MOM CONFESSIONALS

Welcome to cold and flu season…it’s time to get educated! In addition to offering medicine that is easy to understand (including their latest launches:  help, I have chest congestion and help, I have a stuffy nose), Help Remedies’ Medical Director David Pompei (Pharm.D) provides the below tips on navigating through the drugstore clutter and other useful information for surviving cold/flu season:

1. PREVENT yourself from needing to visit the drug aisle – wash your hands regularly, exercise, consider getting a flu shot; these basic public health measures do reduce the chance of getting sick.
2. IDENTIFY YOUR SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS. If you do get sick, avoid characterizing your condition using ambiguous terms such as ‘cold’ or ‘flu’. Instead, identify your specific symptoms; do you have a headache, does your body ache, do you have a fever, are you congested, do you have a runny nose, etc. and select product/s with active ingredients that focus on your specific symptoms rather than catchalls that may have medications that you don’t need.
3.  TAKE LESS. Take just the amount of medicine you need. If a small dose relieves your symptom, there is no additional benefit in taking more. Start with a moderate dose – if you need more you can take more, up to the recommended dosage per day.
4. ASK QUESTIONS. The drug aisle can be confusing at times, and the pharmacist is there to help you get the right medication for your needs.
5. DON’T OVERDO IT. While you’re sick, take care of yourself. Rest, use a sick day, drink lots of fluids (including that old remedy, soup).

Whatever (or whoever) ails you this season, Help Remedies has your gifting needs covered with a variety of stocking stuffers:

PROBLEM: You battled a gang of coupon-clutching seniors while negotiating a cart full of gifts through the line at Target’s.
SOLUTION: help, I have an aching body

PROBLEM: Your coworker’s feet are in bad shape after she insisted on wearing “festive” 5-inch stilettos to the office holiday party.
SOLUTION: help, I have a blister

PROBLEM: In an obvious attempt at payback for your misspent youth, the grandparents gave the twins matching drum sets.
SOLUTION: help, I have a headache

PROBLEM: Your brother-in-law’s bear-like snores are rattling the windows. And the family is in town for a week.
SOLUTION: help, I can’t sleep

PROBLEM: Your teenager is far too cool to wear a proper coat. Or hat. Or scarf.
SOLUTION: help, I have a stuffy nose

PROBLEM: Your sister-in-law’s five cats won’t leave you compulsively sneezing self alone.
SOLUTION: help, I have allergies

PROBLEM: Your husband lost the annual family football bowl and pouted for an hour in the backyard.
SOLUTION: help, I have chest congestion

Yes they are niftily designed, and come in cute little pods that I can’t resist but they are just as practical as they are smartly designed.  Personally I hope someone leaves me some help, I can’t sleep in my stocking so I can sooner acclimate to working the night shift.  For additional information on Help Remedies, visit www.helpineedhelp.com. Each Help product is $3.99 MSRP, available at Walgreens, Duane Reade, select Target stores, Soap.com, Pharmaca.com, and other retailers nationwide.

GIVEAWAY:  It’s getting nippy out there!  Just in time for switching into snow boots and helping your feet “weather the storm” or after you’ve insisted on wearing “festive” 5-inch stilettos to the office holiday party, we’re giving away FIVE (5) help, I have a blister kits!  To ENTER, from now until December 31st 2011 you MUST visit this FORM and enter (1) one of (3) ways – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s HELP remedies #giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1a8) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to visit this FORM and leave a separate entry for each action. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on December 31st 2011 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.