Steam effort: how to fight a cold

If your illness is 'below the neck', get plenty of rest, say general practitioner Sarah Borwein and naturopath Des Gurung. They also suggest:

- Drink plenty of fluids to help reduce fever and loosen secretions (at least eight glasses a day of water or juice; more if suffering a fever). Warm fluids to ease sore throat.

- Gargle half a teaspoon of salt in four ounces (120ml) of warm water to relieve a sore throat. Don't gargle with dissolved aspirin because this can damage throat tissue.

- Steam may ease a dry or raw throat. A hot shower or a towel-covered head over a bowl of hot water may help to break up congestion.

- Nasal sprays can help relieve congestion, but use only for two to four days. Don't use if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart or thyroid disease. Some say they cause nervousness and sleeplessness, too.

- Limit or eliminate alcohol as it can lead to resistance to bacteria.