Cold medicines seek to relieve symptoms rather ... menthol ointments you rub under your nose or on your chest have a cooling effect and strong odor that can mask feelings of congestion.

An expectorant loosens chest congestion and thins mucus so it ... includes drugs that treat symptoms you have. Multi-symptom ...

like acute bronchitis—a chest cold—because, in those cases, you’ll want to cough to get rid of the junk that’s clogging up your pipes, Glen B. Chun, MD, a pulmonary and internal medicine ...

If you do try nonprescription cold medicines, be sure to follow the usage directions ... such as emphysema or asthma A cough that lasts longer than 10 days Chest pain when you cough, trouble breathing ...