By going out when you're sick, you could aggravate your health problems and take a much longer time to recover. Thus, it's best to stay at home to give yourself the chance to recuperate. You should put off your regular activities since your body requires time and energy to fight against the flu virus.

Your respiratory and immune systems can suffer even more damage if you go back to your regular routine too quickly. Even while you want to go grocery shopping or start the week's load of laundry may be great, you would be doing yourself a disservice. Put off running errands until you start to feel better by staying home from work or school. Staying at home not only helps in your recovery but also stops the flu from spreading among your neighbors and coworkers. It's crucial to keep your distance from others while you're contagious because the flu can be dangerous for young children and elderly people.

Getting enough fluids daily is necessary for health, but when you are ill, it becomes an important part of your treatment. The body's organs and muscles function better when you're properly hydrated.

High fever, which can cause sweating, is one sign that you have the flu. Additionally, you might be experiencing bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. To replace lost fluids and to fight off the infection, your body requires a lot of fluids. The ideal beverage is water, but you can also make herbal or honey-flavored teas. These can help you stay hydrated while calming your discomfort. But there are two things you should never consume: alcohol and coffee. Drink decaffeinated beverages all day long, not just when you're thirsty, to stay hydrated.

The best treatment for your body when combating the flu is sleep. It's not a bad idea to watch TV while cuddled up on the couch, but you shouldn't stay up all night binge-watching your favorite Netflix series.

When you have a cold, the flu, or a fever, you may sleep a lot because your body needs rest. Your body will be better able to fight off your illness and build up its immune system if you sleep more than normal. To provide your body more time to rest, you can also nap during the day. Sleep and rest also lower your risk of developing major flu side effects like pneumonia. Don't worry if you find yourself sleeping all day when you're ill, especially at the beginning of your illness. Allow your body to get all the rest it requires, just be sure to get up from time to time to drink some water and eat some healthy food.

Your body requires healthier nourishment to recover from the flu, despite the temptation to drown your grief in a dish of ice cream and a bag of chips. Important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables support your immune system while it fights the virus. Even if you don't feel very hungry, it's still crucial to eat regularly to stay strong. Keep in mind that the right diet can not only help you recover faster when you get sick; it might even help prevent illness in the first place.

Vitamin C has a strong link to a boosted immune system and may lessen cold and flu symptoms. Vitamin C-rich foods include:

• Citrus fruit, such as oranges and grapefruits
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cantaloupe
• Kiwi
• Peppers

Moisturizing the air may help with some symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a cold or the flu. While controlling outdoor humidity levels may not be practical, using a humidifier indoors can help to eliminate dry air that may irritate your nose and throat's airways.

A humidifier or vaporizer can help relieve congestion by adding moisture to the air. The market is filled with a wide variety of humidifiers and vaporizers. Examples include steam vaporizers and cool-mist humidifiers. These are readily available at a reasonable price at your local big-box store, pharmacy, or online. Every day, make sure you thoroughly clean the entire unit and change the water. Uncleaned humidifiers may contain harmful bacteria that can make you ill.

Your local drug store's cold and flu section most likely has hundreds of different options. While some drugs address a specific flu symptom at a time, others treat many flu symptoms simultaneously, such as nasal congestion.

• Pain relievers: Fever, headaches, and body aches can be reduced with the aid of painkillers. Examples include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Decongestants: Assist expand your nasal passages and decrease sinus congestion. One example is pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• Cough suppressants: To relieve a dry cough, use cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin)
• Expectorants: are helpful for a cough that is wet and produces mucus and helps to release thick mucus.
• Antihistamines: Have sedative effects that may put you to sleep

Check the product label carefully to learn the recommended dose for each type of medication. You shouldn't be taking additional medication because DayQuil and similar drugs like it both decrease temperature and relieve pain. Due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a deadly disease, children and teenagers should never use aspirin for the flu.

Elderberry has been used to treat colds and the flu for hundreds of years. After 48 hours, participants in placebo-controlled research who took elderberry lozenges four times a day reported less fever, headache, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and cough.

60 people with flu-like symptoms who took 15 millilitres of elderberry syrup four times a day improved four days sooner than those who received a placebo, according to a different study. In a bigger study with 312 air travellers, it was discovered that elderberry extract 300 mg capsules, taken three times a day, significantly decreased the intensity and duration of cold and flu symptoms in comparison to a placebo group. Elderberry syrups, lozenges, and capsules can be purchased offline or online. Elderberries should not be consumed uncooked since they may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Keep in mind that elderberry is an additional therapy, so make sure you're also taking over-the-counter or prescription medicine to treat the flu.

Traditional remedies for sore throat relief include drinking tea or warm lemon water flavored with honey. However, honey on its own might work as a cough suppressant.

Honey is a fairly typical natural cure for relieving a cough or sore throat. You can cure your flu symptoms and stay hydrated by combining honey with tea. In one trial, up to two teaspoons (10 ml) of honey were given to children with upper respiratory tract infections who were between the ages of 1 and 5. It appeared that the honey improved sleep and decreased overnight coughing. In fact, the study found that honey, taken in regular over-the-counter doses, looked to be just as effective as the common cough suppressant dextromethorphan. It might be worthwhile to give honey a try because it is inexpensive and widely available. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that infants under a year old shouldn't consume honey.