efficiency: 8/10
• Longevity: 4/10

As the name suggests, this simple (but very effective) trick involves breathing in some steam.

You do this by filling a bowl with hot water and throwing a towel over your head, or jumping in a hot shower.

Studies on steam inhalation as a way to ease cold symptoms are somewhat mixed.

Many, including one 2016 review, found breathing in hot air did nothing at all to help clear the sinuses.

Contrary to the scientific evidence, breathing in hot air provided me with instant relief, albeit not for long.

Within seconds, I could feel the hot steam loosen the mucus build up in my nose (apologises for the graphic detail).

I was very excited to breathe from my nostrils again – a small, but simple pleasure you only realise when it’s gone.

It’s worth noting that steaming didn’t make my ears feel any less blocked, which annoyingly was making me feel like I was constantly underwater.

However, the biggest downside was the positive decongestant effects lasted little more than minute, which wasn’t entirely satisfying.

The science around echinacea’s effectiveness just isn’t there like it is for some other cold and flu products

Thorrun GovindPharmacist

“This is a cheap way to unblock your nostrils,” Thorrun explains.

“It does this by making the mucus thinner. But like you noticed, it won’t last very long.”

This is because without the steam, the mucus thickens up.

In an attempt to keep my nose clearer for longer, I took my steam bowl up a notch and stirred in some Vicks VapoRub.

I also added some of the minty wax-like substance to my chest and neck (as advised) for good measure.

On the Vicks website, the product promises to solve nasal congestion, and ease a sore throat and cough due to cold.

After a few inhales, my nose, ears and chest felt clearer, more so than the clean steam ever managed to.

However, my cough persisted and throat continued to feel a tad tickly.

I proceeded to carry the little blue pot around with me all day after deciding that rubbing a layer into my chest every so often was slightly more office appropriate than an hourly steam bowl.

Thorrun points out that people using this technique should be careful of burns.

She says: “Make sure the bowl of hot water is on a level, sturdy surface and can’t be knocked over.

“And don’t let the hot water anywhere near children.”

Where to buy: find a 100g jar of Vicks at Boots for £5.25.

3. Echinacea

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Best for: nothing

• Pain reduction: 0/10
• Efficiency: 0/10
• Longevity: 0/10

I’ve never been a believer of herbal remedies, but seeing as echinacea has a bit of a reputation as a “cold fighter”, I thought I’d give it a shot.

Echinacea is part of the daisy family, and has been used by Native Americans for hundreds of years to treat various infections and toothache.

Many people now suggest the supplement can treat a cold, but the evidence is mixed – with most studies suggesting it doesn’t really work.

I took it in pill form for three days and didn’t see any significant changes.

In fact, I felt just as unwell and miserable as I did before I started the pills.

A 2014 review credited echinacea with “small preventative effects” when it came to shielding people from a cold – so perhaps I was taking it wrong.

 A 2015 study gave echinacea a more full-throated endorsement, suggesting it can reduce a person’s risk for colds by 35 per cent.

So maybe I should be taking echinacea as a daily supplement ahead of prospective illness, instead of something to take while I’m already sick.

Thorrun said echinacea isn’t something she recommends to her own patients.

“The science around its effectiveness just isn’t there like it is for some other cold and flu products,” she said.

Where to buy: find a box of 42 Echinaforce echinacea tablets at Superdrug for £5.24.

4. Chicken soup 

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Best for: Headache and sore throat

• Pain reduction: 5/10
• Efficiency: 7/10
• Longevity: 5/10

Food always makes me feel better when I’m ill – ideally carbs and more carbs.

So it was little wonder when a bowl of warm chicken soup paired with some thick slices of white bread slathered with salted butter brought me back to life.

It briefly reduced my headache and my sore throat, and all the swallowing slightly eased my stuffiness.

Research suggests it’s not just any old food that will make you feel better though; chicken is especially good when you’re feeling run down.

The white meat is full of a substance called carnosine, which studies suggest reduces that stuffy, congested feeling in your nose and throat.

It’s thought that carnosine works by minimising inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nose, mouth and throat.

Thorrun touted the benefits of eating well when you’re unwell.

“It’s important to nourish your body is fighting a virus by giving it lots of food full of vitamins and minerals,” she says.

“A nice cup of and bread is likely going to give you a bit more energy which can make you feel better.”

