With kids back in school, cold and flu season is already in full swing in Northeast Ohio. The common cold and the flu are both respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. They can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, and fatigue.
There is no cure for the common cold or the flu, but there are things you can do to manage your symptoms and feel better faster. Here are some tips to help manage your cold and flu symptoms at home:
- Get plenty of rest. Your body needs time to heal, so it’s important to get plenty of rest when you’re sick. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated is important to help loosen mucus and prevent dehydration. Drink plenty of water, juice, clear broth, or tea.
- Use over-the-counter medications to help manage symptoms. Over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve fever and pain. Decongestants and cough suppressants like dextromethorphan or guaifenesin can also help relieve symptoms. If you have a chronic medical conditions like kidney disease, heart disease, or lung problems, always ask your doctor before taking over-the-counter medications to ensure they are safe for you.
- Soothe your throat. A saltwater gargle or lozenge can help soothe a sore throat. You can also try drinking warm liquids, such as tea with honey, which also can help with cough and chest congestion.
- Use a humidifier. A humidifier can add moisture to the air, which can help loosen mucus and relieve congestion. Be sure humidifiers are clean and free from mold or residue prior to using.
- Take a hot shower or bath. The steam from a hot shower or bath can help loosen mucus and relieve congestion.
- Elevate your head. Elevating your head with an extra pillow can help relieve congestion and make it easier to breathe.
- Avoid close contact with others. When you’re sick, it’s important to avoid close contact with others to prevent the spread of germs. Stay home from work or school and avoid going out in public. If you must be around others, wear a mask to avoid spreading illness.
Have someone at home or at work who is sick already? Here are some bonus tips to protect yourself from getting ill in the first place:
- Wash your hands. Several times a day is best, but at a minimum, clean your hands after close contact with others. Consider carrying a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer for times when soap and water are not available.
- Get vaccinated against COVID, flu, pneumonia, and RSV. Older adults and people with chronic lung and heart problems are particularly vulnerable to infection, and vaccination is a safe and effective means of preventing severe illness. Even if vaccines do not prevent you from catching a virus, they can lessen the symptoms.
- Wear a mask. Masks protect you from respiratory pathogens if worn correctly and consistently. Surgical masks are the most common, but N95 respirators can provide an even greater level of protection.
- Talk to your doctor. Especially if you have a high-risk condition like chronic lung or heart disease. Medications like Paxlovid and Tamiflu can be effective if taken early in the course of COVID or flu, respectively, to reduce the severity and duration of illness, but are only effective if started within the firsts few days of symptoms beginning. Have a plan in place to get in touch with your doctor to start these medicines early if you’re high risk.
By following these tips, you can help manage your cold or flu symptoms and feel better faster, and hopefully prevent yourself from becoming ill in the first place!