Flu – What You Should Know

Each year, 17 million people miss work days because of the flu. By knowing the signs and causes, you can lower your chances of catching the flu.

Here’s how:

The symptoms of flu are quite like the common cold. So, you cannot tell right away if you have the flu. They both are different. Flu happens rather suddenly and listed below are the warnings signs that you might have the flu:

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Antiviral Drugs: Anti-viral drugs don’t cure the flu but help greatly in reducing the symptoms.

Body Aches:  It is common to experience body aches in the flu. It can be your head, legs or any other part of the body.

A bad Cough: Sometimes, the flu causes a bad cough that can go all night long.

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Decongestants: Decongestants help in easy breathing during the flu as it lessens the nasal passage swelling. Decongestants also assist in removing the mucus and sinus pressure hinder breathing and sleeping.

Echinacea: Echinacea is a very old herb that helps in fighting flue. Its flowers and leaves are more potent than its root which is used for making supplements.

Fever: Fever is one of the prominent signs to differentiate flu from the common cold. The body reacts with fever in an effort to fight off the flu virus.

Fatigue: It is common to feel tiredness when dealing with the common cold. Flu, on the other hand, makes you feel exhausted. Flu can use all of your energy that makes it really hard to move or get out of the bed. The body pains make it worse to be active during this condition.

A sore Throat: Usually, the flu is followed by a sore throat. But the extent of soreness varies from one person to another. Your throat might feel dry and bit scratched in the initial days and it is common for it to become swollen and sore over time.

Gastrointestinal Problems: Sometimes flu also brings along with it gastrointestinal problems. This can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or stomach pain.

An important thing to remember is that if you have recently received your flu shot, there is a possibility of you experiencing a light case of these symptoms. It common to feel like you have the flu after you get vaccinated. If the condition persists for days and worsens, see a doctor immediately.

Treatment:

You can easily treat flu at home while using over-the-counter medications and lots of rest. But, in case you are facing a severe case of flu, you might have to go to the doctor so, he can recommend better and stronger medications.

Zinc: Taking a zinc syrup or zinc lozenge helps your body’s ability to recover from flu. It is wise to eat such foods that are high in zinc such as beef, cashews, kidney beans, oysters and kidney beans. If these remedies don’t work then, you can go and visit the doctor to treat your flu quickly.

Pain Killers: Taking pain relievers are a huge help in making you feel comfortable. The common pain-relieving medications are Advil, Tylenol, and Motrin that give you relief from body aches, bring down fever and also help in getting rid of headaches or any sinus pressure.

Avoid antibiotics as mostly, they are not necessary. They don’t really help in reducing the duration.

Cost:

Treating your flu at home is the most cost-effective method. Salt, Echinacea, zinc, along with other over-the-counter decongestants and pain relief medications, are quite affordable. Majority of the flu cases can be cleared up without you burning a hole in your pocket. You can buy these for a few dollars at the local drugstore.

Avoid antibiotics as mostly they are not necessary. They don’t really help in reducing the duration of the flu.