Where to buy: find one tub of Cully and Sully’s chicken and vegetable soup at Tesco for £2.

5. A spicy curry

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Best for: Congestion

• Pain reduction: 5/10
• Efficiency: 6/10
• Longevity: 3/10

A curry might more commonly be associated with curing a hangover, rather than a bug.

But there’s another reason to eat your vindaloo, as one (rather small) study found a vital ingredient can help treat colds.

The 2011 research discovered that fenugreek (found in most UK supermarket curries) may stave off viruses that cause sniffles and sore throats and even help to relieve some of the symptoms.

After a few bites of my Co-op Tikka Masala (to which I added some extra chilli flakes for effect), I noticed my nose began to run – bingo, I thought, this must be clearing my blocked nose.

However, within moments of finishing my microwaved medley, the stuffiness was back and my throat was still sore.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Thorrun says a curry is not something she would ever recommend to her own patients.

“When you’re feeling unwell, the last thing you’re going to crave is a heavy curry,” she says.

“I can see how the spice might briefly clear your sinuses, but beyond that I don’t see, medically, how it’s going to help you feel better.”

Where to buy: find a Tikka Masala at Co-op for £3.75.

6. Beechams All in One Oral Solution

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Best for: Headache and sore throat

• Pain reduction: 7/10
• Efficiency: 7/10
• Longevity: 7/10

Trying to swallow tablets when you’ve got a sore throat can be really unpleasant; they just never seem to go down smoothly – which is why taking a liquid medicine went down a treat.

Beechams is a one-shot medicine which is easy to take and works very quickly.

Within just 10 minutes, I was free from that pesky itch lurking in my throat and my cough had gone with it.

Thorrun says this is because it contains paracetamol, which works by “making pain more manageable”.

According to the NHS, the painkiller can also reduce a high temperature and ease aches and pains – which I also noticed.

“Just make sure you don’t exceed the recommended dose by taking it more than once every four hours,” she said.

Beechams also contains a decongestant known as phenylephrine hydrochloride, but this did nothing to unblock my nose or ears.

In fact, health experts in the US claimed when the decongestant is used in oral medicines (rather than nasal sprays), it doesn’t work – which in my case makes sense.

Where to buy: find 160ml of Beechams at Boots for £5.50.

7. Strepsils

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Best for: Sore throat and cough

• Pain reduction: 7/10
• Efficiency: 9/10
• Longevity: 7/10

A hard-boiled sweet to numb my itchy throat? Yes please.

Within seconds of sucking a lozenge (that contains no real sugar) I felt the anaesthetic effects working.

My throat was less sore and not at all scratchy, while my cough appeared to have disappeared.

The numbing effects lingered for 20 or so minutes after the lozenge had dissolved.

The lemon and honey flavour (a classic so it seems) wasn’t half bad either.

According to Thorrun, these lozenges also contain an antiseptic which can help kill the bugs.

“This could, in theory, mean they help your body fight off an infection by cleaning the back of the infected throat,” she explained.

Where to buy: find a box of 36 honey and lemon Strepsil Lozenges for £5.69 at Superdrug.

8. Lemsip Max 

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Best for: Cough, congestion, sore throat, headache

• Pain reduction: 9/10
• Efficiency: 8/10
• Longevity: 8/10

What could be better than painkillers? Painkillers submerged in a hot drink.

Much like the honey and lemon concoction, this drink (suitably lemon-flavoured) felt like a hug in a mug – with the added benefit of numbing the incessant itch in my throat.

After 20 minutes of sipping, many of my symptoms began to lift, including my blocked ears, nose, sore throat and cough.

Even the more subdued symptoms, like the dull ache in my legs and stuffy head, disappeared.

All things considered, I felt relatively normal. Might I go as far to say I convinced myself I was healthy again?

I asked Thorrun why exactly this product worked so well.

“Lemsip contains a chemical called guaifenesin, which helps to thin the mucus in the throat so its easy to cough up,” she explains.

“This is why it’s very good for those with wet coughs, as opposed to dry, or chesty coughs.”

It also contains paracetamol, which, as Thorrun said previously, can help ease pain when you’re ill.

You can also take Lemsip in tablet form, but the fact the powdered version requires water is an added bonus for your health.

“Drinking more liquids is going to help with a sore throat or cough,” she explained.

Four hours later, as if right on schedule, my symptoms came flooding back.

