Seasonal Cough

It's always in December where I get the dreaded lame seasonal cough. It rides like a persistent Dementor from Hogwarts determined to rid you of all happy memories of being healthy and making you forget how it felt to be healthy.... Well, as the name goes, once it turns January, viola~~~~ the widespread coughing stops.

Anyway, I hopped across a good article about choosing the right type of cough syrup. When you have finished reading it, you would realise that there is no cure to cough. You either supress it by blocking the brain's inhibitors or you make yourself feel better when you expel the muscus build up. In all, cough, when brought about by the flu, tends to be stronger and stick around longer than the normal cough. It is extremely irritating and which is why people shun you the minute you try coughing in the train.

Article source: http://www.cooperdrugstore.com/blog/default-blog-category/choosing-the-right-cough-medicine.html

Choosing the right cough medicine

Tuesday, December 13 2011 3:18 PM - by Brett Kappelmann

As we trudge along through cold and flu season, I am frequently asked about cough medicine.  What is the best cough medicine available?  What are the different types of cough medicine?  Are the over-the-counter cough medicines any good?  Cough medicine and cough syrups are available over-the-counter in three different types: cough suppressants, oral expectorants, and topical (externally applied) drugs.

If you were to walk into my store and ask about choosing a cough medicine, the first question I would ask you would be if the cough is productive or not.  A productive cough produces mucous and secretions.  A nonproductive cough is also known as a dry, hacky cough.  Based upon the type of cough you have will depend on the best type of cough medicine to use.

For a productive cough, usually a medicine that contains guaifenesin is the best approach.  Guaifenesin is an oral expectorant that works by thinning the mucous, making it easier to cough up.  If you have a productive cough you usually do not want to suppress it, because coughing up mucous and secretions is your body’s natural way to clear the airways.  Guaifenesin works the best if you take it with plenty of water, because the water will work with the guaifenesin to thin the mucous.  You can find guaifenesin in many cough medicines.  Two of the most common guaifenesin-containing cough medicines are Robitussin and Mucinex.  Robitussin comes in syrup form, is inexpensive, but is shorter acting.  Mucinex comes in tablet form, is more expensive, but can last for up to twelve hours.

For a nonproductive, dry, hacky cough, a cough suppressant is usually the best choice for therapy.  Cough suppressants relieve your cough by blocking the cough reflex.  The most common ingredient that you will find as a cough suppressant in over-the-counter formulations is dextromethorphan, or DM.  Codeine is considered the gold standard of cough suppressants, but is mostly available in prescription form due to its abuse potential.  Delsym is a popular choice as an over-the-counter cough suppression therapy because it contains dextromethorphan in a long acting (twelve hour) formulation.

Many OTC cold and cough syrups and cough medicines contain a cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) plus an expectorant (guaifenesin) along with other cold medicines and pain relievers. The combination cold and cough medicine may contain an antihistamine, a decongestant, and a pain reliever in addition to the cough suppressant and/or expectorant. The combination of medicines may give optimal relief if you have multiple cold symptoms, such as body aches, coughs, and congestion. The downside of the combination cold medicines is that you may be taking medication that you don’t need, depending on your symptoms.

Topical products that contain camphor and menthol are also used to relieve cough.  These natural, aromatic cough medicines are rubbed on the throat and the chest. The anesthetic action of their vapors is thought to ease coughing and soothe stuffiness from a cold.

In summation, this is a simple breakdown of cough therapy.  There are many other factors that must be considered when choosing the most appropriate cough therapy.  Factors such as drug-drug interactions, age restrictions, and conflicting medical conditions must be considered.  As always, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it unclear as to the most appropriate medication to choose.

Visit to Seoul and Family

It has been a while since something was posted here. As busy as a bee, I often fathom between using spare time to type my assignments or to kill some zombies.  As  I have often said and written here, I write based on my mood and am not too keen on making sure my written piece is grammatically correct all time. I normally end when my feeling of expression ends as well and of course, wouldn't be more bothered about what shouldn't have been said or written.

It was not a K drama that got be back to be talking about the trip to Korea but rather a video montage of our wedding - can't get tired of it. The music, moments captured at the right times just always manage to tug at the heart strings no matter what. It then brought me backwards slightly the last time i felt the same; when we departed Incheon Airport reluctantly , saying goodbyes to Keith and Ha Young.

It was a memorable good 11 days spent there, the farthest both of us have been away from Singapore. Apart from the torrid time on a midnight flight with the always injury prone nose, everything was fine. I thank God for a very wonderful, peaceful and memorable period there.

