The HSE has said that most coughs get better just as fast without antibiotics.

Just because the Christmas period has come to an end, it doesn't mean that the cold weather is going away anytime soon. And with that type of weather comes all kinds of sicknesses. But the HSE has urged people to "sort that cough without an antibiotic", stating that most coughs get better "just as fast" without the help of antibiotics. The HSE has said that you can get "unpleasant" side effects from antibiotics including tummy upsets, rashes, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain, and that you should only take antibiotics if you need them or they might not work when you do need them. It is also said that antibiotics do not actually ease a cough – they kill bacteria, and that over-the-counter remedies can be perfectly suitable. Doctor Nuala O'Connor has offered some advice with regards to how to stay healthy at this time of year. She said: "GPs see a lot of coughs at this time of year. Coughing is part of your body’s way of protecting your lungs. It is better to cough up phlegm than to have it stay lower in your lungs. "Coughing spreads the germs that caused your cough in the first place so it is important not to spread the illness to others. You can do this by coughing into a tissue, binning the tissue immediately and washing your hands afterwards or coughing into your elbow. "Remember many people do not follow this advice so most surfaces like door handles have bugs on them. Be careful to keep your hands away from your face /mouth and always wash your hands before touching or eating food to avoid picking up infections." If you have any further questions about your cough, click here to read more from the HSE.