I continued to carry some hand sachets in my purse for the rest of my cold, and if that’s not a testament to the medicine, I don’t know what is.

Where to buy: find a box of 10 Lemsip Max Lemon sachets for £3.29 from Amazon.co.uk.

9. Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray

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Best for: Congestion

• Pain reduction: 9/10
• Efficiency: 8/10
• Longevity: 8/10

The worst part of any cold (in my humble opinion) is the congestion.

Living in a scentless, muffled world isn’t fun for anyone.

So when I came across a de-blocking spray, I was thrilled.

The initial hit of menthol up each nostril is far from pleasant, but the three-or-so hours after were pure, clear, bliss.

Not only could I breathe through my nose again, but my ears felt substantially less congested, as did my head.

“Nasal sprays work much quicker than tablets because the decongestant reaches your blocked nose almost instantly,” Thorrun explains.

“Make sure you don’t use these sprays for longer than five days,” she warns, “as using them for any longer can make your nose more blocked, even after the infection has cleared up”.

Where to buy: find Sudafed spray from Weldricks pharmacy for £3.49.

THERE are millions of Brits living with type 2 diabetes, a common condition caused by persistently high blood sugar levels.

It’s important to manage the condition to prevent long-term damage to blood vessels, nerves and organs – but it’s estimated that 1.2 million people in the UK may not even know they have type 2 diabetes.

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The disease tends to be associated with older people, but it’s increasingly affecting adults under 40, analysis from Diabetes UK shows.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms can include feeling persistently thirsty, needed to pee more than usual, blurred vision and slow healing wounds.

But you might not expect symptoms of the disease to crop up in your ears.

In fact, changes to your hearing may a symptom of diabetes – as well as something as commonplace as ear infections.

Rob Ormerod, audiologist at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, explains: “The high and low blood sugar levels diabetics suffer from can impact blood flow and cause damage to the blood vessels in your inner ear, affecting the nerve signals received by your ear and impacting ear health in a number of different ways.”

He shares three subtle ear changes that could signal you’re suffering from the condition.

1. Persistent ear infections

Most of us wouldn’t worry too much about an ear infection, as they’re super common and tend to go away after a few days.

But if you’re constantly getting pain and irritation is your ear, it could be a sign of diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms and the signs of all types of diabetes

“Diabetics are more prone to picking up ear infections,” Rob explains.

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“This is caused by reduced blood flow to your ears, which can in turn reduce the strength of your immune system and ability to fight off infections.”

A high temperature, being sick, a feeling of pressure or fullness in your ear and discharge are some other signs of this common infection.

Rob shares some advice for swerving them if you seem to be particularly prone to them.

“Following some general best practice guidelines for preventing ear infections such as not putting cotton wool buds into your ear and using earplugs when swimming is important,” he says.

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“Bacterial ear infections can be treated with antibiotics but for repeated infections, it’s best to see your GP or pharmacist about the treatment options available.”

2. Tinnitus

Hearing a ringing, hissing or humming sound in your ear that doesn’t seem to be coming from anywhere?

You could be experiencing tinnitus.

“Tinnitus is characterised as a ringing or buzzing in your ears without an external source,” according to Rob.

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Some form of hearing loss is often the cause, as well as taking certain medicines or experiencing anxiety and depression, the NHS says.

But chronic conditions like diabetes could also be the culprit behind the whooshing in your ear.

11 little known signs and risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

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1. peeing more than usual

2. feeling thirsty all the time

3. feeling very tired

4. losing weight without trying to

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5. itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush

6. cuts or wounds taking longer to heal

7. blurred vision

You’re more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you:

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8. are over 40 years old, or over 25 if you’re from an Asian, Black African or Black Caribbean ethnic background

9. have a close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother or sister)

10. are overweight or living with obesity or are not very physically active

11. are from an Asian, Black African or Black Caribbean ethnic background

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Source: The NHS

The audiologist explains: “This condition can be triggered by diabetes as the inner ear, or cochlea, relies on oxygen and blood glucose to function effectively.

“With diabetes having a direct impact on glucose levels in the blood due to abnormal insulin levels, this can have an effect on the cochlea and result in tinnitus.

“It’s important to see a specialist if you’re suffering from tinnitus, to ascertain the cause in the first instance, as it could be due to a build-up of ear wax, which can be treated promptly.

