Very Effective Tips for Winter Flu
What is Flu?
It is a
contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. The Flu is similar to
cold but the symptoms are more severe and it can develop into a more serious
condition such as Pneumonia.
How do you catch flu?
Flu is
passed from person to person by droplets created when someone with the infection sneezes or
coughs. You can also catch it by touching a surface where the virus has been
deposited.
Symptoms :
High
fever/chills
Runny or
stuffy nose
Sneezing
Cough
Sore throat
Body ache
Tiredness
Some people
may have vomiting and diarrhoea.
Generally
symptoms are at their worst after one to two days of
catching infection. They gradually ease over several days. An
irritating cough may persist for a week . Most people recover completely within
2-7 days.
The seasonal
flu is caused by a viral infection. Thus antibiotics are not effective in
treating it. Your immune system will usually clear the viruses that cause flu.It
happens slowly and automatically . Treatment aims to ease symptoms until the
infection goes .
You can follow home remedies to relieve the symptoms and give your immune
system a boost to help it fight off the infection.
Very important tips to follow in
Flu: –
Do Rest –
Bear in mind that some of the main symptoms are muscles or body aches, weakness
etc. So resting and sleeping until you
feel better are the only way of treatment. Stay home , if you are sick. And especially
if you have a fever.
Diet Tips :
Drink plenty
of fluids-
Like water , orange juice, electrolytes
etc to prevent lack of fluid in the body. High liquid intake is important as
the body uses water to carry waste products and toxins to your eliminating system. Stay away from caffeine. It is
diuretic. A sports drink like Gatorade can also be helpful . It not only
replaces the fluids lost due to
dehydration but lost minerals as well.
Eat light ,warm, simple foods such as soup. Avoid all cold and
junk foods. Preference should be given to home made food.
Chicken soup – It has anti-inflammatory
properties that help against cold and flu symptoms.
Honey - It will help to soothe your
throat. Take 1 spoon honey twice a day.
Lemonade – Hot lemonade has been used as a
flu remedy since Roman times. Take it with honey 3-4 times in a day. It has
antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties.
Turmeric milk – It is a popular and effective way
to fight a cough.
Vitamin C – Vitamin C helps fight infection. Strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli
are rich in vitamin C.
Peppermint – It is a valuable expectorant. Chew
some leaves of mint daily.
Garlic – Eat garlic ( Chopped or whole ) with warm water. Two to three pieces in a day is sufficient.
Green tea- It has anti inflammatory property.
So drink it 1-2 times in a day.
Mushroom – It increases the production of
antiviral protein that can destroy or deactivate the foreign invaders that make
you sick. You can take it in the form of soup.
Ginger tea – Make a tea with ginger and add
lemon and honey.
Ginger basil extract – Have ginger basil extract with
honey two times a day.
Cough drops – Cough drops or throat lozenges are
very effective in sore throat.
Some other important points you should follow in flu :
In case of high fever – Place slightly cold ,damp washed cloth on the forehead of patient.
Gargles – Do gargles with salty lukewarm
water two times a day.
Steam inhalation – Get rid of cough by steam
inhalation. Breathing moist air helps ease nasal congestion.
Nasal spray – Use nasal spray like naso-lclear etc for decongestion of nose.
Wash your
hands regularly.
Avoid close
contact with sick people.
Cover your mouth
while coughing to protect others.
Avoid
air travel
– Cabin pressure from a flight can cause discomfort to the ears if
you have a cold or flu. So try to avoid flying until you are better. If you
have to fly try to deal with congestion before take off and landing. Chewing
and swallowing can help relieve the pressure.
According to Ayurveda – Hot water is easier for the body
to absorb than cold water. By this hydrate your mucous membrane. It will pacify
the dry, cold vata- dosha with its hot hydrating properties. Drink hot water
every hour.
In Ayurveda
Chyawanprash is also a good remedy for cold and cough.
Going by the
Ayurvedic sage Vaghbhata ,who wrote there is nothing in the world which
is not a medicine. You can make effective home remedies using common kitchen
ingredients.
Point to consider : If home remedies are not working,
sometimes cold and flu can lead to complications that may need medical
attention like sinusitis. Although antibiotics do not help with cold or flu,
they can work for bacterial infections that are possible complications of cold
and flu.
When to contact a Doctor
-
a)
When high fever does not respond to
fever reducing medicine.
b)
Severe vomiting or diarrhoea.
c)
Severe dehydration , not able to take
fluids.
d)
Bloody sputum.
e)
In case of a pregnant lady, heart,
kidney or cancer patient.
Dr.Suman Setia BAMS DNHE PGDHHM
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