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Whether you're new to economics or just want to deepen your understanding, this course covers the basics and connects them to today’s pressing issues—from inequality to public policy decisions.

Each week, you'll receive a reading guide that distills core principles, offers actionable takeaways, and explains how they affect the current world. While the full ebook enriches the experience, the guides alone provide a comprehensive understanding of fundamental economic ideas.

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You'll gain real-world insights into how economics impacts your daily life with this easy-to-follow online course. This crash course is based on the acclaimed textbook Economy, Society, and Public Policy by CORE Econ, tailored to help you grasp key concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

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",DEAR_READER_BODY_HTML="\n

The trustworthy and factual news you find here at MPR News relies on the generosity of readers like you.\n

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Tom Crann, Dr. Jon Hallberg and Megan Burks

March 12, 2019 3:00 PM

Cold medicine won't cure your nagging cough

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Did you get that nagging cough this cold and flu season? Maybe you stood in the drug store aisle trying to make sense of a bewildering variety of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines.

Well, according to Jane Brody, the personal health columnist for the New York Times, that candy-colored aisle won't necessarily provide sweet relief.

"Evidence is sorely lacking for the value of any over-the-counter remedy to treat most coughs," Brody wrote in her February article, "The Case Against Cough Medicine."

So, what do you do? Dr. Jon Hallberg, medical director of the University of Minnesota Physicians Mill City Clinic, shared his advice with MPR host Tom Crann.

To hear Hallberg's take on cough medicine, including your best bet when it comes to over-the-counter medication and when to see a doctor, click play on the audio player above.

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