How to Fight a Flu

By eHow Health Editor

Rate: (12 Ratings)

Influenza, also known as the flu, can incubate in your body for up to three days. When it hits, be prepared with these simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Dehumidifiers
  • Chicken Broths
  • Crackers
  • Honey
  • Teas
  • Vegetable Broths
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirins
  • Ibuprofen

Step1
See your doctor: There are effective prescription drugs that can treat a flu if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Step2
Sleep as much as you need to; let your body be your guide.
Step3
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water'at least eight glasses a day. If you don't feel like having plain water, add freshly squeezed lemon juice to water or drink diluted fruit juice.
Step4
If you are having nausea and/or vomiting, avoid solid foods until the vomiting stops and you are able to hold down clear fluids.
Step5
Start off with chicken or vegetable broth and dry crackers once you feel like eating. These are both easy to digest.
Step6
Drink tea or herbal tea with honey. It is very soothing to a sore throat.
Step7
Take ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen for fever, aches and pains if you are an adult. Give children acetaminophen or ibuprofen, not aspirin.
Step8
Use a humidifier or vaporizer if the air is dry. It will help break up mucus.
Step9
Choose an appropriate over-the-counter cough syrup based on your symptoms. Keep in mind that multiple-ingredient medications may contain ingredients that counteract each other.

Tips & Warnings

  • The flu is caused by a virus and cannot be cured with antibiotics. But if you are still sick three to five days after its onset, or if you become very sick very quickly, see a doctor. It's possible to have a bacterial infection along with a viral one, or to have an extremely virulent case of the flu.
  • This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments

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Altari said

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on 5/20/2008 Drink flat coke for nausea. Ever since I was little, my grandmother would flatten a can of coke (pour it from one glass to another about 10 times) and give it me over ice. "Little sips" of this really decrease nausea and stomach pain.

PSU1988 said

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on 3/19/2008 The Best homepathic treatment that I know with almost 98-percent certity is a "Cold Gel Pack" (Stored in Freezer). At night your fever is always at it's worst! So, this is the best time to employ the Cold-Gel-Pk.. Hint: Its most effective use is between 15 to 20mins. Guaranteed to break your Fever!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Drink a lot of hot tea and squeeze half a lemon or lime into it. Three times a day is a good amount.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 3/30/2006 Listen to relaxing music. What helps me most is listening to nature sounds. It makes me concentrate on something other than how my body feels. It also is helpful when you are trying to fall asleep. The sound makes you relax.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 1/4/2006 Drink lots of hot water and let it flow in your throat to kill those viruses. Do this more frequently and you'll find it helpful.

Our body needs energy to fight the virus (with our immune system) too. So, avoid hard work, get lots of rest, drink Gatorade or anything that gives your body energy. Supply your body with vitamin C, too.

When sleeping, try wearing a beanie. Since most of our body heat escape from our heads, this prevents heat from getting off your body, and will help prevent your body from losing more energy. The extra energy can then be used to fight viruses.

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eHow Article:  How to Fight a Flu

eHow Health Editor

eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

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