It was also the first time I saw my breath when it was 3 Degrees cold, just like in the tv shows.

From the roads of Incheon Aiport and the cold air that greeted me;

The long and beautiful roads of autumn trees in its stubbornest show of colours before they fade;

The many crosses that lined up in Seoul at night;

The friendliness and distinct quietness of the Korean people;

Outstanding subway stations which are all linked underground;

Exhilarating Gyeongbokgung Palace where all the dramas we have watched are right before our eyes. "CHONAAAAAA"....

Beautiful posters of ex idol Kim Tae Hee and current tv favourite Kim So Hyun..

All the nice short shops that line up in all of Korea;

Refined plastic beauties;

Betta shops - a few;

Hard Rock Cafe Seoul  -Outstanding service and entertainment. Could be more fun if we had visited on a weekend i suppose;

Fantastic apartment of Keith and Ha Yong. Very new apartment with several pieces of high tech equipment and real lizards and plants... haha;

Sun and Shine - two lovely dogs which sort of fulfilled and complete part of my childhood which was left hanging in mid air when I was 6 or 7 and had to return a pup which was with me for a few months. I saw him again when he was a big dog and I knew it was him when he came to smell my hand and stuck near to the gate, refusing to leave. I guess he must be in Heaven and perhaps one day I shall see him again;

Fantastic Food-- porridge, bibimap, bbq pork, beef noodles in cold pear broth, superb home cook steaks, endless kimchi;

Countless facial shops;

Scoring 2 goals against the Koreans in a futsal 9a side game. Amazed by their warmup routines, wearing full training kit in the cold and superb pitch. Throw in a tactical board and there is such a big difference in how they run their Sunday football compared to ours. Singapore national team hasn't scored more than 1 goal in all matches for a year where i scored 2 (including one 30 m lob) against the South Koreans who were 4th in the 2002 World Cup. Go and figure out FAS, success in Sg football is only possible when you can include the missing 70% in your talent scouting;

And of course, To Jun and his toy trucks!


All in all, good times always fly past fast because they are all on a wheel.

Happy Birthday Mrs USsenal!

Firstly, Happy birthday to Mrs Ussenal! A birthday is always special to the birthday chap of course. No matter how busy the person is, how rich ,how much he has, everyone feels special on this special day. No matter if you are rich or poor, it is a day where we feel special not because of who we are but that we live in the world knowing for sure that this day belongs to us. 

This is a really beautiful picture, isn't it? This is where the Ussenal Couple had spent many many wonderful hours here when we were in our teens.The L shape galleria was a place where we would always buy the hot dog sandwiches from 7 11 and get a couple of drinks and chill our time there.  Of course its a bit more noisy when the Star Cruise is in town, but nevertheless the lights shone brightly into the peaceful night, long before the piercing screams could be heard from Galatica Battlestar and of course the vibrant Vivo City.  The long and quiet corridors of the now demolished World Trade Centre halls would be such a good place to sit in a corner and study or to have a nice time together. 

I like to reminisce. The memories are just like old records which I would like to play from time to time which I never get tired of. However, it is one thing to get stuck in old and another to remember the good and brace oneself for the new. When I go to Ktv, i can't choose any new songs to sing and when I try to go back to my comfort zone of the old songs, i find a lack of interest to even key them into the song list. Good grief, I have sung songs which are already 20 years old.. Thus, I listen to new and popular songs to know what it is like currently. It is another argument if the new songs are worth my time as well...

Since the last update, I have won another betta trophy (3rd prize) and this is a crystal trophy which I like very much. Arsenal has also just won their record 13th FA Cup.

Pirates of Caribbean 5 has also just screened. We have always like this movie series and I loved it especially when I can see the scenery and as well as the ships and boats. I have always enjoyed my time on the raft in NS and love the time as a tugboat coxswain. Being on the Star Cruise is the nearest I have been next to a sailor ship and I always marvel at the ability of those destroyer in movies like Battleship which could take down the whole Sentosa in minutes. 

Well... all said, I was glad to have gotten the Harry Potter Orchestra tickets for Mrs Ussenal's birthday.  Better than a handbag, i suppose such classical music shall reign and marked ticked as one of her Harry Potter's adventures. Orlando, hope you have been closer to us!

 I would have gotten the fat owl if I could too...

