Have symptoms of flu with cough and cold? Here’s what you should do

Having a cold, cough or flu can be bad enough, but when the three strike together it can create havoc in your life. Not only does it disturb your daily routine, but their symptoms can also be quite tr

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: July 28, 2015 9:32 am

Having a cold, cough or flu can be bad enough, but when the three strike together it can create havoc in your life. Not only does it disturb your daily routine, but their symptoms can also be quite troublesome, leaving you weak, tired and often irritated. While most of us resort to common home remedies to deal with the situation, the triad requires a slightly different approach.

Wondering what you should do to recover as quickly as possible? Our expert Dr M J Jayakanth, MD Internal Medicine, ACMDC (diabetology), consultant at Apollo Clinic tells you exactly what you should and shouldn’t do.

Dos

Rest: Staying indoors and resting are both essential when you have a cold, cough and the flu as it allows your body to recover.

Hydrate yourself: Drinking a lot of fluids helps replace all the fluids you lose when you are sick, especially if you have fever and a cold. Proper hydration also helps relieve congestion and get rid of toxins from your body.

Eat regularly: When you are ill your body needs more energy. Apart from the fact that it has to maintain your body’s natural functions it also needs energy to fight off infections, especially if you have a fever (when it is working to bring down your body temperature). Therefore eating regular, nutritionally rich foods is essential when you have a cold, cough and flu.

Eat right: While suffering from flu, it’s best to avoid eating citrus fruits and bananas. Apart from that stay away from dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt, ice-cream etc. and processed foods like pastries, candies and junk food.

Visit your doctor: A stuffy nose coupled with general muscle ache are usual symptoms of a flu that can be taken care of at home. But if you feel short of breath, experience pain in the chest, your fever doesn’t get better and if your congestion and headache are constant, then it can be a sign of a more serious problem for which you should visit your doctor at the earliest.

Treat your cough right: There are two types of cough syrups available in the market. Opt for a cough syrup which contains any mucolytic agent along with anti tussive and anti allergic drug for wet cough and if you suffer from dry, hacking cough, syrups made especially for a dry cough may give you relief. Home remedies such as drinking warm tea with honey also can soothe the throat affected by dry cough. Make a paste containing one teaspoon of black pepper and one tablespoon of honey for relief from a wet cough.

Prevent the spread of the infection: When sick, remember to take precautions so that the infection does not spread to your family, especially if you have kids, aged people or women who are pregnant in your house. You can do this by sanitizing shared items, washing your hands regularly and covering nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze to keep spreading disease causing bacteria. Apart from that make sure that the hand towels you use are regularly replaced. However, the best way to keep the flu away is to get the flu vaccine before the season starts.

Care for yourself at home: Since a flu, cold and cough are caused largely due to a viral infection most of the treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms of the ailments there are a few home remedies you can use to help relieve the congestion, body ache and itchy throat. Here are a few of them.

A bowl of hot soup is great to relieve nasal congestion, just make sure it is a light soup with not too many additives.
Warm salt water gargles help to soothe a sore throat and bring down a fever.
If you have fever placing a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead helps too.
Steam inhalation or having a steamy shower also helps reduce congestion and eases body pain.
Blow your nose frequently, to help get rid of mucous in your nose and ease breathing. Remember that blowing your nose too hard or too often can cause damage to the tiny capillaries at the back of your throat and nose, so be gentle. Use a disposable tissue to blow your nose so that you don’t spread the infection.
Drinking warm water infused with herbs such as tulsi, ginger, pepper etc. also prove effective in reducing cough and cold. What’s more having tulsi kadha is great to relieve a sore throat, cough and nasal congestion.
If you are extremely uncomfortable initially medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help to bring the fever down. But make sure you visit your doctor as soon as you can.

Prevent its recurrence: Once you have recovered from the cold, cough and flu it is essential that you prevent its recurrence. A good way to do that is to stay well hydrated (drink at least eight glasses of water and other liquids per day) and try to avoid contact with people who are sick and suffer from flu. Apart from that, you should also avoid drinking aerated drinks and energy drinks as they tend to dehydrate you, use a vaporizer by your bedside at night to help keep your nasal passages moisturized.

Some don’ts you should keep in mind

Don’t go back to work unless you are fit:The recovery period from a flu is about seven to 21 days, but if you feel that the cough, sore throat and congestion has vanished, then it is a sign of recovery. Ideally it is best to wait for at least 24 hours after your fever, aches and pains are gone before resuming work, since it takes a while for the body to reboot after you’ve had the flu.

Do not self medicate: No matter how inconsequential you think a cold, cough or flu is, it is important to remember that self medication without a doctor’s prescription, even for a minor ailment, could have serious repercussions. Having drugs without a prescription, especially antibiotics can cause allergies, addiction and habituation. It is always advisable to consult the doctor.

Don’t double up on medications: In an effort to get better quickly, doubling up on medications is a common practice amongst many of us. But this can have severe consequences. So avoid it and wait for the drug to start working. IF you find no relief, visit your doctor for a more in-depth diagnosis.

Don’t ignore hygiene: Sneezing into your hands and not washing them before you touch an object or someone, stepping out when you are sick, coughing without covering your mouth, using handkerchiefs and not disposable tissue are all hygiene measures you should not ignore. This will not only help you recover faster, but it will also prevent the infection from spreading.

Don’t ignore worsening symptoms: While you might think that the symptoms you are experiencing are normal, do not ignore them if they worsen. They could indicate a bigger problem that will need a doctor’s attention at the earliest.

This article is sponsored by Benadryl^®

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Published: July 27, 2015 4:14 pm | Updated:July 28, 2015 9:32 am

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