How to Deal with Influenza

The influenza virus is an infection that takes several forms, but is primarily a seasonal disease. The seasonal flu can be a dangerous, particularly for the elderly and the very young. However, if you are in good health, a case of the seasonal flu will probably be more irritating than anything else. Flu symptoms can include fever, body aches, coughing, sneezing and congestion. It can often be differentiated from the common cold by the achy joints and headache that typically characterize it.

Things You'll Need

• Juice
• Chicken broth
• Water
• Cough medicine
• Tylenol or Advil

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Instructions

• 1

  Rest in bed. The number one mistake most people make when they begin to come down with the flu is that they continue to go to work or exert themselves. Not only are you putting other people at risk of catching influenza, you are not giving your body the time it needs to recover.

• 2

  Drink plenty of tea, water, juice and chicken broth. If you are finding that you are not hungry, make sure to consume chicken broth and other sources of electrolytes. Gatorade can be used to replenish your system in this situation.

• 3

  Wash your hands regularly. This will not only help you recover faster, but it will limit the risk of passing influenza on to the people you are in contact with.

• 4

  Treat your symptoms. If you are running a fever, take Tylenol or Advil to combat the problem. Steam can be used to open breathing passages if you are congested, while cough drops and over-the-counter cough medication can be used as well.

• 5

  Use a tissue to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. The more you can do to keep germs away from your body, the faster you will deal with influenza.

• 6

  Visit your doctor to get a prescription for an antiviral. If taken within the first two days of your flu, medications can reduce the duration and severity of influenza.