Good Friday

It has been a good near 6 months since anything was written here. Of course, it is preferred that I could contribute more here but a very hectic work schedule combined with a more intensive module in my law studies had taken a toll. But I'm thankful to the Lord always, for everything that has been given to me, giving to me and will give to me. Thousand of years ago, the Lord made a brave and obeying decision of the Father, and sacrificed himself on the Cross so that all of us may be saved.

Time seem to go really fast with each passing year. Sure I have told myself this several years ago but I feed sad when there is nothing that can be done to reverse anything. Being young again, taking better steps, wishing to correct some wrongs done in our youth. Watching my loved ones aging by the year seem an extremely difficult thing to do. Understanding and accepting that life is just but a counter slowly but mercilessly counting down several expiry milestones is the hardest thing to accept. The next bill, the next difficult problem at work, the next wonderful drama, the next bonus.. the list goes on.

Life is indeed short on this Earth. While talking to Rebecca or rather Xuan, our god daughter, I was a bit sad that she had totally no idea what happened when she was aged 1 to 4 years old. It was the period of time when she was with us and the golden period where I had developed so much liking for her. Sadly, she remembered none of it. Likewise, I do not really recall anything before 5 years old.  I would say probably after 10, I knew what was really happening around me. Quickly, another 10 years would pass before I entered army. Add another 10 and we are at 30 years of age. 20 more years to 50 and Im already about halfway there.  Add another 10 to 50 and time to think about resting? Last 10 and surely I would not be fit to work anymore and likely that I would be visiting the hospital or likely to land in some old folks home. Isnt' it scary how short life could be? Less the 20 late years, the window period to do all, enjoy all, experience all is only but a 30 year period. Coupled with all the craziness going on in the world today, sometimes I wonder if it is a blessing for the short time or a bad thing.

Recently, there has been a big furore over the CHC case. A lot has been said countless of times and with the verdict out from the Court of Appeal, more thousands of comments were created. I would admit that the case had ran a few questions in my mind which makes me wonder sometimes why would the bus always come from the right and not the left? Im sure different sets of questions would flow through the mind of the believers ,non believers and people who are convinced to watch a circus to develop out of the case. However, I would like to say that at the end of the day, what KH or other Christians did should affect one's faith anyway.  How good the relationship between one and God has always been personal and not depend on what an affluent Christian leader has done or not done. The case had not affected my faith in God, but it had rocked the faith and high esteem I used to hold for the justice given out from our judiciary.  Is it another place where I have become so accustomed to accept as another 'cannot make it' organ of things here?

The world has become difficult to watch as Arsenal these days. Sometimes, I just stop reading the news altogether as there is hardly any thing favourable to read. Its either about increases in expenses, murder, rape, crime, Russia, N. Korea, train faults or some equally local depressing news that makes reading them a waste of my ever hungry for battery cellphone. The world is a depressing place these days and I wonder seriously where would I be typing this blog another 20 years from now.

Recently, the father of one of my cousin whom I had grown up with had passed away. The father whom I had spoken to little over the course of 30 over years, but remains a familiar figure in Chua family gatherings.  It was always difficult to attend an own family member's funeral as evidenced by my late grandpa and grandma's funerals. It was made more difficult as my cousin had grown up with me and we shared many fun times as young kids back in my grandpa's house and I empathize the pain felt. I seldom meet up with the Chua uncles and aunties, and I felt sad that everyone has aged. I do not know well the rest of the younger cousins and have no wish to do so either but to me, the auntie and uncles are people whom I respect (despite the eccentricity of some) because of my love for my parents and the upbringing I have been taught. Although I might probably be the most underachieving one in the entire Chua family tree, I feel sad everytime the family goes through 1 bad thing after another. I will always remember the last day I saw the house at Duke's Road- the place where I had so much fun with my cousins and uncles and aunties every Sunday. It was demolished to a rubble and scenes in my mind found it hard to continue playing the old times. Of course, I also remembered the black dog Tang Zu and I have a picture of a very young me playing with it when it was just a puppy. 

Right now, although I do not have a dog, I hope that someday I will be able to have keep 1 Golden Retriever as I wind down the years in future. Fishes have been a great form of relaxation after a torrid time at work most of the time. While I have found it hard to win any trophy these days, I am contented to keep the team of fishes I have.They may not be the best fishes in the world, but as long as I m happy with them  and had chosen them myself, I guess they are already winners of their own.

There are many things to write about, but there is a limit to how much my mind wants to release it. I guess right now it's time to pen off and hopefully, I do not take a long time again to write here again.

Mr Ussenal