Got the Flu? Simple Ways to Feel Better
Feeling feverish, tired and completely wiped out? Here’s what you can do to ease the flu, recover well, and know when your symptoms need more attention.
Health Guide · Flu & Respiratory Health
When the flu hits, you know it
One minute you’re going about your day normally. The next, you’re tired, your body aches, your nose is blocked, and even getting out of bed feels like too much work.
That’s the frustrating thing about flu. It can come on quite suddenly and leave you feeling completely drained.
Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a viral respiratory infection. It can cause fever, cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, headache, body aches and significant tiredness. Most otherwise healthy people recover without needing specific medical treatment, usually within about a week, although a cough can hang around for longer.
The good news? There are simple things you can do to make the recovery period easier and there are a few things you should avoid.
How do you know if it’s the flu?
Flu and the common cold can look similar, so it isn’t always possible to tell the difference based on symptoms alone.
Flu often starts more suddenly and can make you feel much more unwell. Common symptoms include:
- List item Fever or feeling feverish
- Dry or persistent cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or blocked nose
- Headache
- Muscle or joint aches
- Chills
- Marked tiredness or weakness
Not everyone with flu will have every symptom, and having a cough or fever does not automatically mean you have influenza. Other respiratory infections can cause similar symptoms.
The important thing is how you feel overall.
If you are unusually weak, your symptoms are getting worse rather than better, or you have an underlying health condition that puts you at higher risk, don’t simply assume it is “just flu.”
So, what can you do when you have the flu?
- Give your body time to recover
This is probably the most underrated part of getting better.
When you’re sick, your body needs energy to fight the infection. Trying to push through your normal routine when you feel terrible can leave you exhausted.
Rest. Sleep. Slow down.
If you have a fever or feel unwell, staying home also helps reduce the chance of passing the infection to other people.
You don’t have to feel guilty about spending the day in bed. Sometimes, resting is exactly what your body needs.
- Keep drinking fluids
Fever, sweating and simply not drinking enough when you’re sick can leave you dehydrated.
Keep water nearby and take regular drinks throughout the day. Warm drinks can also be soothing if you have a sore throat or a stuffy nose.
You don’t need an expensive “immune-boosting” drink to recover. Start with the basics: enough fluids, enough rest and proper nutrition.
- Treat the symptoms that are making you miserable
There isn’t a single medicine that makes ordinary flu disappear overnight. Treatment for most people focuses on relieving symptoms while the body recovers.
Depending on your symptoms, a pharmacist or healthcare professional may recommend appropriate medicines to help with things such as:
- Fever and body aches
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
But don’t fall into the trap of taking several cold-and-flu products at once without checking what they contain.
Some combination products contain the same active ingredient as another medicine you may already be taking. Taking both can accidentally lead to too much of a particular medicine.
When in doubt, ask your pharmacist before combining medicines.
One important thing: antibiotics don’t treat the flu
This is a common mistake.
Flu is caused by influenza viruses, while antibiotics are designed to treat certain bacterial infections. Antibiotics therefore do not treat the influenza virus itself.
That means taking an antibiotic simply because you have a fever, cough or flu-like symptoms is not a good idea.
If a healthcare professional suspects that you have a bacterial infection alongside your illness, they may decide that an antibiotic is appropriate. But that decision should be based on your clinical situation not simply on having flu symptoms.
- Support your immune system with enough vitamin C supplements
Vitamin C plays an important role in keeping your immune system functioning normally. Getting enough vitamin C through a balanced diet is ideal, but supplements can be useful when your dietary intake is not enough.
If you’re feeling run down during flu season, make sure your diet includes vitamin-C-rich foods such as oranges, peppers, tomatoes and broccoli. A vitamin C supplement may also help you meet your daily nutritional needs.
Just remember: vitamin C is not a cure for the flu, and more isn’t necessarily better. Taking very high amounts can cause stomach cramps, nausea or diarrhoea.
At Healthfield Pharmacy, we stock vitamin C supplements to help you maintain your daily nutritional needs. Speak to our pharmacist if you’re unsure which supplement is right for you.
What about antiviral medicines?
Antiviral medicines are different from antibiotics.
For people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill, or who have severe influenza, antiviral treatment may be recommended. These medicines work best when started early, ideally within about 48 hours of symptoms beginning, although people who are seriously ill may still benefit from treatment later.
People who may be at higher risk of complications include:
- Pregnant women
- Young children
- Adults aged 65 and above
- People living with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart or lung disease
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with certain other chronic medical conditions
If you fall into one of these groups and develop flu symptoms, speak to a healthcare professional early rather than waiting several days to see what happens.
Give yourself a break from trying to “sweat it out”
You may have heard that you should bundle yourself up heavily and sweat until the flu goes away.
That isn’t a cure.
If you have a fever, the goal isn’t to make yourself even hotter. Wear comfortable clothing, rest, drink fluids and manage uncomfortable symptoms appropriately.
Your body does not need extreme remedies. It needs time, rest and sensible care.
When should you seek medical help?
Most people recover from flu without serious problems. But flu can occasionally become severe, particularly in people who are more vulnerable to complications.
Seek medical attention if your symptoms are severe, unusual, getting worse, or not improving as expected.
You should also seek professional advice early if you are pregnant, very young, older, immunocompromised, or living with a chronic condition that could increase your risk of complications.
Difficulty breathing, severe weakness, confusion, or other signs of serious illness should not be managed at home. Seek urgent medical care.
And if you start feeling better but then suddenly become much worse, don’t ignore it.
And what can you do to avoid passing it on?
Flu spreads easily, particularly when people are close together. It can spread through respiratory particles released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes, and through contaminated hands.
A few simple habits can make a difference:
Wash your hands regularly.
Especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Use a tissue and dispose of it properly.
Stay home when you’re unwell.
If you feel sick, giving yourself time to recover also protects the people around you.
Improve ventilation.
Opening windows and avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated spaces can help reduce transmission.
Avoid close contact with vulnerable people while you’re sick.
And if you’re eligible for seasonal influenza vaccination, vaccination remains the best way to reduce your risk of influenza and severe illness.
The bottom line
The flu can make you feel awful, but for most healthy people, recovery is mainly about rest, fluids, symptom relief and giving your body time to do its job.
Don’t rush back to your normal routine just because you have one slightly better morning. Give yourself time to recover properly.
And don’t self-medicate blindly. If you’re unsure which medicine is appropriate, you’re taking several medicines already, or your symptoms are worrying you, talk to a pharmacist or healthcare professional.
Sometimes the smartest thing you can do when you’re sick is also the simplest:
Rest. Hydrate. Take care of your symptoms. And know when to ask for help.
A little reminder from Healthfield Pharmacy
Not every cough, fever or blocked nose is necessarily flu, and the right treatment depends on your symptoms, age, medical history and other medicines you may be taking.
Need help choosing the right medicine for your symptoms? Talk to a qualified pharmacist before you start treatment.
This article is for general health information and is not a substitute for an individual medical assessment or diagnosis.