If you’ve started to notice a few flu symptoms coming on and have been experiencing a frustratingly persistent cough recently, you may have thought about canceling your plans, purchasing additional over the counter flu medicine for your medicine cabinet and brewing a warm pot of tea. Although you may already have a few favorite tricks for tackling frustrating cough and flu symptoms, there are several tried-and-true approaches that you may not have considered yet. Whether you’re already feeling under the weather or you just want to prepare in case you get sick, here are the top ways you can help speed up your flu recovery and get back to feeling your best.
Take the Day Off and Pamper Yourself at Home To Recover Quicker
The key to understanding sudden cough attacks and the sudden onset of flu symptoms is to think about other telltale signs you may have experienced recently. If you’ve been coughing, developed a fever, feel chills and are running low on energy, for example, there’s a good chance you may have come down with the flu. When this occurs, you may want to take the day off of work or school and simply rest at home to recover. While at home, you can help support a quicker recovery if you:
- Drink warm tea with honey to soothe your throat
- Slurp down chicken soup and other light and healthy fare
- Take a nap and ensure you get adequate rest and relaxation
- Turn on a humidifier in the room
- Use an expectorant to help calm your cough
- Try saline nose drops to help clear out a stuffy nose
Keep Key Medications and Homeopathic Treatments on Hand
In order to be truly prepared for when illnesses hit, it’s important to keep your medicine cabinet fully stocked with flu medicine, over-the-counter remedies and the best allergy symptom relief treatments at all times. When you’re feeling under the weather, some treatment options to stock up on could include:
- Cough drops and throat lozenges
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- Echinacea
- Ginger
- Vitamin C tablets and multivitamins
Watch Out for Worsening Symptoms and Know When To See Your Doctor
Although you may sometimes be able to weather the flu or a coughing fit by yourself, at other times, it’s best to see your doctor right away. If you experience worsening symptoms, for instance, consider seeking medical help right away. Call your doctor if you’re experiencing:
- A consistently high fever that hasn’t started to abate after taking medication
- Persistent wheezing or shortness of breath
- Ear drainage or pain
- Frequent vomiting or other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea
Whether you’re searching for ways to recover from your current flu or whether you’re simply hoping to arm yourself with preparedness strategies in case you get sick in the future, these three approaches can help you tackle your cough and flu symptoms as quickly as possible. The next time you start to suspect you have the flu, make sure to work through these ideas. Staying home and resting, taking essential over-the-counter and homeopathic medications and calling your doctor if necessary can help you recover faster and soothe your symptoms more effectively.
