How To Cure Cold and Flu Faster

You have a sore throat when you awake. Then the sniffling, coughing, and sneezing start. It is undeniable that you are ill. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for the flu or the common cold. But by making these wise choices, you can find relief more quickly.

Breathe easily. Your body puts forth a lot of effort to fight off the infection when you are ill. More energy is required than usual. Give sleep top priority. Stay at home instead of going to work or school, and suspend your normal schedule until you feel better

Get into bed. While relaxing on the couch can be helpful, avoid staying up late to watch TV. Lack of sleep weakens your immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections. Early bedtime and daytime naps are recommended. Do you struggle to sleep due to your symptoms? Try raising your head with an additional pillow. It can make breathing easier and relieve sinus pressure.

Take a sip. Drinking lots of water helps to reduce congestion and thin out mucus. Additionally, it avoids the headaches and fatigue that come with dehydration. Refill a glass or reusable bottle with water and keep it nearby. Avoid alcohol, caffeinated sodas, and coffee, which can make you feel dry.

Using salt water, gargle. It works well to relieve a sore throat. Mucus is loosened and swelling is reduced by the saltwater. Gargle several times per day using a solution of one-quarter to one-half teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of warm water.

Drink something hot. Curling up with a mug of tea is relaxing. Additionally, according to research, the heat can lessen cold symptoms like a sore throat and fatigue. Try drinking warm broth, lemon water, or herbal tea devoid of caffeine.

Take some honey with you. This gooey substance can soothe a cough and coat your throat. In one study, children who consumed roughly half a tablespoon of honey before bedtime slept better and coughed less than those who received a placebo. Add it to a cup of lemon water or decaf tea and stir. One word of caution: Honey should not be given to infants under the age of one.

Shower in a hot tub. Inhaling steam can help you breathe easier and soothe scratchy throats and runny noses. Despite conflicting research on the efficacy of this treatment, there is no harm in giving it a shot. Additionally, the heat can relieve any sore muscles.

Use an over-the-counter medication. One of these medicines might provide you with some relief. Take them as prescribed and avoid giving them to kids younger than 6 without your doctor's approval.

Painkiller for aches and fever. Typically, doctors advise taking acetaminophen. Check to see if the medication isn't already in any other cold medications you may be taking. Although it is frequently found in OTC medications, taking too much of it can be harmful. In order to determine how much is safe to take at once, check the label and ask the pharmacist.

For a sore throat, lozenges. The stinging can be reduced by the herbs and other ingredients in them.

A decongestant for congestion. This drug causes the blood vessels in your nose to constrict, allowing your airways to open. However, the liquid or pill form might give you a jittery feeling. Don't use decongestant sprays or drops for longer than three days because doing so can exacerbate congestion.

A mucus-thinning expectorant. It might help some of that thick discharge come loose.

To stop a runny nose, take an antihistamine. The chemical in your body that makes you sneeze and sniffle is blocked by this medication.

It may be more beneficial to take an antihistamine and a decongestant together than to take either one separately.

Use a flush or saline spray. Your nostrils become moist from over-the-counter saltwater sprays, making it simpler to blow your nose. You might also give nasal irrigation a shot. That is when a saline solution is gently poured into one nostril and allowed to exit the other. It removes dried mucus, allowing you to breathe more easily. Use a bulb syringe, neti pot, or sinus rinses that you can purchase. Always use distilled or cooled, boiled water to create the saltwater solution if you're doing it yourself.

Eat some soup. Mom was right: This go-to remedy for sick days actually works. According to research, chicken soup can reduce bodily inflammation. Your symptoms, such as the aches and stuffiness, might be lessened by doing this. Additionally, this meal contains calories and liquid to give your body energy.