Flu is a viral infection causing a respiratory illness and usually is prevalent when immunity levels are low. The varieties of flu and the symptoms they produce can be quite intense, but in most cases, it is not much of a threat. However, it can still affect your well-being strongly.
Just like with other illnesses, knowing its causes and symptoms will tell how it will best be handled, either from resting at home to seeking the assistance of doctors.
What is flu?
Flu is the ordinary illness affecting the respiratory system and related areas. Most people have had the flu a few times in their lives without serious consequences. However, this does not mean that it should be neglected.
A study that was conducted by Sanofi shows that 68% of peoples are unaware of the risks of the flu . The first and most dangerous one is its impact on the immune system. It is very frequent that, owing to the load on the body, the flu worsens the other existing diseases, and it can turn to be fatal.
What causes the flu?
The flu is the result of an infection with influenza-type viruses, which are highly contagious. Its impact on health can vary depending on the context, immunity, vaccination and whether you have already contracted the specific strain of the virus in question.
Types of flu
There are different types of flu, depending on the type of virus that causes it. See below what these variations are and their main characteristics.
Type A
Type A influenza viruses are primarily infected by wild aquatic birds. These types of influenza are known to have caused several outbreaks, including swine flu in 2009; the Spanish flu in 1918; and the Hong Kong flu in 1989. This is due to mutations in the virus, which allow it to infect other species.
Type B
Type B viruses are designed to specifically attack humans. They are less common than type A viruses and have a lower mutation rate, which reduces the rate of infection.
Type C
Type C viruses can infect humans, pigs and dogs, and are one of the least common. For this reason, they usually cause localized outbreaks.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
The flu is usually easily identified by its symptoms. Some of the main ones are:
- chills;
- nasal congestion;
- headache;
- sore throat;
- muscle pain;
- fatigue;
- fever of 38°C or more;
- sweat;
- dry cough.
These symptoms usually appear suddenly and intensely, in the first few days of infection.
Flu risk factors
There are some factors that can make a person more vulnerable to the flu virus. The main ones are:
- children or elderly : people over 65 and under 1 year of age have an immune system that is more vulnerable to viral infections;
- chronic diseases : people with diabetes, heart, respiratory or neurological diseases also catch the flu more easily;
- pregnancy : women who are pregnant or up to two weeks postpartum should be careful with the flu, as their body is still recovering;
- compromised immunity : thyroid problems, HIV and use of immunosuppressive medications greatly increase the chances of infection;
- obesity : people who are overweight and do not practice physical activity tend to have a compromised immune system.
It is important to be aware of these factors and take the necessary precautionary measures to avoid contracting them in your daily life.
How long does the flu last?
In most cases, the flu lasts among 7 and 10 days, with spontaneous healing, so long as you relaxation and manipulate the signs. However, there also are instances which could end up greater serious, inclusive of in prone people or while related to different ailments. In those conditions, recovery is tons slower.
How to improve the flu?
Fortunately, there are several ways to deal with cases of flu. Here are some of the main ones.
Antiviral treatment
The maximum straightforward option is to use antiviral medications to get rid of the ailment. There aren’t any particular medications for these viruses, but there are general treatments that may be effective.
Rest and hydration
If your case is not extreme, you may get better certainly with relaxation, hydration and a healthful weight loss program . You can also use a few medicinal drugs to govern fever and cough.
How do if it’s the flu or a cold?
At first, many people confuse the flu with the common bloodless. However, there’s a vital difference: a cold develops slowly, while the flu has extra extreme and unexpected symptoms. The cold is also commonly a lot milder.
How to protect yourself from the flu?
In addition to vaccination, you may guard yourself by way of fending off direct touch with inflamed human beings. If it isn’t viable to maintain distance, it is recommended that each parties put on mask to save you the unfold of the virus.
Additionally, it is worth having regular checkups to identify health problems and other risk factors, especially diseases that can compromise the immune system.
Flu remedies
As we mentioned, there are no specific medications to treat the flu. What you will find are medications designed to treat the main symptoms, facilitating your recovery. In addition, of course, there are antivirals to control the development of the disease.
The flu is taken into consideration a not unusual and occasional-impact sickness. However, if you don’t take right precautions, it may additionally negatively have an effect on your well-being. Prevention is the best way to improve your great of lifestyles.