Monitor your cold. If you get "the chills," feel shaky or dizzy,
have chest pain or have a hacking cough that produces yellow,
green or brown phlegm, call your doctor, advises Dr. Bentley.
"If you begin to run a fever of 99 degrees and the next day it
spikes to 102 degrees, make the call. Call sooner if you have a
chronic illness, such as high blood pressure, kidney disease,
heart disease or diabetes." Adds Dr. Graddy-Dansby: "Senior
citizens, especially those with chronic illness, run the risk of
becoming dehydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid
caffeine. Caffeine can increase the risk of dehydration." And
watch your diet: Senior citizens are especially susceptible to
weight loss when they become ill. Experts suggest you keep your
home moist during the dry winter months. Keep your nasal
passages damp with a plain saline spray found in most drugstores
or by applying a small amount of petroleum jelly to the inside
of your nose. All steamed up Steam can also help. Use a
vaporizer, run a hot bath,