It is the middle of winter – the days are cold, it’s raining more often, and everyone is huddling inside – which means that flu season is upon us. 147,155 Australians have already dealt with the flu this year.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness which is caused by influenza viruses. While it may be difficult to tell the difference between the flu and a cold, the flu tends to have more serious symptoms – such as fevers and chills, body aches, fatigue, nausea and dizziness – these symptoms also come on more suddenly and intensely.
Another difference is that it often takes people longer to recover and get back to their old selves after the flu. During the flu and through recovery, there are a number of things we can do to support our body.
Here are 8 of our top tips to support recovery from the flu.
1. Rest
When you have the flu, you must rest and allow your body the time and space that it needs to recover and fight off the illness. Even though you might be tempted to get back to work sooner, restart your exercise program or tick some items off your to-do list, your best option is to stay home.
This also means that you don’t risk spreading the flu to anybody else, which is incredibly important because the flu can be very dangerous for the very young, elderly or disabled people.
Now is the time for some self-care – watch a movie or two, get plenty of sleep, or read a book if you feel up to it.
2. Take medications to manage symptoms
You might feel awful when you get the flu, but thankfully our pharmacies are packed to the rafters with medicine to help you to feel better and reduce your symptoms.
Over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, decongestants, cough medicine can all help to reduce pain, inflammation, fever, cough, congestion and other nasty symptoms.
If you aren’t sure what to take, you can speak with your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
3. Stay hydrated
The flu can cause nausea, vomiting and even diarrhoea. This can lead to dehydration, which can be serious if not addressed.
Some people need to go to the hospital for a saline drip to help them rehydrate. You should drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks to stay healthy and hydrated, which will also support your body in its recovery.
4. Increase water vapor in the air
Adding moisture to the air might sound like an odd strategy to fix flu symptoms, but it’s a surprisingly important one. Using a hot shower or humidifier to moisten the air can help to clear mucus and congestion. This makes breathing easier and can help to reduce coughing - especially at night.
5. Eat healthy food
We know that it’s tempting to eat junk food when you feel sick. It’s not uncommon to turn to sugary and fatty foods to soothe us.
If you’re feeling nauseous and headachy, it’s all too easy to live off chocolate and ice cream. But unfortunately, your body needs healthy food so that it can fight off the virus.
Even if you don’t feel hungry, try to eat small, regular and healthy meals with vegetables, protein, and complex carbs to give your body essential energy, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
6. Call your doctor
If you are worried about how your symptoms are progressing, don’t ignore them. Your doctor can review you either on the phone or in person and decide the next step if required. The flu can be serious, so you mustn’t ignore your symptoms if you feel you are becoming more unwell.
7. Manage fever
A fever is a temperature over *37.5 degrees and is a common symptom of the flu. It occurs because the body is fighting off the infection.
In some cases, a high fever can be dangerous, and a fever over 41 degrees means that you need to access medical help immediately.
Even when it is not dangerous, a fever feels very unpleasant and can cause chills, body aches and general discomfort. Wearing light clothing, staying in a cool environment, using cool sponges and medication can help to reduce a fever.
8. Try to sleep
Sleep is one of the most important things that your body can do to conserve energy and fight off infection. If you find it difficult to sleep with flu symptoms, you can make some accommodations to improve your comfort levels and make it easier to catch some much-needed sleep.
Taking medication such as cough medicine and decongestants so that they kick in when you go to bed, rather than wearing off just as you try to sleep may help. Before taking medication, seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
You can also add an extra pillow to your bed to make it easier to breathe with a congested nose.
If you sleep more than usual, that’s okay – switch off those morning alarms and sleep as much as you need to.
Next Steps
It’s important to remember that the flu can be dangerous, especially for vulnerable populations such as babies and toddlers, elderly people, and people with chronic health conditions.
If you or a loved one are experiencing concerning flu symptoms such as shortness of breath, contact 000 immediately.
If your flu symptoms aren’t severe but you would like to speak with one of our doctors, book a telehealth appointment with Peregian today.
Our knowledgeable and empathetic doctors will be able to support you in getting back on your feet.
*This varies depending on age, what you’ve been doing, the time of day and how the measurement is taken (e.g. armpit, ear, oral).
Disclaimer
All information is general in nature.
