Rest and fluids are the best tips for a speedy Flu recovery. To make yourself feel better, though, there are a few more things you might attempt. You may also wish to consult your physician if you are susceptible to flu-related problems.
The influenza virus is the source of this extremely infectious respiratory illness, known as the flu. Although the most severe symptoms only persist for two to three days (though it could feel like an eternity), flu symptoms usually last approximately a week. After you recover, you may still have weakness, weariness, and a cough for a week or more.
There are a few tips to aid in your quicker recovery.
Remain at home for Speedy Flu Recovery
You should put your everyday routine on hold as your body requires time and energy to combat the flu virus.
Staying at home not only speeds up your recovery but also stops the flu from infecting others in your family, neighbourhood, or place of employment. Small children and elderly people are particularly vulnerable to the flu, so it’s critical to keep yourself isolated from other people while you’re sick and to often clean your hands and personal objects.
Drink water
Sweating may result from a high temperature, one of the flu’s symptoms. Additionally, you may be experiencing episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting. In addition to replenish the lost fluids, your body needs an abundance of fluids to combat the illness.
The ideal beverage is water, but you may also sip herbal or honeyed teas. These can help you stay hydrated and provide relief from your discomfort. However, there are two things you should never consume: coffee and alcohol.
Keep Resting
When battling the illness, sleep is your body’s biggest ally. It’s not a terrible idea to watch TV while cuddled up on the sofa, but you shouldn’t spend the entire evening binge-watching your favourite Netflix series.
Sleep in by going to bed earlier than normal. In order to allow your body additional time to heal, you can also sleep during the day.
Sleep and rest also lower your chances of developing pneumonia and other severe flu symptoms.
Take a deeper breath.
Sleeping with a stuffy nose and cough can be challenging. To breathe more easily and have a better night’s sleep, try these suggestions:
- Raise your head and relieve sinus pressure by using an additional cushion.
- Sleep in a room with a vaporizer or humidifier.
- Have a hot shower or bath before going to bed.
Take healthy foods
Although it can be tempting to bury your sorrows in a bag of potato chips and a scoop of ice cream, your body needs superior nourishment to bounce back from the illness.
Vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables support your immune system while it fights against the illness.
Even if you don’t feel very hungry, eating regularly is still crucial to keeping your strength up.
Add moisture into the atmosphere
The dry air may exacerbate your problems. By adding moisture to the air, a humidifier or vaporizer can help reduce congestion.
The market is filled with a wide variety of vaporizers and humidifiers. Steam vaporizers and cool-mist humidifiers are two examples. You may easily get them online, at your neighbourhood drugstore, or at a big-box retailer for a fair price.
Use over-the-counter medicines
Your neighbourhood pharmacy’s cold and flu section probably has hundreds of different possibilities. While some drugs address a single symptom, such as nasal congestion, others address many flu symptoms concurrently.
- Painkillers assist in lowering physical pains, headaches, and fever. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are two examples.
- Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), aid in sinus pressure relief and nasal canal opening.
- A dry cough can be relieved by cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin).
- Expectorants are helpful for a wet cough that generates mucus and helps break up thick mucus.
- Since antihistamines often have sedative properties, they could aid with sleep.
To ensure that you are not accidentally mixing drugs, check the product’s label to find out the appropriate dosage for each kind of medication. Since DayQuil and other similar medications decrease temperature and relieve pain, you shouldn’t be taking additional medicine on top of that.
Aspirin for the flu should never be given to kids or teenagers since it increases their risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a dangerous illness.
Examine elderberry
For hundreds of years, elderberries have been used to cure the flu and colds.
After 48 hours, those with the flu who took four elderberry lozenges a day reported less fever, headache, muscular pains, nasal congestion, and coughing in one placebo-controlled research.
To relieve a cough, take a tablespoon of honey.
A natural cure for relieving a sore throat or cough is honey. One excellent technique to alleviate your flu symptoms and remain hydrated is to combine honey with tea.
In a study (Trusted Source), researchers discovered that when children with upper respiratory tract infections, aged two to eighteen, had a nightly cough, a dosage of honey worked better than typical cough suppressants.
However, it should be noted that children under the age of one year should not be given honey.
Discuss antiviral medications with your doctor
Since antiviral medications are only accessible with a prescription, you must first visit a physician. Usually, these drugs are only prescribed to those who have a higher risk of experiencing flu-related problems.
These medications stop the virus from spreading and multiplying. If you take them within 48 hours after onset of symptoms, they are most effective.
Asking a doctor for a prescription antiviral might be a good idea if you:
- are younger than five (especially two years old).
- are 65 years of age or younger, using aspirin or salicylate-containing drugs,
- pregnant, or just gave birth
- possess a long-term medical condition or are currently using other drugs that impair immunity
- reside in a long-term care institution or nursing home
- are American Indians or Native Alaskans, or Native Americans.
- possess a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40, making them extremely obese.
The most often recommended antiviral drug is oseltamivir (Tamiflu). The U.S. The Food and Drug Administration authorized baloxavir marboxil, also known as Xofluza, in October 2018 as a novel antiviral for individuals 12 years of age and above.
Antiviral drugs used within two days after the start of symptoms might lessen the severity of the flu as well as its length by around one day.
Get a vaccination against the flu
Scientists estimate which flu strain will be predominant in the upcoming flu season, and this information is used to make the yearly flu vaccination. However, occasionally they make a mistake. After you’ve already contracted the flu, receiving a vaccination can shield you from other viral types.
Even if you may believe it’s too late or that you won’t become sick again in a single season, it’s still possible. Therefore, it makes sense to vaccinate yourself in order to protect yourself.
Maintain a positive attitude
We frequently overlook the profound impact our attitudes and emotions have on our physical well-being. Even while you might not be able to clear your stuffy nose or bring down your fever with optimistic thinking, keeping a cheerful outlook during your sickness could aid in your general recuperation.
Final Thoughts
The greatest thing you can do to get over the flu is to give yourself permission to sleep, relax, and hydrate well. If you are susceptible to severe consequences and detect your flu symptoms early, you may be able to shorten the length of your symptoms by taking an antiviral drug.
The majority of flu symptoms go away in one to two weeks. Speak with your physician if, after two weeks, your flu symptoms don’t go away or if they start to go better before quickly getting worse.
