INTRODUCTION TO COLD AND FLU;
Flu Also called: also known as influenza
The flu attacks the lungs, nose and throat. Young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic disease or weak immune systems are at high risk.
HOW IT SPREADS
- By airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes).
- By touching a contaminated surface (blanket or doorknob).
- By saliva (kissing or shared drinks).
- By skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs).
Usually self-diagnosable
Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue.
People may experience:
Pain areas: in the muscles
Cough: can be dry or with phlegm
Whole body: chills, dehydration, fatigue, fever, flushing, loss of appetite, body ache, or sweating
Nasal: congestion, runny nose, or sneezing
Also common: chest pressure, head congestion, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes
The flu typically causes respiratory — nose, throat, and lung — symptoms. Top flu symptoms are:
fever,chills,headache,body ache, runny or stuffy nose,sore throat dry cough. tiredness and fatigue
On the other hand the stomach flu is a flu virus that causes digestive symptoms. You might have:
chills
fever
nausea
vomiting
stomach cramps
diarrhea
Flu complications
The flu can sometimes lead to health complications. It can trigger other viral and bacterial infections in the lungs, throat, ears, and other areas.
These include;
pneumonia
bronchitis
sinusitis
ear infection
encephalitis (brain infection)
People who are at higher risk of complications from the flu include:
If you have the flu, talk with a doctor if you also have a chronic health condition. These include:
asthma
heart disease
lung conditions
diabetes
kidney disease
liver disease
stroke
epilepsy
sickle cell anemia
Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications that help reduce symptoms and the length of the flu. These drugs work best when taken within two days of getting the flu.
Treat your cold at home
Being sick, even when you’re home in bed, isn’t fun. The combination of body aches, fever, chills, and nasal congestion can be enough to make anyone miserable.
There are plenty of home remedies that can alleviate your symptoms and get you back to normal. If you still feel sick after a few weeks, make an appointment with your doctor. If you have trouble breathing, have a rapid heartbeat, feel faint, or experience other severe symptoms, get medical help sooner.
Keep reading to see what cold and flu remedies you can conjure up at home.
Ginger
pneumonia
bronchitis
sinusitis
ear infection
encephalitis (brain infection)
People who are at higher risk of complications from the flu include:
- children younger than 5 years
- adults 65 years or older
- people with other health conditions
- Flu and other health conditions
If you have the flu, talk with a doctor if you also have a chronic health condition. These include:
asthma
heart disease
lung conditions
diabetes
kidney disease
liver disease
stroke
epilepsy
sickle cell anemia
Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications that help reduce symptoms and the length of the flu. These drugs work best when taken within two days of getting the flu.
Treatment consists of fluids and activity modifications
The flu is treated primarily with rest and fluid to let the body fight the infection on its own. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers may help with symptoms. An annual vaccine can help prevent the flu and limit its complications.
Treatment;
Fluid Replacememt ,
To stay hydrated, drink at least 64 ounces of liquid each day - it doesn't all have to be water. Fluids help to thin out the thick mucus that builds up with the flu. Hot drinks may work better than cold. Avoid coffee, tea with caffeine, or alcohol.
What to drink;
Drinking things like water, juice, or electrolyte-containing fluids will help you replace the fluids and electrolytes you've lost while also loosening mucus — if you have a cold — and helping to relieve congestion,” she says. But all beverages aren't created equally.
HOME MADE READY TREATMENTS;
Treat your cold at home
Being sick, even when you’re home in bed, isn’t fun. The combination of body aches, fever, chills, and nasal congestion can be enough to make anyone miserable.
There are plenty of home remedies that can alleviate your symptoms and get you back to normal. If you still feel sick after a few weeks, make an appointment with your doctor. If you have trouble breathing, have a rapid heartbeat, feel faint, or experience other severe symptoms, get medical help sooner.
Keep reading to see what cold and flu remedies you can conjure up at home.
