Colds and influenza (flu) are illnesses of the upper respiratory system, which includes the nose, mouth, throat, and lungs. Both are caused by viruses and share the same symptoms. However, cold symptoms are usually milder and develop more slowly than flu symptoms.
We know from experience that the overall discomfort and lost workdays are terrible enough, but did you know, according to CDC, flu killed 12,000 to 52,000 people every year between 2010 and 2020 and caused about 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations?
Generally, the elderly, children, and malnourished individuals are at the greatest risk of serious consequences, but cold and flu season should not be taken lightly by anyone. Read to learn how to stay safe this flu season or recover quickly.
Easy Ways to Prevent & Treat Common Cold or Flu
With the ongoing pandemic and flu and cold season around the corner, many of us are wondering how to prevent getting sick this season. On the other hand, if you are already under the weather, you probably want to know how to recover from flu and cold as quickly as possible.
In this blog, we discuss different ways to prevent and treat the common cold or flu. Continue reading to learn about IV Vitamin hydration therapy and a few other ideas for avoiding a cold and keeping healthy.
1. IV Vitamin Hydration Therapy
Many people are turning to IV Vitamin Hydration treatments to avoid colds and flu. IV therapy is an excellent way to avoid catching a cold or the flu because it supplies critical nutrients, vitamins, and electrolytes in a way that allows the body to use them to their full potential.
IV Drips can be customized to help improve your immune system by providing natural vitamins and minerals. A stronger immune system can aid in the battle against and potentially avoid seasonal flu and colds, which are common throughout the winter months. It can also aid in recovering from illness.
On the other hand, while recovering from a cold or the flu, IV treatment restores lost fluids and prevents dehydration. The IV drip contains many immune system boosting minerals like zinc, vitamin C, and glutathione. Take a look at how this nutrient cocktail can help you stay healthy.
• Zinc: The human body requires zinc to fight bacterial and viral diseases. Zinc supplementation has been shown in studies to reduce the duration of a cold.
• Vitamin C: Our bodies do not make vitamin C on their own, but we need it to fight illness, absorb iron, and keep our bones strong. With its antioxidant and immune-system-boosting effects, Vitamin C can also help shorten the duration of a cold.
• Glutathione: Since it is a potent antioxidant, glutathione acts as a regenerative to avoid cold and flu symptoms. Glutathione not only strengthens the immune system but also reduces oxidative stress and aids in the battle against viral, bacterial, and parasite illnesses. It can also help relieve chest congestion and the discomfort that comes with it if you already have an infection.
• Ascorbic acid: Mega doses of ascorbic acid can help protect cells from free radical damage, build collagen, and improve your immune system.
2. Stay Hydrated
Our body needs fluids and electrolytes to function. Staying hydrated helps your immune cells get to where they need to go to combat infections. On the other hand, dehydration can worsen any existing symptoms of cold and flu, including sore throat and fever. Sometimes, sickness-related aches are also difficult to distinguish from dehydration symptoms.
For all these reasons, it is essential to stay hydrated to avoid getting sick and recovering quickly. However, when you are sick, sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea all lose electrolytes, which is why taking fluids is not always enough to combat dehydration caused by illness. This is where hydration IV therapy can help you, delivering fluids straight into the bloodstream, where they are needed most. It’s a more efficient approach to hydrate.
3. Practice Good Hygiene
Small healthy habits can make a big difference in helping you avoid colds and flu. Regular hand washing, covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough, and sanitizing counters are all simple behaviors that can help reduce the spread of germs and boost your chances of remaining healthy.
If you start to feel a cold coming on, stay home from work and avoid crowds to avoid infecting others. You can also choose to wear a face mask to further limit the spread of germs in the environment.
4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Research suggests that healthy sleeping habits may help you boost your immunity and avoid getting sick. One study invited 164 healthy men and women to participate in a research project. The researchers analyzed each participant’s sleep for a week before infecting them with the cold virus. The findings revealed that people who slept an average of five or six hours per night were four times more likely to contract the common cold than those who slept at least seven hours per night.
The exact reason why getting a good night’s sleep is beneficial isn’t known, but the researchers have a guess: People who don’t get enough sleep have higher levels of inflammation, which increases the risk of getting sick. The good news is that IV therapy can help you achieve restful sleep. Some of the vitamins and minerals listed below have been shown to improve sleep quality:
• Magnesium: Did you know that stress and anxiety are common symptoms of magnesium deficiency? This mineral promotes relaxation and sleep by reducing tension.
• Selenium: You don’t need much of this trace mineral, but a lack of it can disrupt sleep. Getting enough selenium through IV therapy will help you sleep.
• Taurine: Taurine also aids in the production of melatonin and helps you relax before bedtime. Consequently, it works well for people who struggle to fall asleep at night.
• B Vitamins: The consumption of a diet rich in B-vitamins can be quite beneficial in sleep control. Supplementing these essential vitamins will simply serve to accentuate this effect.
5. Consider Getting Flu Shots
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone over the age of six months get an annual flu vaccine shot. However, the flu vaccine is especially important for people at high risk of flu complications and those who come in contact with others at high risk of complications. If you suffer from any long-term illness such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and chronic lung disease, it is best to get a flu vaccine shot before the flu season.
So, When Is the Flu Season?
Unless you live inside a bubble, there is a good chance that you may become infected with the cold and flu virus during the flu season. While these viruses can be found throughout the year in the United States, they are most prevalent in the fall and winter months.
Although the exact time and duration of flu seasons vary from year to year, influenza activity often begins to spike in October. Generally, flu activity peaks between December and February, while considerable activity might persist as late as May in some cases.
According to CDC reports, during a 36-year period spanning 1982 to 2018, February was the month with the highest flu activity for 15 seasons. Every season is different, but the height of cold and flu season normally occurs between the months of December and February.
Feel Better with Revive2Survive
Revive2Survive is a leading IV Vitamin Hydration Therapy facility in Philadelphia. If you’re feeling lethargic, fatigued, hungover, or under the weather and need a quick and effective treatment in the comfort of your own home, hotel room, or private office, our team of skilled, trusted, and certified medical specialists will come to you.
We guarantee high-quality, safe, and effective mobile I.V. services designed to provide 100% absorption, resulting in rapid results and major wellness benefits such as cleansing, rehydration, and immune system support. Reach out to book your IV vitamin hydration therapy session or learn more about our services.