“A tickle in your throat, a fuzzy head or aches and pains are the first signs of getting a cold or flu, and it is essential to act quickly when you feel any of these symptoms,” said Peter Jordaan, principal officer of Fedhealth.
He suggested drinking water as soon as these symptoms arose. “Staying hydrated cuts down on symptoms like a sore throat and a stuffy nose,” he said. He also suggested that gargling with salt water was a good idea. “Salt draws out the excess water in your throat’s tissues, reducing inflammation, clearing the mucus and irritants from the back of the throat,” he said. “A saline nasal spray will also help reduce the impact of the symptoms.”
Jordaan also suggested one or two tablespoons of raw honey for a great alternative to cough medicine.
“If you can stay at home, rather skip work for a day,” Jordaan said. “Your body can fight off the virus better if you are rested and your colleagues will thank you for not making them sick too.
“A hot shower before bed will help you to get a good night’s rest,” he added. “If you start feeling a fever coming on, start vomiting or have a bad headache, call your doctor. Otherwise keep up the routine for the next few days to make sure that you kick that cold for good.”
Jordaan also offered tips on how to boost your immune system:
- Increase your intake of antioxidants such as vitamin C, A and E, beta and mixed carotenes and selenium.
- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice every day.
- Drink lots of tea as research shows that people who drink five to six cups of tea a day seemed to get a boost in the part of the immune system that acts as the first line of defence against infection.
