By Dr Ritesh Kohli, MD (Internal Medicine Specialist)
Flu is the common name for influenza, a virus that attacks the respiratory system. As your body fights the attacking virus, you get the symptoms of a cold.
Signs of the flu include sudden onset of headache, chills, and feeling generally miserable. Respiratory symptoms like nasal congestion, cough and sore throat appear, and the flu sufferer often experiences extreme fatigue and muscle aches in the back and legs. Fever between 100 and 103°F is typical in adults, and is often even higher in children.
How well protected are you against the common flu?
Flu is a fact of life with a change of weather conditions, but your best defence may be right on your dinner plate. In fact, you can strengthen your immune system’s infection-fighting ability by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough rest. Good nutrition is also essential for recovering from a cold, and you can reduce the duration of one and also decrease the aggravating side effects such as stuffy nose and sore throat simply by eating right.
How to boost your immunity
With the change in weather, almost all of us are falling prey to various illnesses. Being sick can be really annoying and a simple cold can transform into a sinus problem or even bronchitis. While there are many medicines available on the market, it is much easier to prevent rather than cure them. Hence, all of us need to build our immunity system.
Sleep well: It may sound silly but getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis can go a long way to making your body stronger. Studies show that those who skip on the essential 7-8 hours a day, may be putting themselves at risk. Getting some shut-eye is necessary for the body to function at its optimum best. Sleep as much as you need to; let your body be your guide.
The first line of defence against germs
Wash properly: Washing your hands often enough can reduce your chances of catching a cold. Scrub your hands with an anti-bacterial soap as soon as you step into your home. Carrying a hand-sanitizing gel in your purse can also help kill the bacteria.
Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose and played with your dog. Whatever you did, you came into contact with germs. So it’s easy for germs on your hand to end up in your mouth.
By frequently washing your hands the right way, you’ll wash away germs, such as bacteria and viruses, that you have picked up from other people, through contaminated water and food, from tainted surfaces, or from animals and animal waste.
Vitamin alert: While most of us start popping vitamin C pills at the sight of a cold or flu, experts suggest getting more vitamin D might be more appropriate. Found in its natural form in sunlight, this vitamin if not present in adequate amounts will produce fewer of the proteins that kill the bacteria and viruses. Try to eat a diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals.
Work it out: Those who indulge in regular exercises could reduce their risk of catching colds and flu. Getting a good workout can help increase immune cells in the blood and saliva. Opt for a class of aerobics, brisk walking or even cycling.
Laughter is the best medicine: Studies suggest that laughing endlessly can do your system a whole lot of good. This gets your natural killer cells working which can assist in fighting off colds and flu.
Drink up: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water – at least eight glasses a day. If you don’t feel like having plain water, add freshly squeezed lemon juice to water, drink diluted fruit juice, caffeine-free tea, or broth-based soups. Also chicken soup (well, really any hot liquid) helps move viruses and germs out of the nose more quickly. Avoid caffeine. The diuretic effect of caffeine in fluids like coffee, tea, and soda drinks make them less helpful than water or decaffeinated beverages when you have a cold or flu.
Diet: If you have nausea and/or vomiting, avoid solid foods until the vomiting stops and you are able to hold down clear fluids. Start off with chicken or vegetable broth and dry crackers once you feel like eating. These are both easy to digest. Garlic boosts the immune system, increasing resistance to infection and stress, while citrus fruits contain vitamin C, and meat and peanuts contain zinc. Both nutrients play important roles in the proper functioning of the immune system.
Take Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches. Over-the-counter cold or cough medicines may also relieve some flu symptoms. Avoid taking aspirin, though, unless your doctor says it’s OK. Aspirin can put teens at greater risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that sometimes follows infection with the flu virus.
Vaccination?
As we explained in an earlier column, it’s especially important for people with certain medical conditions (like kidney disease, diabetes, HIV, heart problems, or asthma) to get a flu vaccine, because getting vaccinated can protect against complications like pneumonia. Kids and teens who take aspirin regularly also need to be vaccinated because they’re at risk for developing a serious condition called Reye syndrome if they get the flu.
Another reason for getting vaccinated is to protect the people around you who might get seriously ill from flu, especially because many (like very young babies) can’t be vaccinated. It’s what scientists call ‘herd immunity’ – by protecting yourself you are also protecting other people who are more vulnerable because there’s less chance you’ll get the flu and pass it on.
So be sure to get vaccinated if you are around people who are at risk if they get the flu, like babies, people with a serious illness, and the elderly.
Most people who get the flu get better without having to see their doctor. The flu is caused by a virus and cannot be cured with antibiotics. But if you are still sick three to five days after its onset, or if you have any trouble breathing, it’s possible to have a bacterial infection along with a viral one, or have an extremely virulent case of the flu. Go to your doctor right away.
