Essential Flu Care Tips to Help You Recover Quickly

With winter comes a few sure things: excitement for the holidays, crowded stores, and flu season. Every year Americans spend millions of dollars trying to prevent getting sick. From multivitamins to flu shots to over-the-counter flu deterrents, there are a large number of preventative measures the average person can turn to in an attempt to ward off the flu. Unfortunately, many people across the country come down with the flu every year, despite their caution. While the flu is nowhere near as deadly as it once was, it can still be debilitating, and even fatal in the young, the elderly, and those who have preexisting medical conditions. So what can you do after you've contracted the flu to ensure that you recover quickly? Here are a few flu care tips that anyone can follow at home to ensure they recover quickly and fully.

Rest and Fluids

It is an age old axiom for a reason: rest and fluids really work. Influenza is a viral infection which means that it can't be cured with antibiotics. Whereas bacterial infections can be cleared up with a round of medicine, getting rid of the flu isn't as easy. Essentially, you have to ride out the sickness until you return to full health. Resting as much as possible and consuming a healthy amount of fluids can speed up the healing process and give your body a chance to fight against the infection. Staying hydrated is of the utmost importance. Not only does it help you fight against the flu, it also ensures that you don't suffer dehydration. If you do get dehydrated, the effects can be very dangerous, sometimes even deadly. Plenty of rest coupled with an ample amount of fluids is one of the best ways to ensure a quick recovery.

Stay Inside

Any time that you are sick, your immune system is weakened. When your immune system is compromised, you run the risk of contracting any of the other sicknesses carried by the people that you interact with. When you have the flu, your immune system will be fighting off the sickness, leaving you open to other colds or illnesses. Don't put yourself in a position to contract something else on top of the flu. If you feel sick, stay home. This will allow you to get rest, fill up on fluids, and avoid contact with anyone who might be carrying sick causing germs.

Monitor Your Temperature

Running a temperature when you are sick is actually a good thing. It is a sign that your body is fighting off the infection. While a healthy temperature is a normal, good thing, you never want to let the fever get above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in an adult without seeking medical help. A fever below that level, accompanied by chills and aches, is par for the course when it comes to influenza. Anything above that 104 level, though, should at least be monitored by a trained medical professional to ensure that there isn't another underlying medical condition that may be causing problems. Be vigilant in monitoring your temperature to ensure that you are safe and on track to fully healing.

No one ever wants to get the flu. It is inconvenient, painful, and debilitating. If you follow a few simple tips, though, you can get through the downtime quicker and come out on the other side ready to get back to your normal life. Rest, drink lots of fluids so that you can stay hydrated, stay inside, and monitor your temperature to ensure that your flu care regiment is putting you on track to healing fully. 

Source : articlesbase.com