How To Treat The Flu

Flu is no fun at all with the generally lousy and congested feeling that comes with it. The viral infection attacks the respiratory system- your nose, sinuses, lungs, and throat. Severe cases come along with, pain around the eyes, fatigue, and achy joints and muscles.

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Flu has been a prominent cause of illness and hospitalization. It is a serious respiratory disease that can lead to potentially dangerous complications. Older people or chronically ill people are at a high risk of flu complications, so it is important to treat flu upon diagnosis. Pregnant women, obese people, and young children are also at a high risk of catching the flu.

To treat flu, you have to effectively recognize the symptoms to be able to know the right treatment you will be putting yourself through. The symptoms of flu include a severe cough, wheezing, sore throat, fever above 100°F, headaches and body aches, runny or stuffy nose, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and sweats. The following ways will help you treat flu.

Antiviral Medication

Antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir, NyQuil and DayQuil help to relieve common symptoms of flu like fever and body aches. These drugs are very helpful and can help you ease up on flu, and they can also prevent flu in someone who just got exposed to it. Take them for 5 days to shorten your illness and to prevent serious complications. Avoid aspirin for children.

Drink up

You should drink plenty of liquids. You don't have to get bored on water, choose juice and warm soups, sports drinks, and broth-based soups, they prevent dehydration. They help maintain hydration along your respiratory tract and turn the mucus up there into a thin liquid you can easily cough up and spit out. This also helps in preventing lung infections that can be caused by mucus clogs. However, avoid drinking alcohol when you catch the flu. It makes you sleepy in a way that doesn't help your flu.

Stay home and rest

You should take a break from work or school if you come down with the flu. It is important for you to stay home, avoid contact with others, and have a good sleep to help your immune system fight infection. Since flu is contagious, it is deemed considerate to call up your workplace to inform them you will be taking a sick break, take your time to nap and heal up.

Steam up

Steaming does magic in a flu condition. Fill up your bathroom sink with hot water, add menthol rub. Breathe in the steam for few minutes and see how it clears your head and your respiratory tracts including your airways.

Warm bath

Nothing soothes like a warm bath on one of those days when you catch the flu. A warm bath soothes your muscles and reduces headaches and body pains. Make sure the water is not too hot to avoid burns, soak yourself it up to your neck to clear your stuffy and runny nose.

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