Clean Both Hands
When you get a chilly or flu this season, you might have your dirty hands by way of thanking. Many infections are dispersed this way. You choose up bacteria in your fingers after which have them inside your mouth or eyes.The answer: Clean both hands with cleaning soap frequently and well. It is a key method to prevent a chilly or flu.
Get Your Flu Shot
You may think of the flu as a minor problem, but it can be severe, sidelining you for days. It can even be dangerous, especially for young children, older adults, and pregnant women. One little shot may save you and your family a lot of misery. It’s a myth that a flu shot can give you the flu.
Be Prepared for Cold Season
Before you battle cold and flu germs, make sure you have the supplies you need. Stock your medicine cabinet with any drugs you use, like pain relievers or decongestants. Don’t forget tissues, soap, and hand sanitizer. Make sure your thermometer battery still works. At the supermarket, load up on fluids, herbal tea, and simple comfort foods like chicken soup for when you’re sick.
Pay Attention to Symptoms
Cold or flu? There’s no surefire way to tell the symptoms apart. Even your doctor may not be sure.Usually, colds are milder. You might have a runny or stuffy nose.The flu is usually more severe and comes on suddenly — probably knocking you off your feet for a few days. Fever, body aches, and exhaustion are more common with the flu.
Get the Right Medications
There are lots of cold and flu remedies to choose from at the drugstore. Be smart about the ones you use.Many experts say you should avoid combination medications that package lots of drugs in one pill — like a decongestant, cough suppressant, and a painkiller. You could wind up getting a drug for symptoms you don’t have. Read labels and choose only the medications that will help.
Skip the Antibiotics
Colds and flu are caused by viruses, so antibiotics will not help. They work only with bacterial infections. What’s more, using antibiotics when you don’t need them increases the risk of breeding dangerous germs that are resistant to drugs.
If You’re Sick, Stay Home
It may not be easy to take a sick day. But if you have a cold or flu, you should. If you push yourself when you’re sick and work instead of rest, your body may have a harder time fighting off the virus. Your cold could last longer. You could also spread the virus to other people.So when you’re sick, stay home, rest, and recover. It’s better for you and everyone around you.
Use Throwaways to Curb Germs
When someone in your family is sick, switch to disposable products in your bathroom until they get better. Swap your cloth hand towel for paper and your bathroom cups for paper or plastic. It’s a simple way to stop the spread of germs among family members.
Looking for natural ways to beat back your flu or cold symptoms? Try a spoonful of honey. One study found that it worked as well at soothing coughs as drugstore cough syrup. Don’t give honey to kids under age 1 – it’s not safe for them.Other herbs have shown some promise as a treatment for cold symptoms, such as andrographis and echinacea. But the evidence isn’t clear. Check with your doctor before taking a supplement.
Drink Extra Fluids
Drinking extra fluids when you’re sick will help thin mucus, letting your sinuses drain better. Water, broth, and sports drinks are good choices. Alcohol isn’t. Hot drinks — like herbal tea — will also warm your airways, helping relieve congestion.If your sick kids aren’t drinking enough, offer them Popsicles. Or let them drink fluids with a spoon or a straw. Try different ways to coax them.
Ask About Antivirals
No drugs can cure the flu, but some may help you get better faster. Prescription antiviral drugs — Relenza and Tamiflu — can blunt the symptoms and help you recover. The catch: You need to start taking them within 48 hours of your first symptoms.Talk to your doctor to find out more. Antivirals may be right for you if you’re at high risk of having complications from flu.