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“At the point of diagnosis there are a number of treatment options available, including cognitive behavioural therapy and hearing aid solutions.”

3. Hearing loss

You might assume that hearing loss is natural side effect of ageing, but it’s possible that conditions like diabetes could be driving it.

“Research shows that those with diabetes have twice the risk of experiencing hearing loss,” Rob notes.

“Loss of hearing can often be difficult to detect as it tends to happen gradually, but if you’re having trouble following conversations and find you’re turning the volume up on your devices – it may be down to a deterioration to your hearing.

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“Rather than increasing the volume, which can actually damage ears and lead to further hearing loss, or withdrawing from social situations, which can lead to loneliness and anxiety, it’s important to get checked out by an audiologist who can assess your hearing and provide appropriate advice and a solution.”

Where can you get your hearing tested?

THERE are numerous places you can go to for a hearing test – from high-street stores to private practices. Here’s our rundown of some of the most popular ones.

Your GP

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Your doctor is a good first point of call if you are worried about your hearing. They can offer advice on where to go, but can also do some more tests to see if anything else is going on that’s causing hearing loss.

Specsavers

While they’re most well known for their optical services, Specsavers also do hearing tests. They are also completely free for anyone over 18 years of age. You can check out descriptions of some common ear conditions, as well as booking your test, here.

Boots

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Another high-street favourite that offers free, 15-minute hearing assessments. Again, they suggest visiting the GP to rule out any other underlying health conditions. But if you’ve done that and still want to get your hearing checked, visit the Boots website.

Hidden Hearing

Hidden Hearing has hundreds of clinics all over the country, and offers customers a full consultation with a hearing care professional. It also provides the opportunity to try a hearing aid for 60 risk-free days. To find a clinic near you, click here.

A MUM battling a chronic illness has shared how she passed the disease on to her daughter while pregnant.

Kirstie Haysman, 36, had been suffering debilitating muscle and joint pain for almost a decade when she sought medical advice.

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She was diagnosed with Lyme disease in February 2023, a bacterial infection normally spread through ticks, but which doctors believe she may have been born with.

Her daughter, Harriet, 12, was also diagnosed with the disease this year, and Kirstie claims three doctors think she passed it via her uterus during pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the spread of Lyme disease from mum to unborn baby is “possible but rare”.

After Miranda Hart spoke out about her battle with the disease, Kirstie is hopeful it will force doctors to “see the amount of people suffering and understand that it’s important that better research must be done”.

The mum from Watford, Hertfordshire said: “I first noticed symptoms in my daughter about a year and a half ago.

“Doctors didn’t want to test because there was no bite or rash.

“I pushed for a test and it came back possible for Lyme disease and Epstein Barr virus.

“After her diagnosis I felt very guilty that I had passed the disease onto her.

“I was in two minds to tell her as I didn’t want to burden her with the worry of the illness.

“She was very tearful as she had seen me for months having carers pick me up and help me for months.

“We caught it early enough to deal with it and she hasn’t got years of misdiagnosis under her belt.

“It’s wonderful that Miranda has come forward – it’s very sad that she’s had to suffer and keep it hidden”.

The former chiropodist was initially tested for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis in 2015 – and both came back negative.

She claims doctors assumed she was suffering from an autoimmune disease and prescribed her steroids.

In January 2023 an acquaintance suggested she might be suffering with Lyme disease and after going to Mexico for blood tests Kirstie was diagnosed.

She has taken since two trips to Mexico and one to Idaho, US to seek stem cell treatment – a therapy which eases the symptoms of the disease but is not currently offered in the UK.

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She said: “It has really, really helped.”

Kirstie was able to raise £20,000 for the first Mexico treatment in March 2023 through a GoFundMe page and financial help through family and friends.

The second treatment was provided to her for free by the doctors in Mexico.

She said: “They felt so bad that I wasn’t getting any help at home.”

Despite the treatment helping Kirstie’s symptoms, Lyme disease has no cure.

She said: “I am still suffering, some days I cannot get out of bed and my right leg is completely crippled, but I get by as best as I can, everyday is different.”

Kirstie went on to claim that her daughter Harriet’s symptoms were dismissed for over a year before her diagnosis in July 2023.

Kirstie said: “She struggles terribly with migraines, low mood, stomach aches and nausea.

“The doctors refused to test until she was 16 but I pushed and pushed for it.

