Student Health Center
Self-Care Measures for Bronchitis
Head and Chest Congestion:
• Drink plenty of fluids (8 to 10 glasses daily).
• Breathe in direct steam by standing in a hot shower for approximately 15 minutes.
• During day time hours, decongestants can be taken as directed to relieve sinus congestion. Side
effects from these drugs may include restlessness, jittery feelings, and the inability to sleep – this
is why you should not take this medicine at bedtime: You must be 18 years old to request Sudafed
from the pharmacist in order to purchase. Bring a valid driver’s license.
o Pseudoephedrine [generic Sudafed] 30 mg, take 2 tablets, by mouth, every 4 to 6 hours.
o Phenylephrine [generic Sudafed PE] 5 mg, take 2 tablets, by mouth, every 4 to 6 hours.
• At bedtime, an antihistamine can help to decrease post nasal drainage, relieve congestion and
promote sleep. Keep the use of antihistamines for bedtime use.
o Diphenhydramine [generic Benadryl] 25 mg, take 1 to 2 capsules, by mouth, at bedtime
• Do not take cold medications if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, irregular or fast heart
rates, thyroid problems, seizure disorder, glaucoma, prostate problems, liver or kidney disease or
if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Also, do not take cold medications if you are currently
taking MAO inhibitors.
• Saline nasal sprays help to decrease congestion by liquefying mucus and subsequently promoting
sinus drainage.
• A vaporizer or humidifier, especially at bedtime, may help to keep mucous membranes moist.
Temperature:
Fever is a reaction of the body’s immune system and is beneficial to your recovery from a cold. Viruses
prefer normal body temperatures in order to multiply. Your body will raise its temperature in order to kill
the virus and prevent them from reproducing. However, fever also produces body aches and chills which
can make you feel very uncomfortable. To reduce fever take:
o Acetaminophen [generic Tylenol] 325 mg, take 2 tablets, by mouth, every 4-6 hours as
needed, for fever or pain, or Ibuprofen [generic Advil] 200 mg, take 2 tablets, by mouth,
every 4 to 6 hours.
o See a health care provider if your temperature remains greater than 101 degrees F. despite
taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or if your temperature remains low grade
(99 to 100 degrees) for 3 days or longer.
Sore Throat
Look at your throat. If your tonsils are large, red, painful and covered with white spots or mucus, see a
health care provider for evaluation. Self-care treatment for a sore throat:
• Gargle with salt water as often as every 2 hours. Mix ¼ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm
water.
• Eat ice popsicles, Italian ice, ice chips, etc., for the soothing and hydrating effect. Others find
sipping on warm liquids more soothing. There are various over-the-counter throat lozenges which
may help sooth throat pain. Honey in tea may also be helpful.
Cough:
The use of a cough suppressant/expectorant may help to quiet a cough, especially at bedtime.
• Cough may occur due to inflammation of the large airways in the lungs. If taking a cough
suppressant, be sure that the cough syrup does not also contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• The expectorant component of cough syrups thins the mucus so you can cough it out more
effectively. The suppressant component is usually dextromethorphan [DM] which works by
directly suppressing the cough reflex center of the brain.
• Sleeping with your head elevated on two or more pillows may help decrease cough.
• Your healthcare provider may prescribe a bronchodilator.
• Females on birth control, who are prescribed an antibiotic should use a back-up birth control
method (condoms) until your next period.
Attention: If you have any of the following symptoms after 7 days, make an appointment to see a
Health Center provider:
• Continued cold symptoms
• Sinus pain aggravated by bending, coughing, or pain in the upper teeth
• Swelling of the eyelids and tissues around the eyes/bloodshot or tearing eyes
• Fatigue, dizziness, sweats, intermittent nausea, headaches over the sinus areas/back of the head/top
of the head/and-or in the shoulder-neck area
• Post nasal drainage which can cause increased coughing [especially at bedtime] accompanied by
bad breath and loss of taste and/or smell
Bloomsburg University Student Health Center, Rm. 324 Kehr Union Bldg., Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: 570-389-4451 FAX: 570-389-3417
Developed 8/13