Summer is unfortunately over now and we are heading into the fall season. As we await for the temperature to drop and daylight savings to end, we also need to remember that cold and flu season is upon us! Getting sick is the worst. Making doctor appointments, going to get food, and even walking around can be burdensome when you are sick so a prompt and healthy recovery is desired and we have your back covered! With these tips below, you may be on your way to feeling better. A disclaimer for these tips is that you should consult with your doctor on these methods to alleviate your symptoms before you start trying them out. Feel better and try some of these tips out for yourself:
1. Try menthol candies, creams, or face washes
Menthol is a natural cough suppressant and helps you when you are congested. Menthol also comes in a variety of ways in the market.You can try Ricola candies or other menthol candies. You can also try Vicks VapoRub and massage the product on your chest and neck. Also, if you don't like the smell of Vicks, you can try a facial wash that contains menthol such as Burt's Bees Natural Face Essentials Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Menthol face washes have cooling and soothing properties and combined with a facial massage, you can help alleviate sinus pressure on your face.
2. Multiple Hot Showers
Try to take multiple hot showers if you don't have a humidifier since the steam will allow you to breathe more easily and give your sinuses some relief. Also, if you have a shower head that has multiple modes, you should try the massage mode and have the hot water blast so you can alleviate your body aches that come along with being sick.
3. Sleep (A LOT!)
Try to sleep as much as possible and don't feel guilty about it. It's better to go to work or class if you feel healthy, awake, and eager to learn rather than feeling sleepy, weak, and in pain (especially in your sinuses). Also, if you have to miss days off of school or work, make sure to let people know. You can always make up the work at a different time or stay late at work a different day when you feel healthier to make up the time if you have to.
4. Eat/Drink Anything Spicy or That Contains Ginger
Spicy foods have been recommended to me by doctors when I have been sick with bronchitis and eating those dishes definitely helped me drain my sinuses and alleviated my throat pain when I was coughing a lot. You can also try dishes that contain ginger if you don't have any restrictions associated with it. Ginger is known to help with cold and flu relief. An alternative to eating spicy foods is to make ginger root tea with lemon. Or you can try something that my old boss recommended, which is cutting a very small piece of ginger and gnawing on it, but BE WARNED! Ginger has a VERY strong, spicy flavor, which can be irritating if consumed in large, dense amounts.
5. Drink water or hot teas
Drinking hot teas such as cinnamon tea or mint tea can help alleviate your throat pain and help you flush mucus out of your system when you are sick. You can try whatever tea you like. If drinking tea is not your cup of tea, drink plenty amounts of water or juices so you can flush mucus out of your body.
6. Eat/drink grapefruit
Grapefruit is one of the fruits with one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C and has medicinal properties which may alleviate cold symptoms. Although it has a sour taste that many may not like, it still should be something you are willing to try so long as you don't have any restrictions! How I usually prepare my grapefruit is by putting it into the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit, squeezing out all the juice into a mug, and drinking it while it is warm. You can opt to microwave your grapefruit if you don't have an oven---just do it for 1-2 minutes. Have your grapefruit any way that you like.
