4 mistakes that are making your cold worse; do this instead

As the winter season bids us goodbye, experts cautioned that the flu burden would be significant, due to a worrying phenomenon of ‘immunity debt’ worldwide. This is the lack of exposure to common viruses because people were social distancing and wearing masks over the past two years. With pandemic restrictions lifted, the population’s susceptibility for influenza infection is estimated to increase.

Dr. Pankaj Garg, Consultant Paediatrician, Ladies & Child Clinic, Delhi said, “In Delhi, we have seen a five-fold rise in the number of flu cases. To tackle this rise, it is important for more people to understand how the flu can affect different groups, and why protection against it is vital. Supporting increased vaccine uptake across the population and other preventive measures can help more individuals be safeguarded from the flu. It can also be managed with key steps including treating symptoms, and with rest and good nutrition.”

This season, keep an eye out for any flu signs – like fever, chills, cough, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, and more. If you are affected, here are 4 things you should avoid to manage the flu better:

Instead, especially during the first few days of the flu, you need to take it easy and get some rest. As the days become colder and it becomes harder to get out of bed, you can take advantage of this and curl up under some blankets and nap, read, or watch some television as you recover and regain energy. You should also avoid going outside, whether to work, school, or to meet friends and family, so that you don’t spread the infection or tire yourself out.

To manage flu symptoms, drinking plenty of fluids is vital. Comforting broth-based winter soups (like chicken noodle soup) and non-caffeinated hot herbal teas (like ginger and chamomile) are key to fighting the flu. Also, don’t overlook the benefits of hot water with lemon, coconut water, or fresh fruit juice in easing your symptoms.

While you may not want to eat much when you’re sick, good nutrition is important, so try to eat well. Consume a good amount of seasonal fruits like oranges, pomegranates, strawberries and more, as well as winter vegetables like spinach and sweet potatoes. Spicy foods – with hot peppers, ginger, and turmeric –also reduce inflammation and counter congestion.

It’s important to take steps to relieve your symptoms. For instance, especially if you have a stuffy nose, take a hot shower, or breathe in steam to clear up your nasal passages. This can also help you keep warm.

Beyond these steps, you should consult your doctor if your symptoms take a turn for the worse, so you can get the proper care you may need, take care of yourself, and feel better quickly.

Keep these tips in mind for the next flu season as well. In fact, you can also take various steps to lessen your chance of getting infected with the flu.

Dr. Jejoe Karankumar, Medical Affairs Director, Abbott India commented, “Influenza is a vaccine-preventable disease, and there are a range of measures that people can adopt to protect themselves and their families from its related health complications. This is important not just for children, but for at-risk adults as well, to extend the layers of protection against influenza, across the population.”

To protect against the flu, get yourself and your family fully vaccinated. Follow the paediatric vaccine schedule for children, and get an annual flu shot for adults. Getting the vaccine every year is key since flu virus variants evolve, and flu shots are developed according to the latest strain identified by the WHO.

You should also continue key health behaviours, like washing your hands regularly using soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and disinfecting frequently touched items. Also make it a point to avoid close contact with anyone who is sick, increase ventilation in rooms, and mask up in crowded public spaces. With these tips, you can better manage the flu this season, while also building a strategy for prevention and protection before the next flu season.