If Flu Strikes Don’t Fear! MD Has Day-by-Day
Do’s and to Cut Your Downtime
You were diligent with your handwashing, immune-boosting and people-avoiding strategies, but did you still get slugged with that nasty flu? Don’t fret, it can happen to the best of us and can strike randomly. So, what do you do if you come down with flu symptoms?“You have to have a game plan on Day One of flu symptoms if you want to dramatically cut your downtime,” says Dr. Ken Redcross, author of, “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor,” and a board-certified internal medicine physician. “The key is to recognize, respond and relax if flu strikes and to know when to go see your doctor if conditions worsen.” Early warning signs that you may have fluinclude sudden excessive fatigue, body aches and chills, persistent cough, sore throat and fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Young children have their own flu warning signs including: not drinking enough fluids, crying with no tears, not waking up or interacting, not eating or having a fever accompanied with a rash and difficulty urinating.
According to WebMD, it typically takes 1-4 days for symptoms to show up once you’ve caught the virus, and a regular case of flu can take 3-7 days to go away. Redcross says defense is your best offense if flu strikes and will give your audience a day-by-day game plan, including what to do and what not to do, to cut down on sick time so you can recover quickly and get back to daily demands:
Days 1-2 Don’ts: No work, no school. Call in sick. If you are questioning whether or not to call in sick, then call in sick. If you are feeling fever or chills, don’t take a cold shower, it won’t break a fever and can have the opposite effect. Also, don’t give aspirin to children. Aspirin can cause serious complications in children under 18 known as Reye’s syndrome that can lead to problems with the liver and brain. Days 1-2 Do’s: The first 48 hours are the most critical! First step: stay home. You are highly contagious by the time you feel the onset of symptoms. In fact, adults can be contagious the day before symptoms begin through 5-10 days after the illness starts. Second step: begin taking over-the-counter pellets called Oscillococcinum. This homeopathic medicine has been used for decades to reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms including body aches, chills, and fever, but works best if started in the first
48 hours. A study found that 63 percent of patients who took Oscillococcinum within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms showed “clear improvement” or “complete resolution” within 48 hours.
Learn more about Dr. Redcross at: www.drredcross.com
Do This Not That For The Flu!
Do This Not That For The Flu! Part 2
