Influenza: how not to get sick, and how to be treated

This year we are again afraid of swine flu, a particularly dangerous and treacherous. But we are with you, just sick, absolutely do not care what kind of flu come at this time: pork or fish. Prevention and treatment methods for any flu are the same.

From then defend

Influenza - an acute infectious disease caused by a virus. Is transmitted from person to person, it spreads rapidly. The virus mutates every year, and comes to us with a new epidemic.

The first symptoms appear within one to two days.

• Quick and sudden temperature rises.
• Bad headache.
• Sore eyes in bright light.
• There is an ache and pain in muscles and joints.
• Later, a cough, a runny nose.

Sometimes bundled with these symptoms are gastrointestinal disorders, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness.

The flu is dangerous, if runs hard and causes complications. At risk are young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those who have a chronic illness.

Medicines for flu does not exist. The most we can do - try not to catch and prepare the body so that the disease has passed in the form of light.

How to protect yourself from the flu

Influenza is highly contagious, that is easy for them to catch. Since the period of the epidemic, we can not sit at home bezvylazno not communicating with people, even with medical mask on face risk of catching the virus is very high.

In addition to the complete isolation of influenza protection is one - is vaccination.

But vaccination needs to be done 2-3 weeks before the expected epidemic, so that the body has had time to develop immunity.

Unfortunately, the vaccine protects only against a specific virus. That is to pick up another ARI (non-flu), you still can. But, believe me, the usual "cold, cough, sore throat" - it flowers in comparison with the flu.

The remaining precaution lies in the fact that it is necessary to reduce exposure to sick to a minimum and to strengthen the body. So, it is better to postpone trips to crowded places and traveling on public transport, wear disposable masks, as often as possible to wash hands, clean and ventilate the premises.

Caring for the body is in a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition, hardening, good recreation and sports. Buy at the pharmacy drugs "for immunity" is useless, influenza does not give vitamins.

If you are sick

Stop the flu - is like to stop the train. If you are late to the vaccine, no one can guarantee health. What if the flu get to you?

Stay home.

On behalf of all yet healthy Layfhakera revision is asking all patients not to go to work, do not drive the child to school, do not travel on public transport. Influenza without bed rest is too dangerous for you and for others.

Be sure to call your doctor, who will prescribe you antiviral agents and remind about the regime. If the third or fourth day of illness you will not get better, call your doctor again, you need to check whether not acceded to flu complications, and whether you need to change treatment.

What to take

We're getting to the fun part - to medicines. There is a temptation to buy a miracle pill that is completely shielded from any flu. And advertising with such promises to look is not necessary - she finds.

Indeed, in the early hours of the disease receiving antiviral drugs it helps to easily transfer disease. That's what about these drugs writes WHO:

There are two classes of such medicines: adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors of influenza (oseltamivir and zanamivir).

Translated from the human health which means that there are a number of drugs with these active substances, and the doctor will appoint them to you necessarily.

To increase resistance to infection modulators used local immunity. They may be in the form of nasal sprays, lozenges, capsules. Pay attention to the composition. The active ingredient of such drugs - lysates of bacteria. Funds in the right form you will also prescribe a doctor.

Unimaginable number of other funds (including the widely publicized), likely will spend the money. But the flu can not do anything.

Be careful with antipyretics. Firstly, not hasten shoot down temperature when the thermometer showed 37.3. Endure to 38.5 - up to the threshold body temperature via fights viruses without much harm to your condition. If the thermometer still shows more than you need, use ibuprofen or paracetamol. But aspirin is better to postpone (especially for children and adolescents).

How to help yourself

Get sick with influenza difficult and unpleasant, but you can help yourself to make it easier to transfer symptoms.

• Drink more. The best drinks - herbal teas and dried fruit compote. And more - it is not for one cup a day, and a few big pots. The fluid helps carry the temperature rise will not allow nasal congestion and soothe a sore throat.
• Ventilate. Aeration - is one way to disinfect the premises. And it will be easier to breathe fresh cool air.
• Maintain humidity. The optimum values ​​of relative humidity - 40-60%. When this indicator is easier to breathe, mucous membranes of the nose and throat are not dried, and therefore less likely to suffer from a virus attack.
• Every day there is dry cleaning. In the early days of the disease, even I do not want to move, but ask someone to help with the hook or wiping of floors and furniture. Wet cleaning helps maintain the right climate.
• Cheer, if possible, in a separate room, and when dealing with people, wear a mask to avoid infecting anyone. There is also a need to drink from separate utensils.

And remember that the flu is developing at great speed. Better to spend a few days at home and lie down until the body copes with the disease than a few weeks to deal with complications in the hospital.