Getting sick with the flu is no fun. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help your body heal as quickly as possible. Consult with your doctor for advice on the right treatment method, then treat flu symptoms at home by taking over-the-counter medicines. Apart from that, some home remedies can also be used to make the body feel more comfortable and recover faster.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Diagnosing the Flu
Step 1. Watch out for flu symptoms
Symptoms of the flu are similar to the common cold, namely runny nose, sore throat, and cough. However, the flu may also cause aches, fever, chest pain, and headaches.
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about taking Tamiflu
If symptoms have not lasted long, only for 1-2 days, Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, can help speed up the healing process, as well as prevent transmission from people around who are affected by the flu.
- Since the flu is a viral infection, you don't have to go to the doctor right away, as viral infections usually go away on their own without any treatment. However, if you want to get well soon, taking Tamiflu can speed up the healing process and reduce the severity of flu symptoms.
- Consult your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or frequent vomiting. Vomiting can cause dehydration.
Step 3. Ask the doctor to suggest the appropriate medication
Your doctor can suggest the best over-the-counter medications to treat your cold. In addition to doctors, pharmacists can also help.
Step 4. Consult a doctor if the flu gets worse
If you experience complications, such as chest pain or a fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius that doesn't go away, talk to your doctor.
- The flu should heal within 5-7 days. So, consult a doctor if flu symptoms persist.
- Complications of the flu include strep throat (strep throat due to a streptococcal bacterial infection), bronchitis, pneumonia, and various other infections. Consult your doctor if you suspect you have any of these complications.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Flu Symptoms
Step 1. Take a pain reliever, such as paracetamol
Pain relievers are effective at relieving pain from sore throat and sore muscles, helping to make the body feel better. This medicine can also relieve fever.
Do not take double doses. There are many cold and flu medicines that already contain paracetamol. So, do not take paracetamol separately, unless your cold medicine does not contain paracetamol. Read the drug packaging label, which must include the type and dosage of each substance contained in it
Step 2. Use a nasal spray
Nasal sprays are used to treat nasal congestion.
- Spray decongestants help relieve nasal congestion symptoms. This drug is safe to use at any time, even at night, because it only affects the nose. Follow the directions for consumption that are printed on the back of the bottle. The pill form of decongestants can make you feel restless and sleepless, while the spray form doesn't cause this effect because it works locally, ie only in the nose. However, this drug should not be used for more than 3 days because it can make the blockage worse.
- Physiological saline (saline) spray can be used with spray decongestants because it contains no medication, only sterile saline. Physiological saline solution helps break down mucus, moistens the nasal membranes, and removes some of the viruses and bacteria present in the nose.
Step 3. Take an antihistamine
Antihistamines are used to relieve symptoms such as runny nose or eyes. Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness.
Step 4. Consume cough syrup
Cough syrup is effective at relieving a variety of cold symptoms, helping to make you feel better.
- Cough suppressants are used to relieve dry coughs.
- Expectorant cough medicine is used to treat cough with phlegm. This cough medicine removes phlegm / mucus in the chest so that it helps clear blockages. Removing phlegm helps the body heal faster.
Step 5. Take a multi-symptom medication
Many over-the-counter medications can effectively treat multiple symptoms at once, simplifying treatment methods, for example Nyquil.
When taking a medication such as Nyquil, always find out what it contains before taking any other medication. For example, Nyquil Cold and Flu Nighttime Relief Liquid already contains a cough suppressant, pain reliever, and antihistamine. So, the three drugs do not need to be taken separately if you are already taking Nyquil
Method 3 of 3: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Get enough rest
The body needs rest to fight the flu virus. Rest provides time and energy that allows the body's immune system to work properly.
- For better sleep, support your upper half with a pillow so you can breathe more easily.
- Another way to make sleep more soundly is to calm yourself down, for example by drinking chamomile tea before bed.
- Nasal strips can also be used to relieve symptoms of nasal congestion at night for better sleep.
Step 2. Rest at home
Stress makes the flu worse. You will be able to rest more at home if you don't come to work/school. In addition, coworkers or school friends will not catch it if you rest at home.
The flu can be contagious from 24 hours before symptoms appear until 5-7 days after symptoms appear
Step 3. Use steam
Cut fresh ginger, put it in a bowl, then pour hot water. Bow your head over the bowl and place a towel over your head. Ginger can be replaced with Vicks VapoRub. Hot drinks and soups can also help, especially if the vapors are inhaled while drinking or eating. Inhaling the steam helps clear the congestion in the nose.
Step 4. Eat the chicken noodle soup
Chicken noodle soup can indeed help relieve colds and flu. Like a hot drink, the steam of a hot soup can clear congestion in the nose. In addition, chicken noodle soup also has other benefits. The content of the amino acid cysteine in chicken is similar to bronchitis medicine. That's probably why chicken noodle soup can help relieve flu symptoms.
Step 5. Take a hot shower
Taking a hot shower helps relieve nasal congestion and sore muscles. Take a few deep breaths to inhale the steam from the hot bath water to clear nasal congestion.
Step 6. Use a humidifier
A humidifier can moisten the respiratory tract, helping to relieve symptoms of nasal congestion at night.
Clean the humidifier twice a week. Change the humidifier water daily and use distilled water. If not cleaned properly, humidifiers tend to be breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi that can exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms
Step 7. Mix honey into the tea
Honey relieves throat irritation, thereby helping to reduce dry coughs.
Step 8. Gargle with salt water
This method helps relieve sore throat. Dissolve a little salt in the water. Gargle with the salt solution. Make sure the solution reaches the back of your throat, then spit it out.
Step 9. Drink fluids
Keeping the body hydrated helps the body break down thick mucus that clogs the nasal passages so you can breathe more easily.
Step 10. Wash your hands frequently
Washing hands not only reduces the chance of contracting the flu, but also prevents the transmission of other diseases during the recovery period.
Step 11. Take zinc or a zinc supplement that also contains ginseng
Zinc and ginseng are effective in strengthening the immune system. However, zinc should not be taken more than 50 mg per day because consuming too much zinc can cause a decrease in the immune system.
