What is it you need to do in order to get the best results from your flu treatment? Is a prescription required, or can you treat yourself using common home remedies and natural cures? The answer will depend on how serious your symptoms are, your age and health history, and the type of flu that you have.
People who have been diagnosed with a serious flu disease are usually given an injection that stops the virus from reproducing. This way, even if you have caught the flu in the wild or at work, you can be sure that your body is completely immune to it. However, a common type of flu infection, which is often called a seasonal flu, has a chance to be transmitted from one person to another. If you catch it in this way, you could experience serious symptoms, including fever, chills and chest pains, and it may even go into your bloodstream, which means that it can enter your central nervous system. If the infection spreads to this part of your body, it can cause a lot more problems than the flu itself, and you may not be able to control the symptoms.
Symptoms of this type of flu vary depending on which group of people you happen to be with, but the most common ones include runny nose, cough and swollen glands. You may also feel fatigued and weak throughout the day. There are many other symptoms, such as sore throat, nausea and vomiting, which may help you determine what you may have, but these should be used as a guide and not as a substitute for a visit to your doctor.
Fortunately, if you have some serious flu symptoms, then you do not necessarily need to see your doctor. Many common treatments will take care of most of the symptoms of a cold or flu. In fact, the most important aspect of getting through an illness is making sure you get treatment early, before any serious problems occur.
A common type of treatment is called cough suppressants, which you can buy over the counter or prescription. They work by slowing down the production of mucus in the lungs. In addition to that, they also help you stop the coughing and other symptoms associated with influenza by providing additional relief from the sore throat and runny nose associated with it.
Another common type of treatment is decongestants, which also come in prescription and over the counter. These work to reduce the symptoms associated with flu like the ones described above, and make you feel better after you've had a fever or sore throat.
The most effective way to keep your body healthy is through a combination of these treatments, but many people tend to skip the first step: getting plenty of sleep. Your body cannot fight off a fever or cold as effectively when you're tired, so you need a good night's sleep to help you recuperate. Also, avoid strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours before you go to bed. Try to get as much rest as possible between treatments and make sure that you are hydrated with fluids.
The key to treating a severe case of a cold or flu is to provide it with everything that it needs to kill or prevent it from reproducing. If you are feeling a little uncomfortable when you come down with it, you may want to talk to your doctor about your options, but it is worth checking with your doctor to get some suggestions about the best approach.