The flu is caused by influenza, which is an extremely contagious respiratory virus that triggers symptoms including fever, chills, headache, dry cough, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and excessive tiredness. You don't have to experience all of the symptoms to have the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 5% and 20% of the population gets the flu each year. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and about 36,000 die from complications. If you have an underlying chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease or pregnancy, you are at an increased risk for developing serious complications from seasonal flu.
Facts
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the flu is spread through contact when the virus is left on a surface, such as a toy or door knob, and then brought to the eyes, nose or mouth. According to PreventTheFlu.com, you can stop this illness by avoiding close contact with sick people; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; washing your hands frequently; and bolstering your immune system by getting plenty of rest, reducing stress levels, getting good nutrition and taking a multivitamin supplement.
Tamiflu, which is the current antiviral medication offered by traditional Western medicine, has side effects that are worse than the flu. Tamiflu is used to reduce the number of days you suffer from the flu by 24 hours. But according to the American Chronicle, two recent studies from Great Britain found that more than half of the children who took Tamiflu had side effects that included stomach pain, headaches and feeling very sick.
Solutions
According to Holistic Online, you can use a number of different alternative natural flu remedies when you first recognize the symptoms of the flu. Keep your immune system healthy by getting 8 hours of rest each night; reducing your stress levels; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin. These factors will help your body heal faster.
You can enhance these basic methods through the use of herbal supplements such as garlic, green tea, Echinacea, fresh juice and vitamins C and D. Astralgus and ginger help boost the immune system and fight the virus. According to Rutgers, gargling with warm salt water helps to sooth the throat and reduces swelling in the tissues.
Warnings
Most people who do not have a chronic medical condition will recover well from the flu within one week. Using alternative natural flu remedies will help boost your immune system and reduce the time you are sick. But you may have a risk of developing serious complications. According to the CDC, these complications may include bacterial pneumonia; dehydration; worsening of any underlying medical condition such as asthma, diabetes or congestive heart failure; and sinus problems or ear infections.
You may also be at risk of developing complications if you are older than age 65 or are very young. See your primary care physician if your flu symptoms do not improve after a couple of days or if you get better and then develop symptoms again within 5 days.
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