Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? These could the signs of one of two things: either a) you have the flu or, b) you are Eminem. And while there probably aren’t very many people on campus who can lay claim to the fact that they are Eminem, there are probably very many who can say that they have the flu. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, fever, and chills. If you feel like this then you probably have the flu, and you probably also know that it is not a lot of fun. But fear not! Even though you and everyone around you may have the flu, there are a number of things you can do to make yourself feel better.
1. Drink hot tea or water with lemon or honey. This will help you to stay hydrated and reduce inflammation as well as loosen up all the gross stuff inside you. Plus it doesn’t taste half bad and is quite comforting during these cold winter months.
2. Steam. Steam helps you to relax! It is quite soothing and can help keep your nasal passages from getting dry and irritated. Use a humidifier if you have one. If not, extra-hot showers are a great alternative.
3. Gargle with salt water. This is a great thing to do when your throat is especially sore. Salt has had known anti-bacterial properties and can both prevent bacteria from growing as well as get rid of existing bacteria. It can also relieve inflammation, making your throat feel less sore.
4. Chicken Soup. This is an age-old remedy, and for good reason. Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties, and like drinking hot water, the hot liquid can help to thin and loosen up mucus, which can relieve congestion/
5. Rest. When you get sick, your body’s natural defences go to work against whatever bacteria or virus you have. Getting lots of sleep, or even just lying down when you need to helps your body direct its energy towards fighting off germs. So do yourself a favour and sleep in an extra hour or two.
While the flu may be a common occurance that many people will experience multiple times in their life, it still needs to be taken seriously, as it could result in complications. So while these tips may help in the short-term, if you find that things haven’t gotten better in a while, it may be time to see a doctor or try out some sort of medication. Even if this is your course of action, these tips won’t hurt you and in fact, can still work to help you feel better! The most important thing you should remember when having the flu is to get a lot of rest and drink lots of fluids. Just keep persevering! Thankfully, the flu doesn’t last forever.
Unfortunately for McGill students, the full brunt of Flu Season hits right around the time of midterms, and everyone knows you never want to be that kid coughing up a storm in the middle of an important exam. So cuddle up with a hot cup of tea or a bowl of chicken soup, get under the covers, turn on Netflix, and get some rest. Your body (and your classmates) will thank you.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/8-tips-to-treat-colds-and-flu-the-natural-way
http://www.personal.psu.edu/afr3/blogs/SIOW/2011/11/why-do-we-gargle-salt-water.html
Images obtained from: http://www.bayviewnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/flu.jpg
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