parcel on Pinterest The influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Flu symptoms typically last about a workweek, but the most severe symptoms only occur for two to three days ( though it might feel like an eternity ). You might continue to experience tire, helplessness, and a cough for another week after you recover.
Coming down with the influenza can be downright measly. here are 12 tips to help you recover more cursorily.
1. Stay home
Your body need clock and energy to fight off the influenza virus, which means that your day by day routine should be put on the backburner. You may be tempted to go grocery store denounce or get ahead on laundry for the workweek, but you ’ d be doing yourself a disservice. Stay dwelling from work or school, and put errands on hold until you start to feel dependable. On peak of helping you recover, staying home besides prevents spreading the influenza to other people in your community or workplace. The influenza can be dangerous for older adults and minor children, so it ’ randomness vital that you avoid contact with others while you ’ ra contagious.
2. Hydrate
One symptom of the influenza is a eminent fever, which can lead to sweating. You might besides be dealing with bouts of vomiting or diarrhea. Your body needs enough of fluids to replace fall back liquids, and even more to fight off the infection. Water is best, but you can besides drink herb tea teas or tea with honey. These can have a comfort effect on your symptoms while keeping you hydrated. Two things you should always avoid, though, are alcohol and caffeine.
3. Sleep as much as possible
sleep is the best music for your body while fighting the influenza. Watching television curled up on the sofa international relations and security network ’ t a bad idea, but you shouldn ’ metric ton be binge-watching your favored Netflix show all night farseeing. Go to bed earlier than common and sleep in. You can besides take a nap during the day to give your body more time to recover. Rest and sleep besides reduces your risk of serious influenza complications, like pneumonia .
4. Ease your breathing
It can be difficult to sleep with a airless nose and cough. Try these tips to breathe easier and have a better night ’ s rest :
- Use an extra pillow to prop up your head and ease sinus pressure.
- Sleep with a humidifier or vaporizer in the room.
- Take a hot bath or shower before bed.
5. Eat healthy foods
You may be tempted to drown your sadness in a bowl of ice rink cream and a bag of potato chips, but your body needs better nutrition to recover from the influenza. fresh fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that strengthen your immune system as it fights off the virus. You might not have much of an appetite, but it ’ s still important to eat regular meals to maintain your force.
6. Add moisture to the air
Dry air can make your symptoms worse. A vaporizer or humidifier adds moisture to the air and can help loosen up congestion. There are many types of humidifiers and vaporizers available on the market. Examples include cool-mist humidifiers and steam vaporizers. These can be found easily for a reasonable monetary value at your local anesthetic big-box store, pharmacy, or on-line.
7. Take OTC medications
The cold and influenza aisle of your local drug memory is most likely packed with hundreds of different options. Some medications are used to deal with specific symptoms, like adenoidal congestion, while others treat many influenza symptoms at once .
- Pain relievers help reduce a fever, headache, and body aches. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Decongestants, like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), help open your nasal passages and relieve pressure in your sinuses.
- Cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin), can be used to soothe a dry cough.
- Expectorants helps loosen thick mucus and are useful for a cough that is wet and produces mucus.
- Antihistamines tend to have sedative effects that may help you sleep.
Be surely to read the product ’ s label to learn the discipline acid for each character of medicine and to make certain you ’ re not by chance combining medications. Medications like DayQuil are both a pain reliever and a fever reducing agent, so you shouldn ’ t be taking another medicine on lead of that. Children and teens should never take aspirin for the influenza due to the risk of a serious condition called Reye ’ s syndrome.
8. Try elderberry
Elderberry has been used for hundreds of years in the treatment of colds and the influenza. In one placebo-controlled study, people with the influenza who consumed bourtree lozenges four times a day experienced a reduction in fever, concern, muscleman aches, rhinal congestion, and cough after 48 hours. In another study, 60 people with flu-like symptoms who ingested 15 milliliters of bourtree syrup four times a day experienced improvement in their symptoms four days earlier than people who took a placebo. A larger study in 312 air travelers found that 300 milligram capsules of bourtree extract taken three times per sidereal day reduced cold and influenza symptoms and duration in those who ended up getting sick after their travels compared to a placebo group. Elderberry capsules, lozenges, and syrups are available in stores or on-line. You shouldn ’ triiodothyronine eat naked elderberries, as they can cause nausea, vomit, and diarrhea. Remember, elderberry is a complementary color therapy, so create certain you ’ re besides treating the influenza with OTC or prescription drug medication .
9. Have a spoonful of honey to soothe a cough
Honey is a reasonably common natural remedy for soothing a sensitive throat or cough. Mixing honey with tea is a big means to stay hydrated while besides treating your influenza symptoms. In one study, researchers found that a dose of honey was more effective at controlling a night cough than common cough suppressants in children ages two to 18 years with upper respiratory tract infections. One thing to note, though, is that you shouldn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate give honey to children who are younger than a year old.
10. Ask your doctor about antiviral drugs
antiviral drugs are only available by prescription drug, so you must see a doctor beginning. These medications are typically reserved for people who are at eminent gamble of developing complications from the influenza. These drugs prevent the virus from growing and replicating. They work good if you take them within 48 hours of having symptoms. You may want to ask a doctor for a prescription antiviral if you :
- are under age 5 (age 2, in particular)
- are 18 or under and taking aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications
- are at least 65
- are pregnant or have given birth in the last two weeks
- have a chronic medical condition or you’re taking other medications that weaken your immune system
- live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
- are Native American (American Indian or Alaska Native)
- are extremely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40
The antiviral medicine most normally prescribed is oseltamivir ( Tamiflu ). In October 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved baloxavir marboxil ( Xofluza ), a new antiviral for people ages 12 and older. Taking antiviral medications within two days of the attack of symptoms may reduce both the duration of the influenza by about one day and the austereness of symptoms .
11. Get a flu shot
The annual influenza vaccine is produced based on scientists ’ predictions of which influenza form will dominate the adjacent influenza season. sometimes, though, they get it wrong. Getting a influenza guess after you ’ ve already had the influenza can protect you from other strains of the virus. You might think it ’ mho excessively late or that you can ’ thymine get the influenza again in one season, but it ’ mho hush a possibility. so, it ’ s a good theme to protect yourself by getting vaccinated.
12. Stay positive
We frequently forget how much our emotions and attitudes affect how we feel physically. While you may not be able to unclog your stuffy nose or lower your fever with positivist thoughts, maintaining a positive position during your illness may help in your overall convalescence .
The bottom line
The best matter you can do to recover from the influenza is give up yourself to sleep, rest, and drink lots of fluids. If you catch your influenza symptoms early, and you ’ re at risk of serious complications, you can try an antiviral medicine to help reduce the duration of your symptoms. Most influenza symptoms resolve within one to two weeks. If your influenza symptoms start to get better and then get quickly worse, or don ’ t subside after two weeks, contact your repair.
