What to Do (and Not to Do) at the First Sign of the Flu

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A slight tickle in your throat, body aches, and a sudden fever could be some of the first signs that you’re coming down with the flu.

The influenza virus (or flu for short) affects up to 20 percent of the U.S. population each year. It’s crucial that you recognize the symptoms early so you can start taking care of yourself.

It’s especially critical for young children, older adults, pregnant women, or people with conditions that affect their respiratory or immune systems to seek medical attention quickly.

These tips will not only help you feel better faster, but also help prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus to other people in your community.

Recognizing the signs of the flu

It’s easy to mistake the flu for a minor cold at first. While the flu shares many of the symptoms of the common cold, symptoms of the flu are typically more severe and come on quicker.

Early signs of the flu include:

fatigue

sudden fever (usually above 100°F [38°C])

scratchy or sore throat

cough

chills

muscle or body aches

runny nose

Keep in mind that a fever is common in the early stages of the flu, but not everyone with the flu will have a fever.

What to do

If you notice that you’re experiencing signs of the flu, follow these tips:

Wash your hands frequentlyto prevent the spread of the virus. Aim for about 20 seconds of scrubbingwith soap and water before rinsing.

Cover coughs and sneezes with your arminstead of your hands, or direct them into a disposable tissue. The flu ishighly contagious and easily spreads through the air if you cough orsneeze.

Eat healthy to boost your immunesystem. Though you might lose your appetite when you’re sick, eating smallmeals rich in fruits and vegetables will help give your body the strengthit needs to fight off the virus.

Drink lots of fluids, especially water, tea,and low-sugar electrolyte drinks. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Purchase the essentials, such as tissues,over-the-counter pain relievers, decongestants, cough suppressants, yourfavorite tea, and fresh fruits and vegetables to snack on while you’re athome. If you’re already feeling ill, though, it might be a good idea toask a friend or loved one to do your shopping for you.

Alert your workplace. It can be hard to takeoff from work, but your boss will appreciate it if you stay home to avoidgetting your co-workers sick.

Stay home and rest. Ultimately, the best treatment for the flu is to get enough rest.

Be diligent about hygiene. Wash your hands frequently. You can keep antibacterial wipes on hand to combat the spread of germs.

What not to do

At the first signs of the flu, avoid doing any of the following:

Don’t go to work or school. You’recontagious a day or two before your symptoms begin and remain contagiousfor up to five to seven days after you started feeling sick.

Don’t shake people’s hands or hug them. Youdon’t want to play a role in spreading the virus, so avoid making physicalcontact with others or sharing food and drinks.

Don’t push yourself. The flu is a progressiveillness, meaning your symptoms will worsen before they get better.Depriving your body of rest in the first couple days after symptoms startcan end up lengthening the time it takes for you to recover.

Avoid processed foods and sugar,as these foods won’t give you many nutrients.

Try not to skip meals. It’s fine to eat a littleless when you have the flu, but your body still needs nutrition and energyto fight off the virus. Soup, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, andbroth are all great options.

Don’t venture into crowded places sincethe flu is highly contagious.

Be cautious with unproven herbal remedies. Ifyou want to try an herbal remedy, be careful. Herbs and supplements aren’tscrutinized by the FDA for quality, packaging, and safety. Make sure tobuy them from a reputable source or ask your doctor for a recommendation.

Don’t smoke. The flu is a respiratoryillness, and smoking will irritate your lungs and make your symptoms worse.

When to see a doctor

You might think it’s safe to just stay home and rest if you’ve come down with the flu. But it’s a good idea to see a doctor if you fall into any of the categories below.

You’re considered high risk

Some people are at a higher risk of experiencing dangerous flu-related complications, like pneumonia or bronchitis. According to guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), high-risk individuals include:

people ages 65 years and older

children 18 years of age and younger who are taking aspirin-based or salicylate-based medications

children younger than 5 years of age, especially those under 2

people who live with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)

people with a compromised immune system

women who are pregnant or up to two weeks postpartum

residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

Native Americans (American Indians and Alaska Natives)

If you fit into one of these categories, you should see a doctor at the earliest signs of the flu. A doctor may decide to prescribe an antiviral medication. These medications work best when they’re taken within the first 48 hours after symptoms start.

You’re experiencing severe symptoms

For adults, signs of an emergency include:

difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

chest pain

confusion

severe or persistent vomiting

sudden dizziness

For infants and children, emergency flu symptoms include:

trouble breathing

blueish skin

irritability

fever that accompanies a rash

inability to eat or drink

no tears when crying

Flu-like symptoms get better, but then get worse

Most people recover from the flu within one to two weeks. Others will start to get better and then find that their condition rapidly deteriorates and their fever spikes again.

If this happens, it could mean that you have a flu complication like pneumonia, an ear infection, or bronchitis. You should see a doctor right away.

The bottom line

While you may be able to carry on working or going to the gym with a cold, the flu may make you feel too ill to follow your usual routine. It can be difficult to miss work or school, but if you’re starting to notice early signs of the flu, do yourself and everyone else a favor and stay home, especially if you have a fever. If you go out while sick, you could be putting other people at great risk for serious illness and you’ll only be making your recovery more difficult.

Posted : 2024-08-29 10:50

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