4 Doctors Share the #1 Thing They Always Buy at CVS at the Start of Cold, Flu and COVID Season

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The emergence of a new COVID variant in August wasn't the late-summer surprise we signed up for. However, it reminded us of two things: First, COVID isn't going away. Second, peak season for other illnesses, like colds and the flu, is coming.

Getting sick happens, and it's no fun. However, having some necessities on hand before the sneezes and wheezes start can ease the pain—for you and others.

"A preparedness toolkit can help minimize the need to get out of the house when dealing with a cold or flu—helping you recover faster and minimizing the spread of these viruses," says Paunel Vukasinov, MD, a physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder.com.

The last part—preventing germ spread—was a critical reason to have enough essentials on hand to manage cold and flu symptoms. Every one of the four physicians we spoke with mentioned it.

Parade talked with doctors who shared the items they have on hand for cold and flu season and the oft-recommended product to skip.

Related: These Are the Side Effects You Can Expect From the New COVID Vaccine, According to Immunologists

4 Cold & Flu Season Must-Haves, According to Doctors

1. Tissue boxes, $8 at CVS

Dr. Vukasinov recommends getting "plenty of these" for obvious reasons. With that sage advice in mind, consider buying in bulk. A three-box package with 360 tissues should get you through more than one nasty bug while leaving some for fellow prepared shoppers.

2. A humidifier, $45 at CVS

"Using a humidifier in your room can help alleviate congestion and make breathing easier," says David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.

More than CVS shoppers have given the Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier a 5-star review, saying it reduced congestion and helped them sleep through the night (which is huge when trying to fight off an illness).

3. Painkillers, $14 at CVS

Tylenol was in short supply last cold and flu season, so consider having some on hand. Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at Memorial Hermann Hospital, says acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen are useful this time of year.

"Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are broadly useful for many illnesses and things like headaches and cramps," Dr. Yancey says.

However, these painkillers are not one-size-fits-all. Parents, in particular, should take care to check medication labels before purchasing them for their kids.

"It's important to read the label and only take the recommended doses," Dr. Yancey says. "Also, make sure you get the pediatric formulations if you have children. Kids have their own dosages based on age." You should also clear any medications with your child's pediatrician first.

For adults, a 24-pack of Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe kit contains 16 daytime caplets and eight nighttime. Both can aid in reducing fever and dreaded symptoms like headaches and congestion at any time of day. It boasts a 5-star rating based on more than 900 reviews on the CVS website, with 97 percent of previous buyers sharing they'd recommend it to people feeling down for the count.

Related: How Long Is COVID Contagious After You Test Positive? A Cleveland Clinic Doctor Explains

4. A thermometer that actually works, $60 at CVS

"It is important for your doctor to know if you have a fever with your illness....knowing your temperature can help your doctor guide your testing and treatment," says Dr. Genevieve Brauning, MD, a family physician at Avance Care SouthPark in Charlotte, North Carolina. "It will also help you monitor your illness as it progresses. Resolving fevers likely suggest your illness is improving."

Given this advice, consider this popular CVS-brand One Touch Non-Contact Advanced Thermometer, which quickly takes your temperature and has a color-coded fever display.

The Item You *Don't* Need for Cold and Flu Season

Supplements like vitamin C and zinc are often recommended. However, Dr. Cutler says you can skip them.

"It’s also important to note the many claims but unproven effectiveness for colds of supplements like zinc, vitamin C and echinacea," Dr. Cutler says. "Antihistamines also are not generally helpful for colds."

Antihistamines are generally an allergy remedy, not cold and flu. The research on the effectiveness of the others is limited. For instance, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) points to some research that zinc may reduce the duration of some illnesses but says more is needed to determine the best dosage, formulation and frequency before making a general recommendation of zinc-containing lozenges, gels and sprays to reduce the severity and duration of common cold symptoms.

A 2016 research review didn't find convincing evidence that vitamin C supplementation could reduce the duration and severity of a common cold outside of typical dietary intake.

Related: Your Favorite Cold Medicine May Be Taken Off the Market—and the Reason Why May Shock You

How To Stay Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

Dr. Cutler says one of the best things someone can stock up on is knowledge of how to stay healthy. Prevention is the best medicine.

"Preparing for cold and flu season really means creating an awareness of the risk of respiratory illness and taking measures for prevention and treatment," Dr. Cutler says. "Preventing and treating respiratory illnesses involves a combination of lifestyle choices, hygiene practices, and medical interventions."

These common-sense measures include:

• Staying up-to-date on vaccinations, like COVID-19 and flu

• Hand hygiene

• Avoiding close contact with sick individuals

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet

• Wearing a high-quality face mask, especially an N95, in areas where respiratory disease spread is prevalent

Dr. Brauning stresses the importance of protecting others too.

"If you are sick, please keep your germs to yourself.," she says. "The best choice is to keep your distance from others while your symptoms are active. If you must venture out, please wash your hands and wear a mask to reduce the chance of spreading illness to others."

Staying home should be easier if you already have the above cold and flu essentials on hand.

Next up: The Side Effects You Can Expect From the New COVID Vaccine, According to Immunologists

Sources

• Paunel Vukasinov, MD, a physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder.com

• Linda Yancey, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at Memorial Hermann Hospital

• David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center

• Genevieve Brauning, MD, a family physician at Avance Care SouthPark in Charlotte, North Carolina.