When you feel unwell, the only thing you can think about is how to get better quickly. Strategize and provide medicine or food so you know what to do when illness strikes. You need nutritious food, a supply of fluids to hydrate the body, some medical or herbal remedies, and distraction activities to avoid boredom. Whether you're injured or sick, knowing how to take care of yourself can help you recover more quickly.
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Method 1 of 3: Treating Illness
Step 1. Keep yourself hydrated
When you are sick, you have to drink large amounts of fluids. Water is the best drink to stay hydrated, but you can also use hot tea and juices.
- Keeping the body hydrated will help loosen mucus in the sinuses.
- Hot drinks (such as tea) can help relieve sore throat and sinus problems, such as runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. You can add honey to help relieve a sore throat.
- A diluted sports drink (a mixture of one part sports drink and one part water) and electrolyte solutions can restore important minerals that may be lost when you sweat, vomit, or have diarrhea.
- Avoid alcohol, soda, and coffee.
Step 2. Use steam therapy
Steam can help relieve sore throats and nasal congestion. You can use cool mist from a humidifier, or hot steam from a warm shower. You can also prepare a bowl of hot water, then cup a towel over your head while inhaling the steam coming out of the bowl.
Step 3. Gargle with salt water
Rinsing your throat with salt water can help relieve a sore or itchy throat. To make an effective brine solution, mix half a teaspoon of salt with 8 cups of warm water. Gargle, rinse, and repeat as necessary.
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This method is not effective for children under 5 years of age. They usually don't know how to rinse properly.
Get Well Fast Step 3
Step 4. Run the water through the sinuses
The build-up of mucus due to colds and allergies can cause pain, and lead to infection. Blowing your nose may give you some temporary relief, but draining your sinuses can help remove dust, pollen, and delicate animal hair, and help reduce the chance of a sinus infection.
- Draining your sinuses can help relieve cold symptoms, so you can get rid of a stuffy or runny nose quickly.
- When draining the sinuses, use sterile or distilled water. Sterile solutions can be purchased at drugstores. If you can't find it, sterilize the water by boiling it for 5 minutes and letting it cool.
- There are many products available for draining the sinuses. Do not drain your sinuses if you have a severe nosebleed, fever, or headache. Talk to your doctor to see if sinus drainage can help with your health problem.
- If you don't like draining your sinuses, try using an over-the-counter saline spray (salt solution). This product is simply sprayed into the nostrils to relieve irritation and relieve nasal congestion.
Step 5. Take the medicine
You can use over-the-counter medications to help relieve cold or flu symptoms, and to get a good night's sleep. However, children under 6 years of age should not take over-the-counter cold or cough medicines, unless directed by a pediatrician.
- Antihistamines help reduce the body's response to allergens and can relieve runny and stuffy nose symptoms. Commonly used antihistamines include cetrizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra).
- Cough medicines can be obtained in the form of antitussives (suppresses the body's urge to cough) and expectorants (increases the production and secretion of mucus). The most commonly used antitussive is dextromethorphan (Robitussin Cough, Triaminic Cold and Cough), while the most commonly used expectorant is guaifenesin (Mucinex, Robitussin Chest Congestion).
- Decongestants can help reduce congestion and open up the nasal passages. These drugs are often combined with antihistamines, cough suppressants, or pain relievers, and can be found in drug brands such as Sudafed and Afrin.
- Pain relievers and fever relievers can help treat body aches, fever, and headaches. Commonly used pain relievers include aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. Remember, teenagers and children should not take aspirin because this drug is associated with a serious and deadly condition, namely Reye's syndrome.
Step 6. Take supplements
Research shows conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of vitamin supplements for treating colds and illnesses. Some experts suggest vitamin C and zinc to strengthen the immune system. However, several studies show that vitamin C must be consumed consistently (not just at the beginning of a disease attack) in order to strengthen the immune system effectively. The use of zinc supplements should be given special attention because taking more than 50 mg per day for a long time can cause health problems.
Step 7. Try using herbs
Several studies report that certain herbs can reduce symptoms of colds and illnesses, although the products have not been tested by regulatory agencies such as the FDA (US food and drug regulatory agency). In addition, some herbs can cause side effects, especially when taken with other drugs or supplements (known as drug-herbal interactions). Therefore, if you want to try herbal remedies, first consult with your doctor about what herbs you can try and what dosage. Some commonly used herbs include:
- Elderberry - Used to relieve nasal congestion and encourage the body to sweat.
- Eucalyptus - Helps relieve cold and cough symptoms. Usually sold in the form of cough syrup and lozenge (lozenges).
- Min (peppermint) - Relieves symptoms of nasal congestion and relieves stomach pain. Infants should not use min.
Step 8. Know the right time to go to the doctor
Most bouts of colds and viruses will last a few days, and generally do not require medical attention. However, there are some serious illnesses that require a doctor's diagnosis and treatment. Some of the diseases that usually require medical attention include:
- Bronchitis (inflammation of the windpipe) - Characterized by a severe cough and a lot of mucus (often yellow or green). These symptoms may also be accompanied by a persistent fever, chest pain, or difficulty breathing. X-rays can usually determine whether you have bronchitis or not.
- Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) - This condition is also characterized by a severe cough, mucus discharge, and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia usually occurs due to a bacterial infection that develops when the patient has the flu. As with bronchitis, you can have X-rays to diagnose pneumonia. Symptoms of pneumonia also include shortness of breath and chest pain.
Method 2 of 3: Recovering from an Injury
Step 1. Take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
These nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. NSAIDs can be obtained with a prescription or without a doctor's prescription. Be sure to tell your doctor that you are taking NSAIDs. NSAID use is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. Some types of NSAIDs commonly used include:
- Aspirin (should not be used by adolescents and children)
- Ibuprofen
- Celecoxib
- Diclofenac
- Naproxen
Step 2. Apply ice to the injury
Ice therapy is a common injury treatment because the cold can reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. You can wrap an ice cube in a clean towel, or use a frozen compress.
- Place the ice or ice pack (a container filled with cold gel) on for less than 20 minutes, then remove the ice for another 20 minutes before gluing it again.
- Repeat as needed throughout the day. Stop this therapy if the injured area becomes numb or painful when the ice is applied.
- Ice therapy is most effective if applied within 48 hours of the injury, but you can continue to do so as long as the swelling and inflammation have not gone away.
Step 3. Use heat therapy
Cold therapy is most effective in the first 2 days after injury because it can reduce swelling and inflammation. Once the swelling is reduced, experts suggest switching to heat therapy. Applying heat to the injured area will increase blood flow so that it can help heal the injury. Heat can also relax tense and sore muscles and joints.
- As with ice therapy, most experts recommend applying the therapy for 20 minutes, then removing it for 20 minutes before using it again.
- Take a warm shower or bath to help soak the injured area.
- Use heat wrap or a heating pad to treat the injury using "dry" heat. You can buy this kit at a drugstore or pharmacy.
- Do not sleep or lie down with a heating pad or heat wrap on. This action can cause serious burns if done for a long time. Remove the heating pad if you feel uncomfortable heat, and do not use heat therapy on children unsupervised.
- Avoid using medical therapy if you have an open wound or poor circulation.
Step 4. Use compression therapy
Compression can help reduce or limit swelling that may occur after an injury. This method can also provide support, if the injury occurs in a part of the body that requires range of motion. Commonly used compression therapies include elastic bandages and trainer tape (a type of splint for exercise).
Do not bandage / tie the compression too tight. This can be dangerous for you because it will interfere with blood flow
Step 5. Elevate the injured area
Elevating the injured area slightly higher can reduce swelling because blood flow to the area will be restricted. This lifting method can be used in conjunction with ice and compression therapy.
- Do not lift the injured area too high. Ideally, the injured area should be raised slightly higher than the position of the heart. If this is not possible, keep the injured body part parallel to the floor, not in a downwards position.
- Elevation is the final step in RICE therapy, which is recommended for treating most injuries. RICE stands for Rest (rest), Ice (applied ice), Compression (compression), and Elevation (elevation).
Method 3 of 3: Resting the Body to Get Well
Step 1. Allow the injury to heal on its own
When you have an injury, resting is one of the best things you can do. Try to avoid any activity where you have to use the injured body part or put a strain on it.
Rest durations may vary, but in general you should rest the injured area for at least a day or two before attempting to apply or add weight to the area
Step 2. Rest by lying on the bed (bed rest) to cure the disease
Resting in bed is one of the best ways to recover from a cold or flu. It helps restore the body at the molecular level as well as the system at large, and should be an important part of the recovery effort after an illness.
Step 3. Make sure you get enough sleep
Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night, but if you're recovering from an injury or illness, you may need more sleep. Age also affects the amount of sleep a person needs.
- Newborns less than 4 months old need 14-17 hours of sleep every night.
- Babies (4-11 months old) need 12-15 hours of sleep every night.
- Toddlers (1-2 years old) need 11-14 hours of sleep every night.
- Preschoolers (aged 3-5 years) need 10-13 hours of sleep every night.
- Children aged 6-13 years need 9-11 hours of sleep every night.
- Teenagers aged 14-17 years need 8-10 hours of sleep every night.
- Adults (aged 18-64 years) need 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
- The elderly (aged 65 years or older) need 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
Step 4. Get a good night's sleep
If you're sick, injured, or sore from exhaustion, you may need a better night's sleep. In addition to getting enough sleep at night, you must sleep quality. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help you get a good night's sleep.
- Don't go off schedule. Try to go to bed at the same time every night, and if you can't fall asleep after 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing until you fall asleep. Go to bed regularly on a schedule so you can sleep well every night.
- Do not consume caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Nicotine and caffeine are stimulants that take hours to completely wear off. And although alcohol can make you sleepy at first, it tends to disrupt sleep patterns throughout the night.
- Keep the room cool, quiet, and dark. Use thick or dark curtains so that light from outside the window does not enter the room. Try wearing earplugs or turning on white noise (a soothing low-volume "noise") so you can sleep despite the noise outside.
- Manage stress. Don't think about all the things to do in the morning. Just write it all down and let yourself get away from all the troubles that night. You can also practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga, taicis, and meditation, to help manage stress so you can relax before bed.
Warning
- Follow the instructions written on the medicine package, and follow the advice given by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Go to the doctor if the pain does not go away. There may be other health problems that make you often sick or feel tired.