Ginger
The health benefits of ginger root have been touted for centuries, but now we have scientific proof of its curative properties. A few slices of raw ginger root in boiling water may help soothe a cough or sore throat. Research suggests that it can also ward off the feelings of nausea that so often accompany influenza. For example, one studyTrusted Source found that just 1 gram of ginger can “alleviate clinical nausea of diverse causes.”
Chicken /pepper soup
We may be more conversant with pepper soup be it made with cat fish Chicken soup. This may not be a cure-all, but it’s a great choice when you’re sick. Research suggests that enjoying a bowl of peper soup with vegetables, prepared from scratch or warmed from a can, can slow the movement of neutrophils in your body. Neutrophils are a common type of white blood cell. They help protect your body from infection. When they’re moving slowly, they stay more concentrated in the areas of your body that require the most healing.
The study found that chicken soup was effective for reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory infections in particular. Low-sodium soup also carries great nutritional value and helps keep you hydrated. It’s a good choice, no matter how you’re feeling.
Honey
Honey has a variety of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Drinking honey in tea with lemon can ease sore throat pain. Research suggests that honey is an effective cough suppressant, too. In one study, researchers found that giving children 10 grams of honey at bedtime reduced the severity of their cough symptoms. The children reportedly slept more soundly, which also helps reduce cold symptoms.
You should never give honey to a child younger than 1 year old, as it often contains botulinum spores. While they’re usually harmless to older children and adults, infants’ immune systems aren’t able to fight them off.
Garlic
Garlic contains the compound allicin, which may have antimicrobial properties. Adding a garlic supplement to your diet might reduce the severity of cold symptoms. According to some research, it might even help you avoid getting sick in the first place.
More research needs to be done on the potential cold-fighting benefits of garlic. In the meantime, adding more garlic to your diet probably won’t hurt.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays an important role in your body and has many health benefits. Along with limes, oranges, grapefruits, leafy greens, and other fruits and vegetables, lemons are a good source of vitamin C. Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may reduce phlegm when you’re sick. Drinking hot or cold lemonade may also help.
While these drinks may not clear up your cold entirely, they can help you get the vitamin C that your immune system needs. Getting enough vitamin C can relieveTrusted Source upper respiratory tract infections and other illnesses.
Up your zinc intake
The mineral zinc is important for your immune system. This nutrient helps your body make germ-fighting white blood cells. Research shows that zinc might help ease cold and flu symptoms. Zinc helps your body fight the flu virus and may slow down how fast it multiplies.
You can take a zinc supplement or a multivitamin with zinc during flu season. You can normally get plenty of zinc from a balanced daily diet. Foods that are high in zinc include:
red meat
shellfish
lentils
chickpeas
beans
nuts
seeds
dairy
Probiotics
Probiotics are living microorganisms that boost health when consumed in adequate amounts. There are many different types, and you can obtain them from foods or supplements.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when ingested, provide numerous health benefits (3Trusted Source).
They’re usually bacteria, but certain types of yeasts can also function as probiotics.
You can get probiotics from supplements, as well as from foods prepared by bacterial fermentation.
Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria and yeast that are found in your body, some foods, and supplements. They can help keep your gut and immune system healthy, and research indicatesTrusted Source that probiotics may reduce your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection.
For a delicious and nutritious source of helpful bacteria, include probiotic yogurt in your diet. Besides its potential benefits for your immune system, yogurt is a healthy snack that provides plenty of protein and calcium. Look for products that list live bacteria on the label.
"Your gut flora consists of hundreds of different types of microorganisms. Probiotics help your gut flora perform optimally."
Other options
Salt water
Gargling with salt water may help prevent upper respiratory infections. It may also decrease the severity of cold symptoms. For example, it may ease sore throat pain and nasal congestion.
Gargling with salt water reduces and loosens mucus, which contains bacteria and allergens. To try this remedy at home, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water. Swish it around your mouth and throat. Then spit it out.
Rinse with salt water
A warm water and salt rinse (sometimes called a salt water gargle) can soothe a sore throat. It can also help to clear mucous. Here’s how to rinse with salt water:
Boil or heat up water and let it cool until it’s warm or at room temperature. Mix 1/2 tsp salt to 8 ounces of warm water.
