Ask The Doc | Fighting The Flu
How To Beat The Flu
When you wake up sneezing, coughing, and have that achy, feverish, can’t move a muscle feeling, how do you know whether you have cold symptoms or the flu?
It’s vital to understand the difference between flu and cold symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel sick for a couple of days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for more than a few days, even weeks. The flu can may result in serious health issues such as pneumonia and hospitalization.
The common cold, including chest cold and head cold, and seasonal flu are caused by viruses. Use over-the-counter cold medications to relieve symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, congestion, and cough. Flu symptoms are similar, but include fever, headache and muscle soreness.
Symptoms of the Flu…
- Fever lasting 3 to 4 days
- Headache
- Aches and pains
- Tiredness, exhaustion
- Coughing
- General sore throat and stuffy nose
Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, or mouth.
When to call the doctor…
- Persistent fever
- Painful swallowing – A mild sore throat is a common symptom of a cold or flu but an incredibly sore throat could mean that you have strep throat, a condition which has to be treated by a doctor.
- Persistent coughing
- Persistent headaches
- Persistent congestion
- Chest pain and difficulty breathing
- Vomiting
- Dizziness, confusion, lethargic
- Fever with rash or bluish skin
- Symptoms that originally went away but have come back and are far worse
It is very important to keep hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms!
Coping with the flu…
- Wash hands regularly
- Get a flu vaccination
- Stay and home and get tons of rest
- Increase your fluid intake – water, juice, soup and sports drinks
- Treat aches and pain so that you feel comfortable and able to rest.
- Take a bath, breath in the hot steam air – this helps if you are congested
- Suck on lozenges
Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria. The flu is a viral infection, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses.
Extra reading…
PLEASE NOTE (IMPORTANT)
The recommendations, symptoms and information provided does not apply to everyone. If you have any on-going or reccurring symptoms or illness contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Always check medication labels for side effects and contra-indications.
Always ask your Doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
Source: WebMD
Eat well, drink in moderation and sleep sound, in these three good health abound – Proverb