“There isn’t any treatment they can offer to her, it has been really hard to seek treatment for her.”

Speaking on their differing symptoms, Kirstie said her and her daughter “support each other as best we can”.

During treatment in Idaho, Kirstie had her daughter undergo some less invasive treatment similar to magnet and light treatment.

She said: “This treatment helped within a few weeks, she got her Hertz Lymer reaction which occurs when the bacteria is dying off.”

Former-beauty pageant queen Kirstie has now gone from bedbound to working again this year.

She plans to work alongside the charity team at the Miss Great Britain beauty pageant to “raise awareness for Lyme disease and help others who are suffering”.

She will be raising funds at the pageant for Alex’s Wish, a charity that supports those suffering with joint and muscle pain with the main goal of eradicating Duchenne Muscular, a deadly illness which causes muscle weakness that worsens over time.

She said: “They [the team] have been so supportive, offering me wheelchairs and support where I need it throughout the pageant.

“My other main aim is to normalize mobility aids within the pageant industry and normalizing disabilities”.

“It will be nice for Harriet to watch me do this and be proud of me instead of seeing me fall over in hospitals and struggling to walk.”

More information on Alex’s Wish charity can be found here.

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BRITS have been warned to stay home if they have symptoms of a cold as a new more contagious Covid strain spreads across the UK.

First detected in Germany in June, XEC has now been reported in several countries – and makes up one in 10 Covid cases in England and Wales.

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Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: ” If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid-19 such as a high temperature, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.”

Previous research suggests the new bug, which has since spread to 27 countries, is not likely to be as deadly as some of its predecessors but could be more contagious.

“Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely,” Dr Jamie added.

It comes as experts fear Brits may face a ‘tripledemic’ this winter, as the NHS rolls out a mass vaccine drive.

Meanwhile, the latest data from the UKHSA shows Covid-19 hospital admissions in England are continuing to rise.

The admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid-19 stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6, up from 3.7 a week earlier.

It is the fourth weekly rise in a row.

A year ago, admissions stood at the higher rate of 6.2 per 100,000 people, before falling in subsequent weeks – then peaking at 5.2 over Christmas.

During the first winter of the pandemic in 2020/21, rates climbed as high as 36.5 per 100,000.

Dr Jamie warned of the triple threat, of Covid, flu and RSV, which could hit this winter.

“Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks,” he said.

“As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you’re eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.”

“The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible.”

All adults aged 65 and over are able to receive both the latest Covid-19 booster vaccination and this year’s flu jab, along with residents in older adult care homes and people with underlying health conditions aged six months to 64 years.

Both vaccinations are also being offered to frontline health and social care staff, with employees in older adult care homes eligible for the Covid-19 jab.

The hospital admission rate in England for people with flu stood at 0.6 per 100,000 in the most recent week, compared with 0.1 this time last year.

Flu admissions last winter peaked at 7.5 per 100,000 people in late January.

The NHS is also offering for the first time a vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds, which can be dangerous to older people and young children.

The jab is available to people aged 75 to 79 as well as pregnant women from 28 weeks, to protect their child.

Dr Conall Watson, of the UKHSA, said: “We are starting to see the expected seasonal rise in RSV, a common lung virus which can cause pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis.

“RSV lung infections like bronchiolitis are a major cause of babies needing to visit A&E or be admitted to hospital each winter.

“The RSV vaccine for pregnant mums is an important step in keeping babies well through winter.

“If your baby has a cold that is getting worse, or it is causing unusual breathing or problems feeding, call NHS 111 or contact your GP practice. As a parent trust your judgement and if your baby seems seriously unwell go to A&E or call 999.”

What are the symptoms of XEC Covid?

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Symptoms are thought to be the same cold or flu-like ones that came with previous variants.

This includes:

• A high temperature
• Aches
• Tiredness
• A cough or sore throat
• Trouble sleeping
• A runny nose

Most people feel better within a few weeks of Covid but it can take longer to recover.

How can I stay protected?

Covid-19 spreads very easily through close contact with people who have the virus.

So if you or your child are at increased risk from Covid try and stay away from people with symptoms until they feel better.

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It’s important to wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day.

Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.

You should get vaccinated if you are eligible.

People qualifying for a free booster vaccine include:

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• Adults aged 65 years and over
• Those living in a care home for older adults
• Those over the age of six months in a clinical risk group
• Some front-line NHS, care home and social care workers