The Stages of Flu Recovery and How to Speed it Up

Your body requires rest for recovery. You may have small bursts of energy at different stages of flu recovery, but remember that you’re still sick and need to ease back into physical activity. Some people struggle to rest enough, especially during the last stage of flu recovery.

If you have trouble getting enough rest while sick with the flu, here are some helpful tips for getting enough rest:

• Sleep alone so that you can get comfortable without disturbing someone or potentially getting them sick.
• Prop yourself up so that you can breathe better and reduce coughing.
• Eat or drink something warm to help soothe your throat.
• A steamy shower or a hot bath to relax your body.
• Take flu medication to relieve symptoms long enough to fall asleep.
• Avoid alcohol, as it can cause sleep disruption and can slow down your recovery

Staying hydrated when you are sick with the flu is one of the most effective pathways to your body’s recovery. However, dehydration is your adversary when battling the flu. You may not feel like drinking, so you may have to get a little creative to stay hydrated.

Tips for staying hydrated when you are sick with the flu:

• Keep a bottle of water nearby to sip throughout the day
• Try other clear liquids such as broth or sports drinks
• Use a straw or squeeze bottle if you’re too weak to drink
• Consider setting a timer to ensure that you remember to drink
• Sip soup for hydration and calories
• Eat ice chips or popsicles

You’ll find a long list of home remedies at your disposal when it comes to the flu. While some are bound to work better than others, you won’t have any trouble finding something practical for you.

Herbal Teas

A go-to choice for many people, hot tea can help keep some of the persistent side effects of the flu at bay. You’re more than welcome to choose any tea you like, but a few options that are known to help include green and black tea.

If you want to give it a little added strength, consider including a bit of honey as well. This can help with how to survive the flu when dealing with an onslaught of uncomfortable symptoms.

Steam Inhalation

Your environment can positively or negatively affect your recovery process. One easy way to make yourself a bit more comfortable is by surrounding yourself with steam. There are several methods to this, such as sitting in a bathroom with a hot running shower.

Another option is to fill a pot with hot water, put your face over the steam, and put a towel over your head. This can help to loosen up mucus, making it a bit easier to breathe.

Gargling Solutions

An easy solution that only takes a few seconds, gargling warm salt water offers more benefits than you might expect. While it may not taste the best, salt water can help bring liquids to the surface, including bacteria and viruses in your throat. It isn’t an instant fix by any means, but it’s a good way to fight against the effects of the virus.

The influenza virus tends to make you feel physically uncomfortable, both internally and externally. Unfortunately, there isn’t a single solution that helps with every bit of discomfort. Everyone’s idea of how to survive flu season is bound to vary, but there are multiple ways to make yourself as comfortable as possible until the virus dissipates.

Managing Fever

A fever is a common part of the process of dealing with the flu. While most people’s body temperatures stay within a certain range, a fever can become a big health concern if left unchecked. Staying hydrated and taking acetaminophen medications can help keep your body temperature down while you work through how to survive a flu virus.

Dealing With Body Aches

Another unavoidable aspect of the flu is persistent body aches. This tends to feel like it’s all over your body, and most people will try anything to mitigate this particular sensation.

Here are a few ways you can manage body aches when you have the flu:

• Taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen medications
• Self-massaging different areas of the body
• Staying hydrated all throughout the day

Body aches stemming from the flu can be very persistent, or they might come and go throughout your day. The tips mentioned above require consistent application, as the body aches likely won’t stop until the virus is out of your system.
Caring For a Sore Throat
The severity of sore throat symptoms during the flu can range from mild to extreme. Regardless of the severity, a sore throat is never a comfortable experience, as you’re constantly reminded when you eat and every time you swallow.

Drinking hot tea with honey is a good start, and you can gargle salt water as well. Lozenges can be very helpful, too, as they soothe the throat, offering temporary relief while you work through how to handle the flu at home.

Handling Congestion

Another common symptom of the flu virus is congested sinuses. This can make it much more difficult to breathe and even cause physical pain in the face if it’s bad enough. While there isn’t always an immediate fix for this, you have plenty of options for managing it.

Once again, hot steam can be very helpful in this situation. It can aid in reducing pressure in your sinuses and loosen mucus at the same time. Your nose might run a bit, but that’s better than not being able to breathe at all. Of course, over-the-counter decongestant medications are always an option on top of other home remedies.

Effectively managing your flu symptoms allows your body to recover as the virus runs its course through your body. While you still may not feel your best, managing the symptoms can help you get some much-needed rest.

Some general symptom management tips include:

• Take over-the-counter medications to relieve fever, cough, and congestion
• Suse a humidifier to help keep nasal passages open and reduce coughing
• Cough drops to help soothe the throat and reduce coughing
• Get plenty of rest to help with recovering from flu fatigue
• Stay hydrated

There are currently four FDA-approved medications for the flu. Each of these medications requires a prescription from a doctor.

• Tamiflu®
• Relenza®)
• Rapivab®)
• Xofluza®

In addition to these, over-the-counter cold and flu medications, anti-inflammatories, throat lozenges, and other home remedies can also help alleviate your symptoms.