Flu season is in full effect and will continue throughout the next several months. Preparing for the flu can be difficult, seeing as the fluctuations in the weather trick the immune system, leaving your body in limbo.
How to Prevent the Flu
Each year I recommend to my friends and family that they be proactive by getting the flu shot, while also encouraging them to ask their family members who they’re in frequent contact with. Now mind you, the flu shot isn’t a cure, however, it does provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine. Plus, if you do end up getting the flu, the vaccine can potentially lower your flu recovery time by up to one week! We are continuously coming in contact with germs, so remember to wash your hands every time you come in and go out of your house. I think the best time to get the flu shot can depend on a few things. If you’re a frequent traveler, work in a hospital or among children, or maybe you have children in school, you may want to learn more about getting the vaccine. October is a pretty safe month to get the shot as the weather is just starting to change. Typically, I get my flu shot every year around the same time in September to stay consistent.
Don’t Ignore These Flu Symptoms
If you start feeling the symptoms below, you may want to seek professional opinions to determine if you have the flu:- sudden headache
- fever
- chills
- muscle pain
- body aches
What is considered a fever and when to seek medical attention depends on a number of symptoms and age. Usually, a fever under 101 F in children is considered low grade and you can use home remedies to treat the flu at home. Infants over six months and adults normally respond well to Motrin or Tylenol and hydration. If you’re unable to keep anything down such as fluids or meds then seeking medical advice would be beneficial.
Stages of the Flu
The following is what typically occurs when a person has the flu.- The first 1-3 days you’ll feel the worst, with a sudden appearance of body aches and weakness, headache, fever, sore throat, and on some occasions a stuffy nose. Also, food probably won’t sound appetizing, and you’ll notice you’ve lost your appetite.
- During days 4-5, your fever should begin to decrease, but you’ll feel very tired.
- Finally, around days 8-10, you should start to feel back to normal.
Remember flu recovery time can vary, usually lasting 3-7 days, however, without proper hydration, the symptoms could linger longer. Everyone is different and every immune system fights differently when exposed to the flu virus. Unfortunately, there’s no way to cure the virus fast, but you can do the following to make sure it’s not extended.
At Home Flu Symptom Remedies
Here are some tips to help with the Flu or Flu-like symptoms at home:- Sleep, sleep, and more sleep
- Hydrate - water, tea, oral rehydration solution, like Hydralyte…On REPEAT
- Relax - your body doesn’t need any more stress
- Stay home and avoid working out
- Protein - which you consume through broths
- Use a vaporizer or humidifier to help with decongestion
- Choose healthy food options - fruit and veggies
- Over the counter medications can be helpful to relieve aches and pain, congestion, and continuous runny nose
- I recently started taking Elderberry whenever I feel the slightest hint of a cold