Antibiotics for Colds: Why They Don’t Work and When They’re Actually Needed
When you feel miserable with a cold, it is tempting to reach for the strongest tool you can imagine—an antibiotic—especially if symptoms linger or...
Antibiotics for Sinus Infection: When They Help and When They Don’t
A “sinus infection” can feel unmistakable: pressure behind the cheeks, a blocked nose that will not clear, thick drainage, and fatigue that makes the...
Antihistamine Nasal Sprays (Astepro): When They Help and When They Don’t
A runny, itchy, congested nose can derail sleep, concentration, and even exercise—yet the cause is not always obvious. Antihistamine nasal sprays like Astepro (azelastine)...
Are You Contagious Before Symptoms? How Colds, Flu, and COVID Spread Early
It is an unsettling thought: you feel fine, you show up to work or school, and you may already be spreading a respiratory virus....
Asthma and Colds: How to Prevent Flare-Ups and When to Use Rescue Meds
A simple cold can feel like a nuisance for most people, but with asthma it can act like a spark in dry brush—turning a...
Asthma Symptoms vs Anxiety: Shortness of Breath Differences
Shortness of breath can be alarming because it feels immediate and personal: you notice every inhale, every pause, and every tight sensation in your...
At-Home COVID + Flu Combo Tests: How Accurate They Are and How to Use Them Correctly
At-home combo tests can take some of the guesswork out of “Is this COVID-19 or the flu?”—a question that matters because timing affects what...
At-Home Strep Throat Tests: What’s Available, Accuracy Limits, and When to Get a Culture
A sore throat can feel deceptively simple, yet the “right” next step is often nuanced. Most sore throats are viral and improve with time...
Best Indoor Humidity for Colds: What Range Helps Airways (And When Humidifiers Backfire)
When you have a cold, the air in your home can make symptoms feel either manageable or relentless. Dry indoor air can thicken mucus,...
Best Masks for Cold and Flu: N95 vs KN95 vs KF94 vs Surgical
Cold and flu season is when masking becomes less about abstract risk and more about practical life: protecting a vulnerable family member, showing up...
Best Teas for Cold Symptoms: Hydration, Throat Relief, and Sleep Support
A good cup of tea cannot “cure” a cold, but it can make the days and nights of one noticeably easier. Warm liquids soothe...
Beta-Glucans for Immune Support: Oats, Mushrooms, and Supplement Basics
Beta-glucans sit in a rare sweet spot: they are both “food”—a type of fiber—and a biologically active pattern your immune system can recognize. That...
Bird Flu (H5) Right Now: Real-World Risk, Symptoms to Watch, and When to Get Tested
“Bird flu” can sound like a headline that belongs in someone else’s life—until a local notice pops up about sick wild birds, a poultry...
Bird Flu (H5N1) in Humans: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and When to Seek Care
Bird flu (H5N1) is primarily an illness of birds, but it can occasionally infect people—usually after close, unprotected contact with infected animals or contaminated...
Bird Flu and Food Safety: Eggs, Poultry, and Milk—What’s Actually Risky and What Isn’t
Bird flu headlines can make everyday food choices feel suddenly uncertain, even though most people’s true risk does not come from eating dinner. The...
Bird Flu Eye Symptoms (Conjunctivitis): When “Pink Eye” Could Signal Something More
Most cases of “pink eye” are annoying but straightforward—an everyday viral infection, allergies, or a mild bacterial irritation. Bird flu (avian influenza) changes that...