Cold and Flu
Cold and flu tend to be sicknesses that are prevalent during the winter months of the year. Often, they come hand in hand with a cold turning into the flu. A cold is usually classified by a runny nose, sore throat, and cough. The flu usually adds symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. If you "catch" a cold, the best remedy for getting rid of the cold is rest and lots of fluids. Orange juice or any juice with vitamin C is highly recommended. With a cold, one can usually still function with daily activities, mainly through taking over-the-counter medicines. Medication selection today for things such as a cold is often overwhelming. Yet, one can usually find a medicine that targets their specific symptoms. In this way, the cold will likely be gone within a few short days.
The flu, on the other hand, is an entirely different animal. The flu is an illness that generally puts the patient down for a few days to a few weeks. When one has the flu, a conglomeration of symptoms is evident, and bed rest is commonly necessary. The ability to heal completely from the flu is occasionally possible only with prescription medicine. As with the cold, the flu can be combated with over-the-counter medications, though stronger and more potent medicine is commonplace in treating the flu and eventually eliminating the illness from the body. Rest and hydration are key to the healing process with the cold and the flu. They are ultimately very important during this sickness so the body can be strong enough to fight off the germs.
Treatments For Cold And Flu
When flu season hits and you're feeling unwell, it can seem like you're doomed to spend the next month in bed. But there are things that you may do to feel better faster. Natural remedies are a perfect way to fight off cold and flu naturally. It's vital to keep your overall immune system strong all year round, especially when germs tend to flourish in cooler months. With natural remedies, you don't need any artificial chemicals or syrups with weird-sounding ingredients. These remedies will help relieve your symptoms, reduce the duration of your infection, and boost your immune system so that you don't fall sick again soon. Let us take a look at some natural remedies for cold and flu.
NIH's Dr. Teresa Hauguel, an infectious diseases expert on breathing, said, "If you know what you have, you won't take medications that you don't need, that aren't effective, or that might even make your symptoms worse." As a rule of thumb, the symptoms associated with the flu are more severe. Both illnesses can lead to a runny, stuffy nose, congestion; cough; and sore throat. But the flu can also cause a high fever that lasts for 3-4 days, along with a headache, fatigue, and general aches and pain. These symptoms are less common when you have a cold. Allergies are a little different because they aren't caused by a virus. Instead, it's your body's immune system reacting to a trigger, or allergen, to which you're allergic. Suppose you have allergies and breathe in things like pollen or pet dander. In that case, the immune cells in your nose and airways may overreact to these harmless substances. Your delicate respiratory tissues may swell, and your nose may become stuffed or runny.
Allergies can also cause itchy, watery eyes, which you don't normally have with a cold or flu. Read medicine labels carefully—the warnings, side effects, and dosages. If you have questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you have sick children. You don't want to overmedicate, and you don't want to risk taking a medication that may interact with another."
1. Eat Healthily
A healthy diet is the best way to give your body all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Eating well makes you less likely to get sick, recover faster from illness, and have more energy. A healthy diet is high in vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants that can help fight off infection. Magnesium, zinc, and iron are important minerals to include in your diet if you want to stay healthy. If you eat a healthy diet, you're less likely to get sick, and if you do get sick, you'll recover faster. A healthy diet can help you stay healthy all year round, especially during cold and flu season when your immune system is more vulnerable.
2. Ginger and Turmeric
These two ingredients are best known for their anti-inflammatory properties, which can soothe your symptoms. Ginger is great for nausea and diarrhea, which are common flu symptoms. It can also lower your body's temperature, which is great for fever. Turmeric is a superfood that is well known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It's a great way to boost your immune system so you don't get sick again. You can drink ginger and turmeric as tea or add them to your food. You can also get capsules containing these ingredients. Ginger and turmeric are great ingredients to add to your homemade cough syrup.
3. Drink Plenty of Water
You may have heard this one before. Still, it is important to hear. When you're sick, you lose more fluids through sweating and coughing. You need to replace these fluids to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will also help keep your immune system strong. Studies have shown that when people increase their water intake, they have increased T cells which will help fight off infection. You can add lemon or other fruit juices to add flavor and get more vitamins and minerals.
4. Get Plenty of Sleep
You need more sleep to recover when you're sick, and your immune system is fighting off the flu. You should try to get sufficient sleep every night. It will give you more energy to fight off the flu and eliminate your symptoms. Research shows that people have higher levels of immune cells and more antibodies when they sleep. Your body also produces more antibodies during sleep, which will help fight off infection. The best way to sleep when you're sick is to stay in bed and turn off the lights.
5. Breathe Fresh Air
You're more likely to stay indoors and breathe stale air when you're sick. But fresh air is great for boosting your immune system. Studies have shown that individuals who regularly breathe fresh air are less likely to be sick. If you're indoors, you're exposed to fewer germs, so people in clean environments have a lower risk of getting sick. Going outside for a block walk is a great way to boost your immune system. You can also open your windows and turn on a fan to get fresh indoor air.
6. Don't Forget Your Vitamins
Vitamins are critical for keeping your immune system strong. When you're sick, your immune system works harder, so you'll need more vitamins to keep it healthy. You can take supplements or increase the number of vitamins in your diet to stay healthy all year round. You can get most of the vitamins from a balanced diet. Still, two are particularly important during cold and flu season. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that assists in fighting off infection. Vitamin D is critical for regulating your immune system.
Conclusion
Getting sick is almost inevitable when colder weather hits, but you don't have to let it get the best of you. Following these tips can keep you from getting sick and heal from those inevitable colds much faster when you catch one. You'll be able to get back to your life, and your loved ones will appreciate you not passing your germs along to them.
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