Five ways to ease the pain of flu

Influenza or ‘flu’ is one of the downsides of winter that can cause a range of health problems for you and your family.

With cold weather around the corner, executive principal officer of Liberty Medical Scheme (LMS), Andrew Edwards, shared the five easy ways to best protect yourself against the impact of flu viruses.

• Know the difference between flu and the common cold

Many people confuse the flu and getting a cold because cold symptoms often mimic flu symptoms, such as a runny nose and sore throat. Most people who get the flu will not need medical care and will recover in less than two weeks. It’s better to protect yourself in the first place and avoid having to take time off from work to get better. If you do get the flu, you can treat it with over-the counter medications, such as pain killers and nasal decongestents. Rest as much as possible and if complications develop, you will need to see a medical practitioner as soon as possible.

• Understand if you are high risk

Some people are more vulnerable to flu-related complications that can result in hospitalisation and in rare occasions even death. If you have chronic heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, serious kidney or liver disease or a compromised immune system as the result of chemotherapy, steroid treatment or HIV/AIDS, you may be at high risk for developing flu-related complications.

• Consider the flu jab

One of the easiest ways to protect you and your family from a bad bout of the flu or any related complications, is to get the flu jab – or flu vaccine.

This simple injection can help protect anyone over six months of age against the potentially dangerous complications of influenza.

• Stop the virus in its tracks

There are also easy steps you can take to stop the spread of germs, including washing your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Practice good health habits by getting plenty of sleep and exercise, managing your stress, drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthy food. It also helps if you cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the bin after you have used it.

To prevent the spread of virus to others you may come into contact with, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine1.

• Limit the effect of flu on your pocket

If you get the flu, use generic medicines wherever possible and visit your GP before seeing a specialist – and only if necessary. Because flu is a virus, you will only be able to treat the symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose. But of course, the best way to deal with flu is to avoid getting it in the first place by going for a flu jab.