How to Cope With the Flu

"I opened the window and in flew Enza" was the cautionary pun used to warn folks during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, long before vaccines and antivirals. Today we know that influenza is a group of more than a hundred viruses that combine and recombine each year to cause misery (and, in some cases, death) to millions of people worldwide. Once you "catch" the flu, the virus multiplies until, within a day or two, symptoms of high fever, aches and fatigue, shakiness and the chills overwhelm you. You can't eat, you can't sleep and may suffer nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. Within a few days, however, these symptoms subside and you just feel really awful. A wracking cough and congestion may plague you for a week or longer. It may not be possible to cure the bug--but a few simple steps can help minimize its impact on your next flu season.

Things You'll Need

• A reliable health care provider
• A warm bed
• Chicken soup
• Fruit juice

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Instructions

• 1

  Get a flu shot. Influenza mutates each year. Every winter, health organizations guess at what next year's strain is going to be and start production on vaccines to minimize its impact. A flu shot may protect you or it may just lessen the severity of your case. However it helps, you win, especially if you're very young or very old or have a chronic respiratory condition like emphysema or asthma. Check with your doctor to see if you can take a flu shot or if an oral vaccine would be more appropriate.

• 2

  Play it smart. Once flu season starts, take sensible precautions. Clean dishes in hot soapy water after each use and wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth (you'd be surprised how often you do this in the course of a day). Since the virus really does "fly" through the air, wear a mask when caring for family members or in closed areas with lots of people. Cotton masks are now readily available in drug stores and have been used successfully in countries with crowded populations like China and Japan for years. Get enough rest so that your immune system is strong and eat regular meals (heavy on the fruits, legumes and other antioxidants).

• 3

  Fight it once you've caught it. Get plenty of bed rest to help your body fight the flu and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. High fevers dry you out. Drink water and fruit juices--caffeine and alcohol don't help hydrate. Good old chicken soup (a clear liquid) and beef broth can taste good after you feel like eating again. Eat after all of that misery because your body has just waged quite a battle against a really nasty virus. Concentrate on proteins and antioxidants.

• 4

  Enlist allies. See your doctor immediately. Some antiviral drugs can help relieve symptoms and shorten your recovery period, but you need to get to the doctor immediately because these prescription drugs work best when started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Over the counter analgesics like acetaminophen and aspirin, antihistamines and decongestants can help relieve symptoms but won't do much to shorten recovery. If you--or the kids--have one of those nasty stomach bugs (a two or three day siege often called the "24-hour flu" ) that invariably tear through school populations around the holidays, it's advisable to have an antidiarrheal tablet or liquid on hand, too.

• 5

  Take it easy. Once recovered, resume prevention. It's only generally true that you can't re-catch the flu once you've been through it. Get enough rest and eat right. Limit your exposure and keep your hands clean. Most healthy people recover easily from the flu but feel weak for a while. Take care of yourself and resolve to get a flu shot next year.