Viral Infections
Viruses invade your normal cells and use those to multiply. This replication can damage, change, or kill the infected cells. Sometimes, your immune system can fight it off, and you won’t experience any symptoms, while other times, viruses can make you ill.
When a viral infection knocks at your door, it may feel like an unwanted guest overstaying. Whether it’s flu, a common cold, or another viral infection, the path to recovery can be exhausting. Fatigue, sore throat, headaches, fever, cough, and body aches can be irritating and will make you weak. Although most of these symptoms do not last more than a week, some tips will soothe your symptoms and help you bounce back quickly.
1. Take Over-The-Counter Medication And Your Supplements
The flu and cold section of your medical store most likely has hundreds of options. Some medicines may help you cope with multiple flu symptoms, and others may target particular symptoms such as nasal congestion. Cough suppressants help relieve a dry cough, while decongestants can reduce pressure in your sinuses and open nasal pathways. Pain relievers may help alleviate headaches, body aches, and fever. However, remember that in case of severe symptoms, seeing a doctor is always recommended for proper medication.
Dietary supplements also play an essential role in maintaining your immune system. Consuming sufficient amounts of certain minerals and vitamins like zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin C is significant for healthy immune function. Deficiency of these vital nutrients can compromise immunity and make you more susceptible to viral infections. You can consider some of the best pharmacies, like Cody Drug Pharmacy, to get your required supplements. Not only can they deliver your required medication, but they also offer compounding medication, meaning their expert pharmacists will combine your desired ingredients (prescription from your doctor/dietician) to help you get your individualized supplements as per your needs.
2. Ensure Healthy Eating
You may want to indulge in a bag of chips and a bowl of ice cream, but your body requires healthier foods to speed up the recovery from an infection.
A nutrient-rich diet provides the vital minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that support your immune system in combating the virus. Your body’s nutritional requirements may increase during viral infection, making it crucial to nourish it with foods that aid recovery. Incorporating fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of fluids can help provide energy, alleviate inflammation, and accelerate healing.
Even if you don’t feel hungry, having regular meals to maintain your health is vital. However, if you can’t have your entire meal at once, eat it in breaks.
3. Try Honey If You Are Experiencing Severe Cough
You must have heard about natural remedies like honey for soothing a cough or a sore throat. It is actually true!
There is evidence that honey may decrease cough and mucus secretion in children. In a trial where 25 healthy males were given 500 mL of plain water, black tea, water with honey, black tea with honey, or black tea with sugar, honey demonstrated good demulcent and antioxidant characteristics, and it enhanced cytokine production, which may have antimicrobial benefits.
So, you can add honey to your tea to soothe your flu symptoms while staying hydrated.
4. Sleeping Helps
You may often find yourself on the couch or sleeping when you are ill. Though it can be annoying, feeling drained and unmotivated during sickness is common. In fact, getting enough rest is crucial. Your body signals you to slow down and take a break to improve your health.
Some immune processes start functioning while you sleep and help strengthen your body to fight off an infection.
Most advantages of sleep during infection are linked to aiding your immunity to fight the germs. Cytokines are proteins in the human immune system produced during sleep and help target viral infections.
Energy is necessary for the immune system to work properly. Your body directs your energy on tasks like movement and thinking when you are awake. While asleep, the body can divert that energy to your immune system, allowing you to recover as rapidly as possible.
5. Have Green Tea
Research shows that green tea components, like catechins, offer multiple benefits, including anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. Green tea also has vitamin C and theanine, which boost resistance to bacterial and viral diseases.
You can consume green tea two to three times a day to help soothe sore throat and severe cough.
6. Elderberry May Help Improve Symptoms
Elderberry has been used to treat colds and the flu for many years.
In a study, sixty individuals with flu-like symptoms who consumed 15ml of elderberry syrup at least four times a day felt better earlier than those who took a placebo.
In another experiment, individuals with the flu who had elderberry tablets several times a day reported less fever, muscle aches, headache, cough, and nasal congestion after two days.
Avoid consuming raw elderberries; they can lead to diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Know that consuming elderberry syrups or capsules is complementary, so ensure that you treat your viral infection with a prescription or OTC medication.
7. Include A Little Moisture In The Air
Exposure to dry or cold air can make your nose lining inflamed or irritated, and it releases more mucus, causing nasal congestion. The mucus drips into your throat, irritating it and causing a cough.
A humidifier or vaporizer can help incorporate moisture into the air and aid in congestion.
You can find different vaporizers and humidifiers at a pharmacy, local store, or online. Examples include steam vaporizers, ultrasonic humidifiers, and cool-mist humidifiers.
8. Stay Home While You Are Sick
Staying home when you have a viral infection is not only a responsible choice but also a crucial step in preventing the infection from spreading to others. Viral infections such as the common cold or the flu can be highly contagious. Try to stay home during this period to protect your friends and colleagues from infection.
Moreover, rest is an essential component of recovery, and staying home allows you to get adequate sleep, prioritize self-care, and minimize stress, all of which can expedite your recovery process.
Conclusion
Navigating a viral infection can be back-breaking; however, with the right tips, a quick and successful recovery is within reach. From maintaining healthy nutrition to getting plenty of rest and practicing good hygiene, these tips can help boost your immune system and alleviate infection symptoms. It is equally important to seek medical advice, as some viral infections may need professional intervention. Remember, a combination of patience, self-care, and prevention is the key to a speedy recovery, aiding you to reclaim your vitality and enjoy life to the fullest.
