Influenza has been around for decades, possibly centuries, though people have learned how to recognize its mutations only over the last two or three decades. People tend to accept succumbing to flu, especially when the season changes. Since many of the symptoms like the loss of the sense of smell and taste, high fever, headaches, and body aches are similar to the coronavirus, you do not want to place your loved ones, or your own self under undue stress. You can be proactive about preventing the flu. The really smart way is to build up your immunity. That way you can radically reduce your chances of falling ill. There are many ways you can build your immunity to several kinds of ailments, including influenza, referred to as flu.
You must give your body adequate time to heal itself, and recharge energy. This means that you fix a bedtime, and stay with it. Typically, you should not allow work pressure, socializing, social media, or TV time to break your schedule. It also means that you must sleep for seven to eight hours every night. This will only be possible if you keep stress away. That is easier said than done these days. Every person has to face, and deal with some level of stress. Try and work in some yoga, and meditation into your daily routine. This will have a calming effect on your mind and body. Remember, you are more susceptible to illnesses, especially infections when you are overstressed, and tired.
When you are physically fit, you are less likely to fall ill. Therefore, create a routine which fits in exercise of some kind. You don’t have to head for the gym immediately. Even taking a walk in the morning, evening, or after dinner will go a long way. You might try doing a few winding down exercises when you get home from work, or doing a few yogic asanas before your morning shower. If you know how to ride a bicycle, and your workplace is close enough, you could ride a cycle to office. It will have the double advantage of being environmentally free, and strengthen your overall health and fitness. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and drinking alcohol will also improve your overall health.
Following the precept of prevention being better than cure, get vaccinated. Vaccination is particularly effective for those who have a compromised immune system, are elderly, children below five, and expectant mothers.
A balanced diet which incorporates protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and trace elements builds your immune system. Choose seasonal fruits and vegetables as nature fills the nutrients needed in any specific season. Post-monsoons, apples, pineapples, and pears are plentiful. Guavas, bananas, and papayas grow round the year. If you want to have fancy fruits, kiwis, dragon fruit, custard apples, avocados, and diverse kinds of berries are some of your options. They will add to the aesthetics and taste of your meals as much as they will provide specialized nutrition. While leafy greens should be avoided during the monsoons, and immediately afterwards; green vegetables per se like bitter gourds, coccinea, green bananas, green chilies, capsicum, different kinds of beans and gourds, and others should be part of your menu. Ensure that you incorporate a sufficient quantity of protein by way of lentils, fish, eggs, meat, and dairy products like cheese and butter.
Typical Indian cuisine incorporates herbs like turmeric, oregano, cloves, cinnamon, saffron, ginger, and garlic ― all of which are rich in antioxidants. Plain nimbu paani, coconut water, coffee, and tea, especially green tea, and infusions made from mint leaves and other herbs go a long way to eliminate toxins from your system, and enable your body to fight infections. Remember, there are several kinds of flu doing the rounds, of which swine flu (H1N1) and bird flu received a significant degree of attention in the press. So, keeping flu at bay is more important than you might realize.
Contagious diseases are best defeated by limiting transmission. The best ways to do so remain the age old hygienic practices of washing hands regularly and vigorously with soap and water; using disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing, or to clean a runny nose; keeping surfaces which are often touched spotlessly clean; sanitizing hands and various surfaces including the touchscreen of smartphones, mouse, keyboards of laptops; and avoiding close physical contact with an infected person. Wear a mask to protect yourself when you go outdoors. If you are infected, keep a safe distance from others with whom you must come in contact to prevent infecting them. If possible, stay home when you realize you have picked up some strain of flu. This will serve to limit spread of the disease, and help you recover faster. Keep a generous supply of paper towels, soaps, sanitizers to be used on hands and on surfaces, and tissues.
Though a clogged nose and a sore throat are common symptoms of flu, you might suffer from a raging fever, severe aches and pains, nausea, and diarrhea. Some people even get rashes confusing care givers in the family into thinking that it might be measles or chicken pox. It should be treated with an antiviral, rather than an antibiotic drug. Treatment should begin within two days of the patient displaying symptoms. Whether or not you take antiviral drugs, you must drink plenty of tepid water hourly. This will help you to get rid of the infection faster, and reduce the probability of complications.
You may soak some sugar crystals, or palm candy in hot water to sip some of the solution every now and again. Not only will it soothe your throat, but it will also ensure that you urinate in sufficient quantities, which will help reduce fever while eliminating toxins from your body. Hot soups, daals, and various kinds of hot drinks will soothe and nourish to help you recover faster.