Wouldn't it be nice to not have to listen to the rustle of tissues during exams? Or to have a peaceful night of sleep without a hacking cough? Three new products on the pharmaceutical market claim to solve the problem of the common cold.

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula Dietary Supplement Tablets claim to be able to prevent colds if taken before entering potentially germ-infested areas, such as an airplane or workplace, and to weaken symptoms once a user feels the onset of a cold.

This cold-prevention pill is a cocktail of known herbal remedies and an extra dose of vitamin C, along with electrolytes, antioxidants and amino acids, said Bill Rowe, a pharmacist at CVS Pharmacy, 116 W. College Ave.

"All [Airborne] would do is boost up your immune system," he said.

Kasey Holloway (freshman-premedicine) said she has kept many colds at bay using the supplement.

"I'm an avid user of Airborne and swear by it," she said.

The Gesundheit Anti-Cold Topical Patch contains many of the same ingredients as the Airborne supplement, along with vitamin A, calcium and potassium.

The package proclaims that "No product can be 100 percent effective against preventing the common cold ... The use of this product on a daily basis along with frequent washing of your hands... can significantly reduce your chances of catching a cold."

University Health Services (UHS) Director Dr. Margaret E. Spear said she also recommends washing your hands frequently during cold season, and to "cover your mouth when [you] cough or sneeze with a tissue."

Spear said that methods like these by themselves can reduce one's chance of catching a cold.

In fact, a new version of the traditional tissue has recently reached the market -- the Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissue, which, according to the Kleenex Web site, "has a moisture-activated middle layer that is scientifically proven to kill cold and flu viruses."

The purpose of the tissue is to reduce the odds of contracting a cold from picking up used tissues, a habit Spear said she would discourage anyway.

"You have to presume that a tissue that is used by someone else could still contain viruses which cause colds," Spear said.

The Web site claims the tissues "kill 99.9 percent of cold and flu viruses."

Rowe said several CVS customers have asked him about Airborne, which he believes to be a result of the recent mention of the supplement on Oprah Winfrey's daytime talk show.

However, he said he had never heard of Gesundheit or Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues.

CVS carries Airborne and Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues, while McLanahan's Student Store, 414 E. College Ave., and McLanahan's Downtown Market, 116 S. Allen St., only carry the Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues. The stores do not stock the Gesundheit skin patch.

Airborne dietary supplement, the Gesundheit skin patch and Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues comprise part of a new front on the over-the-counter medicine market, with companies trying to help consumers prevent illness and treat them after they're already sick.

Spear, who said UHS has been "very busy seeing students with a variety of viral infections," is doubtful about whether these three products actually work as they claim to.

"There's no evidence these actually prevent illness," she said.

Spear said she recommends more traditional therapies, like frequent hand-washing and plenty of rest.

"When you're tired, when you're stressed, immune response is probably weakened," she said.