Pull the salt water to the back of your throat and gargle it for about 10 to 30 seconds so that it rinses your mouth and throat.
Spit the water into a sink and repeat 2 to 4 times.
Do not swallow the salt water. Do not allow children to gargle until they can safely gargle with plain water
Vapor rub
You might not like the smell, but some old-fashioned topical ointments, such as vapor rub, appear to reduce cold symptoms in children older than 2 years. Just one or two applications before bed can help open air passages to combat congestion, reduce coughing, and improve sleep. Vapor rub is gaining traction among some doctors who encourage parents to avoid giving over-the-counter cold medicines to young children because of unwanted side effects.
Humidity
Influenza thrives and spreads more easily in dry environments. Creating more humidity in your home may reduce your exposure to this flu-causing virus. Increased humidity may also reduce nasal inflammation, making it easier to breathe when you’re sick. Temporarily adding a cool mist humidifier to your bedroom may help you feel more comfortable. This is especially true in winter, when dry indoor heat can exacerbate your symptoms. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil might also stimulate your breathing.
Humidifier can be gotten online and you can start breathing with such easier.
Remember, the water used in humidifiers needs to be changed daily to stop mold and other fungi from growing. For the same effect without a humidifier, take a long shower or linger in a steamy bathroom.
Warm baths
Sometimes you can reduce a child’s fever by giving them a warm sponge bath. Warm baths can also reduce cold and flu symptoms in adults. Adding Epsom salt and baking soda to the water can reduce body aches. Adding a few drops of essential oil, such as tea tree, juniper, rosemary, thyme, orange, lavender, or eucalyptus, may also have a soothing effect.
Apply essential oils
Some types of essential oils may help protect you against certain viruses and bacteria. One study found that tea tree oil helps to fight the flu virus by slowing or stopping the rate that the virus multiplies. According to the study, tea tree oil works best when it’s used within two hours of infection. This shows that it may help to block the flu virus from multiplying.
In practice, you might add a few drops of tea tree oil to liquid hand soap when you wash your hands or mixed into lotion you use. Some commercially made mouthwashes include it as an ingredient.
Other plant and herbal essential oils may also work as natural antibiotics and antivirals. These include:
cinnamon oil
peppermint oil
eucalyptus oil
geranium oil
lemon oil
thyme oil
oregano oil
Use essential oils only as directed. Do not ingest essential oils, many are toxic. Most essential oils can be used on the skin after they’re mixed with oils like almond or olive oil. You can add fresh and dried herbs and spices to food to get similar benefits.
Diffusing essential oils into the air with a diffuser may also help against some kinds of viruses and bacteria. Be aware that aromatherapy has an influence on children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and pets
Drink water and fluids
Drinking water and other fluids is even more important when you have the flu. This is true whether you have a respiratory flu or a stomach flu.
Water helps to keep your nose, mouth, and throat moist. This helps your body get rid of built-up mucous and phlegm.
You can also get dehydrated if you aren’t eating or drinking normally. Diarrhea and fever (two common symptoms of a flu), can also cause water loss.
You can stay hydrated by consuming plenty of:
water
coconut water
sports drinks
herbal tea
fresh juice
soup
broth
Raw fruits and vegetables
You’ll know you’re drinking enough water and liquids if:
you have to urinate regularly
the color of your urine is almost clear or pale yellow
If your urine is a deep yellow to amber color, you may be dehydrated.
It’s also helpful to avoid smoking as much as possible since it can further irritate your nose, throat, and lungs.
Get plenty of rest
It’s important to rest and get more sleep when you have the flu. Sleeping can help boost your immune system. This helps your body fight off the flu virus. Cancel your usual routine and make sleep a priority to help get you back on your feet.
Eat a bland diet
If you have the stomach flu, eat small amounts of food at a time. Try hand-sized portions.
The stomach flu can give you nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. Bland foods are easier to digest and may help ease your stomach symptoms.
Compilation by;
Ayo-Ben-Niji
Citadel Project
Reference;
Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D. — Healthline
Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT-HealthlineÃ
Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D. — Healthline
Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT-HealthlineÃ
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