Cold and Flu season has everyone frantically searching the question, “How Do I Get Over My Cold or Flu Fast?!” Now most people only get sick once or twice over the cold/flu season, but I happen to be a person who gets sick a lot more often.
In an effort to boost my immune system and escape the pattern of multiple colds per cold/flu season, I’ve come up with ways to help get the germs out. I’m not an expert nor do I have all the answers, but I know that being sick can be a pain in the butt…literally and figuratively. I’m just sharing these tips that I use to help anyone feeling sick and frustrated, get on the road to recovery.
1) Call in sick and get excessive amounts of rest
While you may feel the need to go into work because of deadlines and workload, it’s crucial that you give your body the rest it needs to recover from a cold or flu. Plus, you don’t want to spread germs to your coworkers!
Now let’s get to the resting part: When I say rest, I mean it! Allow yourself to sleep as many hours of the day as you need. Stay in bed. Don’t push yourself to finish laundry or cook meals. If you need to, get a family member or a friend to help you out. The more rest you give your body, the more it restores itself and can heal.
2) Have the basic “Sick Supplies”, including Sinus Rinse
If you feel the tickle in your throat, a sniffle in your nose, or a queasiness in your tummy, then make sure to have an arsenal of cough drops, tissues and gravol! I could go more into detail here, but I think these are self explanatory: Use when you need them and be sure to have enough to get you through your cold or flu.
Also, be sure to keep hand sanitizer within reach. It’s better to sanitize often than to let the germs linger on you until you get up to wash your hands.
Another great basic supply that you should add to your roster is Sinus Rinse. It sounds a little bit gross in theory–you squirt water up one nostril and it comes out the other–but it truly helps to clear out your sinuses. I use it when I feel like my nose is particularly stuffy and I can’t breathe through either nostril.
3) Stay extra warm and cozy
Often when we get colds, our body feels a bit of the chill. This is amplified even more if you have the flu. If you find yourself down with a cold or flu, make sure to keep your body warm. Wear thick sweaters, flannel pajamas, thick reading socks, and a scarf.The less your body has to work to keep your insides warm, the more energy it has to work on defeating the bad cells and any viruses in your body. Plus, you’ll feel extra cozy and comfortable with your warm clothes on.
Don’t forget to have a few extra blankets on hand if you need them when you sleep!
4) Try using essential oils and cold compresses
Essential oils have certainly gained popularity as a more natural way to deal with a variety of ailments and sicknesses. Personally, I think using essential oils to help with cold and flu symptoms like headaches, body aches and lack of energy, to be helpful. I’ll be sharing more about essential oils in a future blog post, but here are a few essential oils you can use for cold and flu season:
- Lavender Oil: Great for headaches and relaxing
- Peppermint: Great for helping clear out a cold
- Orange or Citrus Oil : It helps boost an immune system, but also gives you a bit of energy
Another thing that may help you cope with symptoms, is using a cold compress. I like to throw on my cool-gel sleeping mask over my eyes to help if my cold comes with a headache.
5) Take vitamins before, during and after your cold/flu
When your body is healthy and you have enough of the good vitamins in your system, it runs smoothly…But when you get a cold or the flu, you need to give your body and immune system a bit of a boost. As soon as you think you may be getting ill, it’s good to be proactive and take extra Vitamins to help your body. Here are a few of the vitamins I take to help when I feel a cold or flu coming on:
-Vitamin C: 1000mg x 3 capsules, once per day. It’s a little excessive, but it gives your body the boost of Vitamin C it needs to lessen the duration of a cold.
-Vitamin D: While most think of Vitamin D as the Sunshine Vitamin, it’s also helpful for fighting respiratory problems and colds.
-Echinacea: It’s derived from the Echinacea plant, and is supposed to help battle the cold and flu
-Cold FX: The main ingredient in Cold FX is Ginseng, which is supposed to help with the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms, as it boosts the immune system. It’s also worth noting that Cold FX has a few types of Cold supplements and daily immune boosting supplements.
It’s also good practice to take some form of vitamins and supplements everyday, so you may consider taking these even when you don’t have a cold, just in smaller doses.
6) Keep hydrated with cold or hot liquids and immunity boosting drinks
Your body is made up of about 70% water. If you’re losing water through your mucus drainage or…other drainage…then you need to replenish. If you consider that you’re supposed to drink 8 glasses of water per day, then you need to up that amount to keep your body hydrated and processing like usual.
Drinking water is definitely important, but if you’re looking to soothe a sore throat or help your throat/nasal passages stay warm, then you need to turn to hot liquids. A common combination is honey, lemon and cayenne pepper, but I choose to be a bit of a rebel drink my usual Black Tea or Orange Pekoe. It may not be the most hydrating, but they do soothe my throat and keep my nasal passages open.
Speaking of teas, there are also immunity boosting teas on the market. If you visit your local grocery store, you can purchase Tetley Tea Immune: Super Herbal Tea which has Lemon, Echinacea, and Zinc to help restore the normal function of the immune system. You can also find immunity boosting teas at specialty tea shops like David’s Tea. No matter if you choose pre-packaged tea bags or opt for loose-leaf tea, they both use plants and herbs to help your immune system.
7) Have pain medication to help you manage
With the cold or flu, it’s common to have a few aches and pains. Whether you’re dealing with sinus pain, headaches, muscle pain or minor chest pain from coughing, it’s okay to treat your symptoms with painkillers. Tylenol is a common choice for cold and flu season because it’s good for body pain and fever, while some choose Advil to help because of its anti-inflammatory properties to keep airways from staying inflamed. You’ll have to decide which one suits your needs more. Talking to a pharmacist or knowing from past experiences with cold/flu season, may help you decide.
Keep in mind: If you’ve been sick for a few days without improvement, or if your symptoms are getting worse at a rapid rate, then you should definitely visit a doctor’s office. You may have something more than a viral cold or a mild flu—like a bacteria that needs antibiotics, or complications from the flu.
General Ways To Beat the Cold and Flu
Now let’s not forget the basics of beating the cold and flu. The best way to stay healthy is to be proactive. Stick to a good sleeping routine. Rest when you need to. Wash your hands often. And if you work with people at risk of contracting the flu, then definitely get a flu shot.
How do you plan on beating the cold and flu this season?
