Fever—Fevers fight influenza viruses. Because viruses are sensitive to temperature changes and cannot survive above normal body heat, your body uses fever to help destroy them. Muscle Aches and Pain—You may experience sore muscles with the flu as it is also a product of your body's immune response.
Most symptoms go away in 4 to 7 days. The cough and tired feeling may last for weeks. Sometimes, the fever comes back. Some people may not feel like eating.
Vitamin C does not prevent colds and only slightly reduces their length and severity. A 2013 review of scientific literature found that taking vitamin C regularly did not reduce the likelihood of getting a cold but was linked to small improvements in cold symptoms.
Lingering symptoms like a cough and tiredness may stick around for upward of two weeks. Every person experiences illness differently. Some people may just have chest discomfort and a cough. Others may have a stuffy nose, sweating, chills, nausea, and more.
Flu-like symptoms: fever, head and body aches, fatigue. Upper respiratory symptoms: sore throat, cough, sneezing. Digestive symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Skin conditions: rashes, sores, blisters, warts.
The worst days of the flu are over. You will start to notice your fever is going down and less achiness in your muscles, but a cough and sore throat are normal at this point. You will still feel very tired, and may have some chest discomfort, making you want to rest in bed all day.
While it's certainly an annoyance, a tickle at the back of your throat could be a sign that you may be coming down with the flu (or another virus or illness). A sore, scratchy throat signals that white blood cells and antibodies are rushing to the area to fight infection – causing inflammation and irritation.
Water is the best fluid to drink when you have a cold or flu as it helps lubricate the mucous membranes of the throat. Hot drinks are also a good choice as the hot steam they produce can relieve congestion.
Body temperature rises at night
Combine that with your body's revved up immune system in the evening, and your low-grade fever is more likely to become a full-blown fever at night. This means more achiness and more of that all-around sick feeling.
You should make a full recovery within 2 weeks – while your body may have fought off the infection successfully, you may not feel 100% for up to 2 weeks after being infected. Most of your symptoms should have subsided by this point, but it's normal to feel weak and tired while your body recovers from the infection.
CDC recommends that workers who have flu symptoms upon arrival to work or become ill during the day should promptly separate themselves from other workers and go home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medications, or after symptoms have improved (at least 4-5 days after ...
Caffeinated beverages, alcohol and sugary drinks
Flu can cause increased temperatures and sweating, leading to dehydration, and caffeine and alcohol can worsen your symptoms. Another food to avoid is sugar-loaded fruit juice or aerated drinks, as they are not nutritionally-dense and can compromise your immune system.
Honey contains antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties that fight against the virus and treats the cold and its underlying symptoms. It also helps to soothe a sore or scratchy throat naturally and it can boost the immune system when you are feeling under the weather. And it's not just us saying this!
Plain flavored yogurt is the best way to help your body recover from touches of the flu and colds. When choosing a yogurt, be sure to pick one that is rich with probiotics. This healthy bacteria helps shorten the duration of your illness by giving your body the strength to fight back.
Worst foods: Avoid hard, scratchy foods such as potato chips, nuts, and granola. The acidic juices from many fruits and vegetables, as well as orange juice, grape juice, and lemonade, can also irritate a sore throat.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms are severe and include high fever along with nasal drainage and a productive cough. Antibiotics may also be necessary if you feel better after a few days and then your symptoms return or if the infection lasts more than a week.
The virus life cycle can be divided into three stages—entry, genome replication, and exit (Fig. 3.1 ).