How to Get Rid of the Flu

The Flu or influenza is caused by a virus. 

Symptoms of influenza include:

• high fever, 
• a cough and colds, 
• sneezing, 
• body pains, 
• headaches
• overall weakness. 

If you have influenza, chances are you may need to skip school, miss work and postpone all activities until you are well. 

Flu symptoms can disappear without any treatment. However, this could mean suffering from high fevers and pains for days! There are ways to reduce flu symptoms at home.

How the Flu works

Try Acetaminophen and Ice

To reduce high fever, take acetaminophen tablets. Put an ice pack on your forehead or a damp towel over the nape of your neck. 

Sponge yourself with cold water or tap water and dress minimally or in thin layers. 

Do not wear thick clothing or wrap yourself in thick blankets. Allow heat to escape from your body.

Try Resting

For body pains, rest is the best treatment of all. Take the day off from work or school and simply lie down in bed. 

Sleep or simply relax in bed. Relaxing and sleeping will give your body time to recuperate and to fight illness. 

You may also feel aches throughout your bones and muscles. Sp taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen usually reduces these aches. Resting will also help reduce pain.

Try Steam

For colds, sneezing, and stuffy noses, you can loosen mucus and clogged airways by steam inhalation. 

• Boil water in a kettle and remove from heat once the water has boiled. 
• Put the kettle on a level table 
• Then use a cardboard funnel to channel steam from the kettle to your nostrils. 
• The warmth and humidity from inhaling steam will loosen thick mucus and help you breathe easier. 

Drink more fluids than usual. Increasing fluid intake will help loosen mucus and reduce fevers as well.

Try Tea and Lozenges

Another way to get rid of flu symptoms such as a sore throat and coughing is to drink warm teas or chew lozenges. These will ease a sore throat, itching, and coughing as mucous begins to accumulate in your upper respiratory system.
 

Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges
They keep your throat moist and coated.

After a few days, flu symptoms will finally subside. If high fevers persists, and these techniques fail, and other flu symptoms worsen, you should contact your doctor immediately. 

Flu symptoms such as fevers and body pains can be symptoms of other underlying illnesses. So you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.