Tips for Dealing with the Cold and Flu

Itā€™s that time of the year when getting sick is a huge possibility. The cold and flu are two of the most common illnesses during the winter months. The flu is usually caused by the influenza viruses A and B. Colds can be caused by a variety of viruses. Some symptoms of both the flu and cold include: a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough and body aches.

Regardless of which illness you may have, getting sick can be time-consuming, stressful and agonizing. Here are six tips from the MSU Health e-Guide to help you deal with the cold or the flu this winter season.

sick woman in blanket
Taking good care of yourself will help you beat the cold or flu.

1. Get plenty of rest
Reduce the amount of activity involved in your normal day-to-day routines. Bed rest can help you feel better and avoid spreading the cold or flu to others.

2. Drink plenty of fluids
Hot water, herbal tea or chicken soup are good remedies for the cold and flu and can help relieve a stuffy nose. Also, drinking plenty of fluids replace those lost from a fever.

3. Relieve aches and pains with acetaminophen or ibuprofen
Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Motrin) to relieve body aches.

4. Use petroleum jelly for a raw or sore nose
If your nose gets raw from rubbing too much with tissues, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to relieve the soreness.

5. Take a hot shower
Take a hot shower to relieve a stuffy nose or head.

6. Get a flu shot
You can help prevent the flu by getting the flu vaccine every year. It is recommended that you get the flu shot as soon as itā€™s available.

Call your doctor if your symptoms improve, but then seem to get worse again.

For more information on the cold and flu, such as the flu vaccine, antibiotics and flu complications, visit the MSU Health e-Guide website at http://health4u.msu.edu/eguide/

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