Flu causes and remedies

Cold fever
(26 Mar 2008)

Influenza or the flu as it is commonly known is a respiratory illness that occurs as a result of a number of flu viruses. As a result of these viruses, the airway tract of an individual gets acutely infected. This infection in some cases also spreads to the lungs.

This respiratory illness is very common and affects a number of people. Flu is very often confused with the common cold. It becomes very difficult to differentiate flu from a cold with the help of symptoms alone, but generally speaking, people who are infected with the flu suddenly feel sicker and weaker as compared to if they had the common cold. People suffering from flu complain of body aches, have a high fever, dry cough, and feel extremely tired. On the other hand, those suffering from a common cold usually have a stuffy or runny nose. Most people who get the flu take about a week or two to recover.

There are a number of ways you can avoid getting infected with flu viruses. Exercising regularly, avoiding sugar, as increased sugar levels can impair the functioning of your immune system, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, washing you hands as often as possible, and reducing your alcohol intake are some of the ways you can avoid getting the flu. Here are a few natural flu remedies that will help relieve symptoms of cold and flu.

Include foods that boost the immune system in your diet. Vegetable and fruits that are brightly colored contain phytonutrients that will give a boost to your immune system and lower your susceptibility to the virus. The antiviral properties of garlic are effective in fighting off a flu virus. Make sure you include lightly-cooked or raw garlic in your diet. Drinking green tea also helps your immune system fight the flu and also kills off the viruses. Cayenne pepper has anti-infection properties that help fight any infection. These natural flu remedies, if followed on a regular basis, also help you avoid the flu.

There are a number of cold and flu remedies for children, toddlers, and women in their pregnancy period. Flu relief can be got by giving your child some honey. For children who are 1 to 5 years of age half a teaspoon honey helps. Older children could be given about one teaspoon honey. You could add a dash of lemon to some hot water and add some honey to it. Honey should not be given to a child prior to his/her first birthday, as it could cause an illness known as botulism that is sometimes fatal. Flu relief for children and during pregnancy can also be got through gargling with salt water. Natural flu remedies work best for pregnant women.

Colloidal silver has strong antiviral and antibiotic properties and helps fight the flu virus if used immediately once the symptoms appear. An enzyme that is needed for viruses and bacteria to survive in the body is disabled with colloidal silver.

Try natural flu remedies such as elderberry. Elderberry extract helps shorten the period of your flu infection. Research has shown that it has immune system boosting and antiviral properties.

Put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ears after every couple of hours once the symptoms of flu appear. This will kill the virus before it has a chance to spread.

If you have a throbbing headache and are finding it difficult to breathe through the nose, try applying a warm and moist compress to the sinuses and cheeks for quick relief. A warm shower might also provide you with some relief.

answered by G M on 16 Feb 2011, 2:22:04

Flu is a viral condition that occurs when your immunity is low and you are exposed to the influenza virus. The virus is usually present in our environment all-round-the-year. However, it is only when our immunity is really low that we get sick from the virus. The symptoms of flu are a lot like that of common cold, and at the outset, it may appear that a person has common cold and not the flu. The symptoms of cold develop very slowly. Some of the most common flu virus symptoms include fever of over 102˚F, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing, general malaise, sore throat, fatigue, frequent muscle aches and headaches, and watery eyes. The symptoms of a cold, though same as that of flu, are usually milder. In some cases, flu causes nausea, sweats as well as chills, tiredness in the arms and legs, and loss of appetite.

Flu causes are mainly viral in nature. There are a number of viruses that may cause flu. Flu treatment is primarily based on relieving the symptoms of the condition. Since there are no particular treatments for the virus itself, the treatment of flu focuses on treating the symptoms and improving the quality of life. You can treat your symptoms as your body fights off the viruses that cause the condition in the first place. There are flu remedies that you can try at home that can help with the sore throat, cough, and stuffy nose. These remedies, since they are natural, have no side effects and are extremely effective. Since flu causes are viral, doctors will refrain themselves from giving antibiotics, as these would not really help your condition. As the signs of flu begin to disappear, you will feel much better.

In extreme cases, flu causes dizziness as well. In such a case, you will have to take a lot of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Flu remedies for adults and children are usually the same. Since these remedies focus on relieving the symptoms of flu, similar treatments for children and adults are used. The flu remedies for children who are very young, or infants, are milder than those given to adults. The flu remedies for kids include chicken soup and throat lozenges for the cold and sore throat. Flu remedies and pregnancy may not mix well together. Therefore, flu remedies for pregnant women should only be used after consultation with the doctor. There are many over-the-counter drugs available for the treatment of flu symptoms. However, these drugs should not be used by pregnant women. For pregnant women, natural flu treatment is recommended, but only after the doctor gives these treatments a go ahead.

There are flu shots available for prevention of the influenza virus from attacking. In order to ensure good health, you should get yourself a flu shot, especially if you are planning to get pregnant. Though flu is not a life threatening disease, the influenza virus may be deadly for pregnant women and may also affect the developing fetus. There are some minor symptoms of flu shot which may experience after the shot. If the symptoms worsen, consult a doctor immediately.

For others, flu can be dealt with in the following manner: If you have a fever, you should get plenty of rest. This helps your body combat the virus. If you smoke, you should stop smoking immediately so that your body’s immunity is not suppressed. Drink clear soups and broths and a lot of fluids to keep the buildup of phlegm low. Also keep yourself as warm as you possibly can. Gargle with warm water to relieve soreness in your throat. Gargle twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed. If you have a stuffy nose, you can use saline sprays to treat it.

answered by G M on 2 Feb 2011, 5:13:11

Flu causes and remedies

Excessive body heat means you have a fever and excessive body coldness would be translated as chills. If you are swinging between the two at any point in time, you are probably suffering from the flu. In this case, you would need to keep your body warm at all times, even when you are feeling hot with fever. The aim of this exercise is to break the fever and make you sweat, thereby regulating your body temperature. The general rule for treating flu simply is to drink plenty of hot fluids and wear several layers of warm clothing and most importantly, stay indoors.

You should drink a glass of hot milk with one teaspoon of turmeric powder added to it to fight the infection that affects your upper respiratory system when you have the flu. If you are feeling excessively warm, chances are you have a fever. Keep in mind that if any fever lasts for over week, it requires medical attention, even if it is infrequent. Drink substantial quantities of water to replace lost body fluids. Opt for easily digestible food like porridges and gruels and avoid spicy, rich food. It is also advisable to have fresh fruit juices as this will help tremendously.

answered by M W on 27 Mar 2008, 1:00:50

Flu causes and remedies

Cold fever (26 Mar 2008)

Cold fever
(26 Mar 2008)