Medication
The NIH note that some of the most important ways of fighting the flu at home include:
- getting lots of rest
- drinking plenty of fluids, including juices and water
- taking acetaminophen or other over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce fever (people with underlying health conditions should ask their doctor what medication is safest for them)
- avoiding smoking or being around people who are smoking
- avoiding drinking alcohol while sick
Self-care
What to Know About the Flu Shot
- History of the Flu Shot. The flu vaccine has been used for more than 80 years. ...
- Common Myths About the Flu Shot. Although the flu vaccine has been used for decades in millions of Americans, there are many misconceptions.
- Flu Shot Ingredients. ...
- Flu Shot Side Effects. ...
- Importance of Getting a Flu Shot. ...
- Summary. ...
- A Word From Verywell. ...
Nutrition
9 Tips to Ease Flu Symptoms
- Stay home and get plenty of rest. Mind your flu manners. ...
- Drink plenty of fluids. Make sure you get more liquids. ...
- Treat aches and fever. That’s because your body has turned up the heat to fight off the flu virus. ...
- Take care of your cough. ...
- Sit in a steamy bathroom. ...
- Run the humidifier. ...
- Try a lozenge. ...
- Get salty. ...
- Ask for an antiviral. ...
How do you cure the flu quickly?
Watch for these signs of an emergency when you have the flu: 1
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or severe abdominal pain
- Confusion
- Sudden dizziness
- Severe vomiting or vomiting that won't stop
What is the best treatment for influenza?
How to get over the flu quickly?
When to seek treatment for flu?
How do you treat Covid flu symptoms?
Generally, you'll need nothing more than bed rest and fluids. You also may consider an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce some of the aches associated with flu. If you are infected with flu, your health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medication.
What is the best medicine for flue?
Key takeaways: Antiviral prescription flu medicines, such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir), Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil), Rapivab (peramivir), and Relenza (zanamivir), can help shorten the flu, while over-the-counter (OTC) medications mainly treat symptoms.
How is flu traditionally treated?
The best natural cold and flu remediesHydration. Austin's number one recommendation for recovering quickly from a cold or flu virus is staying hydrated. ... Vitamin C. ... Sleep. ... Honey and tea. ... Chicken soup. ... Aromatherapy. ... A steamy shower. ... Gargling warm salt water.More items...
How do you cure the flu quickly?
Here are 12 tips to help you recover more quickly.Stay home. Your body needs time and energy to fight off the flu virus, which means that your daily routine should be put on the backburner. ... Hydrate. ... Sleep as much as possible. ... Ease your breathing. ... Eat healthy foods. ... Add moisture to the air. ... Take OTC medications. ... Try elderberry.More items...
How can I get rid of the flu quickly?
In this ArticleStay home and get plenty of rest.Drink plenty of fluids.Treat aches and fever.Take care of your cough.Sit in a steamy bathroom.Run the humidifier.Try a lozenge.Get salty.More items...•
What is the fastest home remedy for flu?
12 Natural Treatment Tips for Colds and Flu#1 Know When not to Treat Symptoms.#2 Blow Your Nose Often (and the Right Way)#3 Treat That Stuffy Nose With Warm Salt Water.#4 Stay Warm and Rested.#5 Gargle.#6 Drink Hot Liquids.#7 Take a Steamy Shower.#8 Use a Salve Under Your Nose.More items...•
How long does a flu last?
The flu typically lasts three to seven days, according to the CDC. Serious complications of the flu, such as pneumonia, can take longer to recover from. Some symptoms, such as a cough, can persist for more than two weeks.
Is ginger good for flu and cough?
Consuming ginger may help promote digestive health, nausea, bloating, morning sickness and heal pain. But, one of the most prominent benefits of ginger is its quality to fight cold, cough and flu.
How to help a person with the flu?
If you do come down with the flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms: Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration. Rest. Get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection. You may need to change your activity level, depending on your symptoms.
What to take for achiness from influenza?
Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), to combat the achiness associated with influenza.
How long should you stay home with a fever?
To help control the spread of influenza in your community, stay home and keep sick children home until fever has been gone for 24 hours. Avoid being around other people until you're feeling better, unless you're getting medical care. If you do need to leave your home and get medical care, wear a face mask.
Can you take zanamivir with asthma?
Oseltamivir is an oral medication. Zanamivir is inhaled through a device similar to an asthma inhaler and shouldn't be used by anyone with certain chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma and lung disease.
Do you need to be tested for influenza?
