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Yesterday,
you felt fantastic. Today, you feel 100 years old and counting. Your head
aches, your skin feels sore to the touch and you're chilled to the bone
even though your forehead is on fire. Welcome to the wonderful world of
the flu virus.
People use the term 'flu' to describe any viral upper respiratory tract infection. But strictly speaking, invluenza is a ver distinctive viral agent. While there are two major strains of the flu virus - influenza A and influenza B - each srain changes slightly from year to year, so being infexted one year doesn't guarantee protection against the flu the following year. Regardless of the strain, the symptoms are generally the same. They include a high fever, sore throat, dry cough, severe muscle aches and pains, fatigue and loss of appetite. Some peple even ezperience pain and stiffness in the joints. Usually, the aches , pains, and fecer last only three to five days. The fatigue and cough, however, can hang on for several weeks. There are flu vaccines readily available to the public but it is only about 80 percent effective when received before the flu season. So, if you really can't afford to get sick, a flu shot may not be a bad idea. On the other hand, if you don't manage to outrun this relentless bug, you can do a few things to ease some of the discomforts and give your body a chance to fight back. Get plenty of rest. This is especially important due to the high Drink, drink, drink. This doesn't mean alcoholic beverages, of course. But drinking plenty of any other nonalcoholic, decaffeinated liquid (caffeine acts as a diuretic, which actually increases fluid loss) will help to keep you hydrated and will also keep any mucous secretions you have more liquid. Clear broth that is salty and warm tends to agree with people when they have the flu and are experiencing a general loss of appetite. Juices are also good for keeping some nutrients coming in when you're not eating much else. Suppress a dry cough. For a dry, hacking cough that's keeping you from getting the rest you need, you can reach for oner-the-counter relief. Cough remedies containing dextromethorphan are best for a dry cough. Encourage a "productive" cough. A cough that brings up mucus, on the other hand, is considered productive and should not be suppressed with cough medicines. Drinking fluids will help bring the mucus of a productive cough up and will ease the cough a little as well. Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen - if you must. One of the characteristic symptoms of influenza is a high fever that ranges anywhere from 102 to 106 degress Fahrenheit. Lowering the fever will help to prevent dehydration and will cut down on the severe, shaking chills associated with fever. On the other hand, since a fever may actually help your body fight the influenza bug, you may want to try to let the fever run its course if you can. However, doctors warn that people with gastrointestinal problems and /or ulcer disease should avoid taking aspirin and ibuprofen, because these medications have been shoen to fruther complicate these conditions. |
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What's Up Doc?
Signs that it's time to see your doctor include a high fever that lasts more than three days, a cough that persists or gets worse (especially if associated with severe chest pain or shortness of breath), or a general inability to recover. These things could signal a secondary bacterial infection that would need to be treated with prescription antibiotics. Individual with underlying lung or heart disease should consult their physician at the first sign of the flu. |
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