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Trying to find the best over the counter cold medicine can be a frustrating experience. There are so many varieties that it can be difficult to know which is best for you, especially when your head is stuffed up. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a medication that is safe and effective. Be very clear when describing your symptoms to the pharmacist. Make sure to let him know if you're feeling very drowsy, or if you are having trouble sleeping. You should also tell him if you have any allergies or sensitivities. You don't want to take too many over the counter medications. That can lead to drowsiness and potentially cause other health issues. However, you can safely take one medication when fighting your cold. Choose one that targets your worst symptoms. If your cold is causing you to stay awake at night coughing, look for an over the counter medication that contains dextromethorphan. This substance in one of the most effective in reducing nasal congestion. Colds come with various aches and pains and sometimes even a fever. Your muscles and joints might be sore, which just adds to your general misery. Try taking an over the counter painkiller to ease these symptoms. Aspirin and ibuprofen are effective at helping you get over your cold. Just remember to carefully follow the dosage guidelines on the bottle. Use caution when giving a child aspirin, as it has been linked to Reye's syndrome. Never give aspirin to a child under the age of two. Children who have recently recovered from the chicken pox or the flu should never be given aspirin. Consult your doctor before giving any child aspirin. If you have a basic cold, your doctor can't really do much to help you. Antibiotics have proven to be ineffective against the common cold. Save yourself a trip and don't make a doctor's appointment if you know you are suffering from a cold. If your symptoms are persistent or especially severe, then you should call your doctor. You'll want medical advice particularly if you are having significant trouble breathing.

summary: Talk to your pharmacist. Treat the right symptoms. Take a painkiller. Know when to call your doctor.

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Cold winds might make your ears ache a bit, so wear earmuffs or a warm hat as an extra protective layer. Make sure that your ears are completely covered and insulated before you head out. Try not to stick cotton swabs or any other sharp or blunt object in your ear, as these will hurt and damage your ear more. If you think you're suffering from an ear infection or another condition like swimmer's ear, ask a doctor or ear specialist for help. If you stick a cotton swab in your ear, you'll be doing more harm than good. Use caution when taking a bath or shower, and try not to get any water directly into your ears. Dry off afterward, so no water is lingering in your ear. If you get water in your ears, use a towel to wipe them out carefully. You can also hold a hair dryer by your ear at low heat to evaporate any extra water. If you do this, be sure to hold the dryer at least 1ft (30cm) away from your wet ear. Keep it on for a few minutes and see if your ear feels any drier! Always try medically-recommended treatments before consulting any natural, less verifiable methods, like using onions to get rid of an earache. Many of the treatments don't have a lot of medical support or evidence, so you might have a lot of success if you use them. Instead, use recommended treatments, like a heating pad.

summary: Protect your ears with muffs or a hat when going outside. Don't stick anything inside of your ears. Avoid getting your ear wet. Use caution when trying any popular earache remedies.

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A mandolin is traditionally tuned G-D-A-E, from low to high, with each pair of strings tuned to the same tone. In other words, the instrument is tuned G-G-D-D-A-A-E-E, taking into consideration each individual string. When you're holding the mandolin correctly, the highest string pair (E) should be the closest to the floor. If you play guitar, it can also be helpful to think of it as the lowest four guitar strings (E-A-D-G), but in reverse. That can also help you get familiar with the fingerings when you're first getting started on the instrument. On most mandolins, the tuners for both G strings and both D strings will be on the side of the headstock closest to you, while the tuners for both A strings and E strings will be on the side of the headstock closest to the floor, in order. As you tune, you generally want to tune in that clockwise pattern on the tuners, around the headstock, working your way down the instrument and higher in pitch. What makes tuning a mandolin more difficult than tuning a violin, of course, is that there are 8 strings instead of 4, meaning that you have to be precise or the instrument will be out of tune. It can be difficult to know which string is out of tune when you're striking them both in unison. Use "rest strokes" (in which you dampen each string with the pick after playing) to isolate each note individually as you're tuning. This will get a clearer tone on the electronic tuner, or whatever other tuning method you're using. As with any stringed instrument, you generally want to tune from flat to sharp, tuning the string up in pitch, rather than down from a higher note to the correct tone. This is because you want to settle the tension in the string toward the gear, not away from it. When you tune down, you risk letting the tension slip on the tuning gear as you play, making the string will go flat. This is especially true with new strings. Worn out or rusty strings will go out of the tune more easily and bedevil your fingers as you're learning. Make sure you change your strings out regularly to keep your instrument in tune. You don't need to change them every night unless you're Tim O'Brien, but consider changing them every 4-6 weeks of moderate to heavy usage. It can be frustrating to tune immediately after putting new strings on the mandolin, because it'll slip out after only a few minutes. After putting new strings on, each string puts lots of pounds per square inch of tension on the neck, and the wood will flex slightly. You need to account for this by getting the strings close and then letting the instrument rest for a second before fine-tuning. You'll get it in tune more quickly and more accurately this way.
summary: Tune it like a violin. Locate the correct tuners for each string. Tune each string individually and both strings together. Tune up, don't tune down. Use fresh strings. Get the tuning in the ballpark, and then fine-tune it.