How to Get Through a Bout of the Flu

Cold and flu season is upon us. Many people have already been hit with the dreaded flu like symptoms that come with the cold weather. Most people have experienced the flu or flu like symptoms at some point in their life. Sometimes the symptoms of the flu can feel like something much more serious. It can be difficult to know when a medical physician visit is necessary. It can also be confusing as to the appropriate steps to take to recover from the flu, as quick as possible.

Get a lot of rest. This one may seem obvious. However, many people with the flu tend to overdo it. They may not have the ability to rest as they should with work and family responsibilities. However, failing to rest when fighting the flu can actually make the symptoms worse and make the flu last longer. The flu can also be highly contagious. It is important to rest as long as possible, getting as much sleep as you can, away from other people.

Drink a lot of fluids. If nausea is one of the symptoms of your flu sickness, it is likely that food and drinks make you feel even worse. Dehydration, however, can make your symptoms much worse. It can also bring on new symptoms, making you feel even worse. Your body can handle a lack of food for a day or two, but it cannot handle no fluids in it. Sip on water or lemonade slowly. If you are still unable to keep anything down after a few days, consider visiting an after hours urgent care center.

Roughly 60% of all urgent care centers have a wait time of less than 15 minutes to see a physician or mid level provider, and 65% have a physician on site at all times. If you have to visit an advanced urgent care center, you should not have to wait very long to see a medical provider. According to a survey by The Urgent Care Association of America, 57% of patients wait 15 minutes or less to be seen, and about 80% of all visits are 60 minutes or less. You can be in and out in a short amount of time.

Take over the counter medications to reduce your symptoms. Although there is no cure for the flu, there are over the counter medications that can reduce your symptoms. Pay attention to the specific symptoms that the box claims to reduce, matching them to your current symptoms. If you experience symptoms for multiple days, you can even find urgent care locations near you and inquire about which over the counter medications can help you.

The majority of centers remain open until 7PM or later on weeknights (90.6%), with two out of five remaining open until 9PM or later. Many urgent care centers also have weekend hours, making it easy to get a quick appointment with a medical provider. If you simply need to see a medical provider for an over the counter recommendation, visiting a urgent medical care center can be much more convenient and cost effective than making an appointment with your primary care physician or visiting your local emergency department.

Take it easy and wait it out. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do to speed up your recovery from the flu. It can come on quickly, leave you feeling awful, and stay as long as it wants. You can reduce the symptoms by managing them, but nothing will entirely cure you, except for time. Take it easy while you fight off the flu, and allow your body to do what it needs to do.

Cold and flu season is here. When the weather gets colder, people get sick. The symptoms of the flu can be very uncomfortable and there is no cure for it. There are, however, ways to manage the symptoms and allow the body the rest it needs to get through it. If the symptoms become too unmanageable, a visit to your local urgent care center can help with selecting over the counter medication or with ensuring that it is not something more serious.