Self-care Guidelines
While there is no treatment for the flu, there are several self-care
measures that you can take to help yourself feel better:
- Consider going to your physician, or if you are a student,
go to the Student Health Center and discuss taking an antiviral
medication
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink plenty of clear liquids such as water, juice, ginger
ale (one glass every 2 hours).
- Drink chicken or bouillon soups.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen to relieve aches
and to decrease your fever if it makes you uncomfortable.
NEVER take aspirin if you are a teenager or college age and NEVER
give aspirin to a child.
- Gargle with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt added to
8 ounces of water) if you have a sore throat.
- Drink tea with honey or lemon, or use lozenges or hard candy
to soothe sore throat pain.
- Sleep with your head raised on pillows to help relieve the
nasal congestion.
- Take a decongestant, such as Sudafed for a runny or stuffy
nose. Be
aware that Sudafed taken at bedtime can keep you awake
and sleep is important to being able to heal. If you have
high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, or asthma,
check with your physician before using decongestants.
- Take a cough medicine, such as Robitussin-DM.
- Try to limit your contact with others so as not to spread the
flu!
- Good hand washing and careful washing of dishes help to prevent
the spread of the flu (link to flu prevention guideline
page)
Links:
Flumist's "Do
I have the cold or flu?"
See our checklist to get information
on when you need to seek medical care
Should I exercise when I am sick?
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