During times when influenza is widespread, you may not need to be tested for influenza. Your doctor may diagnose you based on your signs and symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may suggest that you be tested for influenza. He or she may use various tests to diagnose influenza. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is becoming more common in many ...
What to do if you have the flu?
CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have flu or suspected flu who are at high risk of serious flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
What is the name of the medication that is prescribed to treat the flu?
There are prescription medications called “antiviral drugs” that can be used to treat flu illness. What are antiviral drugs? Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, an inhaled powder, or an intravenous solution) that fight against flu in your respiratory tract. Antiviral drugs are not sold over the counter.
What is an antiviral?
Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Flu antivirals are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, intravenous solution, or an inhaled powder) and are not available over the counter. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia, ...
Why is it important to take antiviral medicine early?
It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat people who are very sick with flu (for example, people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications, either because of their age or because they have a high risk medical condition.
How to keep from infecting others when sick?
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Can you buy antiviral medication over the counter?
Antiviral drugs are not sold over the counter. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics, which fight against bacterial infections.
What are the best treatments for the flu?
The best treatments for people with the flu are lots of rest and plenty of fluids.
How to bring down a fever?
Don’t go back until your symptoms subside. To bring down a fever, place a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead or take a cool bath. You may also use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
How do antiviral drugs help?
Prescription antiviral drugs can help reduce flu symptoms and prevent related complications. These drugs prevent the virus from growing and replicating. By reducing viral replication and shedding, these medications slow the spread of infection in cells within the body.
How long does it take for antiviral medication to work?
It works differently than the neuraminidase inhibitors. For maximum effectiveness, antiviral drugs must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. If taken right away, antiviral medications can also help shorten the duration of the flu. Antiviral medications are also used in flu prevention.
What is the best pain reliever for a fever?
In addition to the fever reducers acetaminophen and ibuprofen, other effective pain relievers are naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin (Bayer).
Why aren't antibiotics effective against the flu?
Antibiotics aren’t effective against the flu because it’s caused by a virus, not bacteria. But your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat any secondary bacterial infection that may be present. They’ll likely recommend some combination of self-care and medication to treat your symptoms.
Can you take zanamivir if you have asthma?
It’s approved to prevent the flu in people who are at least 5 years old. It comes in a powder and is administered via an inhaler. You shouldn’t take zanamivir if you have any type of chronic respiratory problem, such as asthma or any chronic lung disease. It could cause airway constriction and difficulty breathing.
What is the best medication for coughing?
Cough suppressants should only be used if coughing is too painful to tolerate. They include dextromethorphan, which should not be given to children under age 4 (consult your doctor for a child age 4 to 11). 7 . Antihistamines or decongestants can also be used to help relieve a persistent cough.
When to use cough suppressants?
Cough suppressants should only be used if coughing is too painful to tolerate. They include dextromethorphan, which should not be given to children under age 4 (consult your healthcare provider for a child age 4 to 11). 7
How long does it take for antiviral medication to work?
Antiviral medications should be started within the first 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms to be the most effective. Antiviral medications are different from antibiotics, and they specifically work against the influenza virus to shorten the course of illness, make it milder, and prevent complications.
What is the best medicine for a sore throat?
For fever, body aches, sore throat, or headache, you can use Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen).
What is the name of the medication that is used to stuffed up noses?
Decongestants for a stuffed-up nose or chest, which include Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and phenylephrine
What to do for a sore throat?
For sore throat, a warm saltwater gargle or lozenges may help provide relief.
Does the flu cause a runny nose?
Influenza often produces a runny nose, congestion , and cough. Many OTC products are formulated to relieve these symptoms. They include:
How Is Influenza Treated?
Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to treat the virus, and over-the-counter medication can be used to minimize discomfort associated with flu symptoms (for example, decongestant and antihistamine for congestion, cough and nasal discharge). Antibiotics are not useful in treating the flu but may be prescribed if necessary to clear up a related sinus or ear infection.
How long does it take to get tested for the flu?
There are tests that can determine if you have the flu as long you are tested within the first two or three days of illness and many providers use antiviral medications when they are confident of the diagnosis.
What are the different types of antivirals?
There are four FDA-approved antiviral drugs: 1 Oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu®), which comes in pill form 2 Peramivir (trade name Rapivab®), which is administered intravenously 3 Zanamivir (trade name Relenza®), which is inhaled as a powder 4 Baloxavir (trade name Xofluza®), which comes in pill form
Can you take Relenza if you have asthma?
People with chronic lung disease, including asthma, should not use Relenza or Rapivab, because these drugs sometimes worsen breathing problems.