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Tips on a Quick Recovery From the Flu

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. If you are suffering from the flu, you have plenty of company--according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu each year. Although the flu can have serious--even fatal--complications, the majority of the time it does nothing worse than make people feel miserable for three to five days. If you have flu symptoms, you should see your doctor; the two of you can devise a plan to speed recovery and alleviate symptoms.

  1. Flu Symptoms

    • Common symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, chills and a dry cough. Occasionally nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are present, too. The feeling of fatigue can linger for up to a week after other symptoms have passed.

    Treatment

    • When your doctor diagnoses you with the flu, he may prescribe an antiviral drug. These medications can significantly speed your recovery, because they stop the virus from reproducing. They only work, however, if taken within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, so time is of the essence. Taking echinacea drops or capsules at the onset of symptoms may also speed recovery. You can treat many of your uncomfortable symptoms with over-the-counter medicines. According to Web MD, you may take decongestants for congestion, antihistamines for sneezing and nasal discharge, and aspirin or ibuprofen for muscle aches and fever. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs won't interact with prescription drugs or with each other, or won't worsen existing medical conditions.To fight dehydration, you should drink as many fluids as you can, but avoid coffee, soda and particularly alcohol, even in the form of the time-honored hot toddy. As tempting as these beverages seem, they are not therapeutic and can dehydrate you further. Tea with honey and lemon, chicken broth and warm juices or lemonade are all much better choices. To soothe a sore throat, gargle twice a day with a half-teaspoon of table salt in a glass of warm water and suck on medicated lozenges.To alleviate muscle pain, soak in a warm bath. Above all, take it easy. Stay in bed and try to sleep as much as you can. In fact, Web MD recommends staying at home for a full 24 hours after your fever subsides.

    Precautions

    • Call your doctor if you develop chest pain, a stiff neck, prolonged high fever or symptoms lasting longer than a week.
      Read all labels on medications, and follow directions carefully. You should also check all ingredients of over-the-counter preparations to guard against "doubling up" on medicines. If you use medicated throat lozenges for throat pain, stop their use after several days; they can mask signs of bacterial infections such as strep throat.

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