Video: How to Fight a Flu

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The best way to fight the flu is to see a doctor immediately because they can prescribe an anti-viral medication that can greatly decrease the time course of the flu. Fight the flu through a higher-calorie and higher-fluid intake with tips from a family practice physician in this free video on the flu and colds.

- How to Prevent a Flu
- How to Care for a Cold

Video Transcript

It's the flu season again. Hi, I'm Doctor Savage. I'm an osteopathic family practice physician in Tampa. You may wonder, "How do you fight the flu?" Before I get into that, let's talk about what happens when you contract the influenza virus which causes the flu. It actually has an incubation period, where you actually have no symptoms when the virus is multiplying in your system for about three days. After those three days, you start to get the symptoms of the common cold. Stuffy nose, congestion. However, the thing that largely sets apart having the flu from the common cold is, you will...you will experience severe muscle aches and also you will be much, much more fatigued. Once you start to get those symptoms, then it's important to see your doctor right away. The reason being is because there's actually an anti-viral medicine that, if taken within two days of the onset of your symptoms, can greatly decrease the time course of having the flu. That is most important. Other things to consider are, if you're having diarrhea, nausea, it's important to maintain a higher calorie intake and a higher fluid intake because of your increased metabolic needs while you're fighting this infection. Take sips of clear liquids, as tolerated, and increase your diet as tolerated. If the diarrhea persists for more than, say, two days, that also would need to be addressed. I'm Doctor Savage. I wish you the best of health.

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How to Fight a Flu

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