NHS GP Doctor Shireen is known for sharing health advice, and she recently urged anyone with a cough or cold to take a simple pill to help reduce the severity of their symptoms
08:01, 09 Oct 2025
The doctor recommends a simple pill (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
It’s getting to that time of year when all sorts of viruses and illnesses are doing the rounds and, with so many coughs and colds circulating, there are certain symptoms you may want to watch out for. As well as being on alert for any signs of illness, you may look at ways to try and rid pesky coughs and colds quickly and, according to a doctor, there’s one thing people should do.
DON'T MISS
Doctor Shireen, who works as an NHS GP, said she has one tip to reduce the severity of coughs this autumn and winter. According to her, taking a simple pill can help work wonders, as it could really ease your symptoms and work to boost your health.
It’s well worth noting, as so many people suffer with coughs during the colder months, and nobody wants them to stick around. To aid you even further, there’s even a trick you could use that claims to ease cough symptoms “within minutes.”
In a TikTok video previously shared online, Doctor Shireen said: “I’m going to give you one small tip, [an] extremely easy tip, that is going to reduce the duration and severity of any cold you have this winter. So, the second you notice an ithcy throat, a runny nose, ithcy, like burning eyes.
“Anything that suggests you’ve got a cough or a cold coming, what I want you to do is take two things. Vitamin C and zinc. You can actually get like these Berocca-style tablets that you can pop into water. Just start it.
“You can’t prevent coughs or colds, but research is out there to show that taking zinc and vitamin C reduces the duration and the severity. I’ve personally been doing this for the last couple of years and, I can tell you, it really works.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
You can actually get vitamin C and zinc in combined supplements to support the immune system, protect cells from oxidative stress and contribute to overall health and vitality. While vitamin C supports immune function, collagen formation and helps with tiredness, zinc is super important for things such as immune health, normal vision and cognitive function.
When taken together, they provide a joint boost to the immune system. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a vital nutrient found in fruits and vegetables. Having plenty of it in your diet helps you maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage.
Some people also believe that consuming lots of vitamin C can help you avoid colds or help rid cold symptoms when they arise. However, there isn’t enough evidence to support that it’s an effective treatment.
Despite this, it is known that a severe deficiency in vitamin C can make it much more difficult for our bodies to fight off infection. Subsequently, failing to get enough vitamin C over time has the potential to increase the chance of you getting sick.
Additionally, there are several benefits to having good vitamin C intake. This is why it’s considered essential to get the recommended amount each day. Some researchers have also found that taking vitamin C each day may aid in reducing the severity and duration of bad colds.
The same is thought about zinc. While the evidence for its effectiveness is not conclusive, it has the porential to slash the harshness of symptoms, especially if taken within 24 hours of when they first arise.
According to the NHS website: “You can often treat a cold without seeing a GP. You should begin to feel better in about one to two weeks.
“Symptoms of a cold can last longer in young children. They may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and sleeping, breathe through their mouth and get sick after coughing.”
You can usually treat a cold at home, and there are things you can do to aid the issue. The NHS says these things include:
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink lots of fluid, such as water, to avoid dehydration
- Eat healthy food (it’s common for small children to lose their appetite for a few days)
- Gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children)
- Drink a hot lemon and honey drink to soothe a sore throat
- Breathe in steam to ease a blocked nose – try sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running
Further information can be found at the website and, if you’re worried about anything, contact your GP for further advice. You should also seek medical guidance before taking supplements.
