Tips on recovery
Knowing how
viruses spread, it is understandable that the best way to prevent
catching the flu or a cold is good hygiene:
- Wash your
hands frequently.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose,
and mouth.
- Use a tissue if you are sneezing
or coughing, and then discard the used tissue immediately.
- Clean hard surfaces with a
disinfectant.
- Use alcohol-based hand
sanitizers.
There are also
lifestyle changes that can help you recover quickly from the flu or a
cold:
- Drink plenty
of fluids (6-8 glasses per day). Try drinking hot fluids to help
with nasal and chest congestion.
- Humidify the air using a vaporizer
(either cool mist or warm mist works). This will help relieve a sore
throat or dry cough.
- Get enough rest. Fatigue can
increase the duration of symptoms. Staying in bed will also avoid
spreading the infection to others.
- Use saline drops or spray to
loosen nasal congestion.
- Use non-medicated hard lozenges or
candy to soothe a sore throat or cough.
- Gargle with salt water to relieve
a dry throat.
- Stop or reduce smoking. People
who smoke tend to get colds more often. Their colds also last longer
and they cough more frequently.
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