5 Key Items to Survive Cold and Flu Season

Everyone knows the telltale signs of coming down with an illness: you start to get the chills, your throat feels scratchy and your body begins to ache. It might just be a common cold, but that can still knock you out of commission while it runs its course. Monitoring your health is essential to avoid sharing your sickness with friends, family and co-workers.

One of the first things you should reach for is a thermometer to see if you have a fever. A fever is the body’s natural way of fighting infection, so if you have a temperature higher than what’s normal for you (98.6 is considered normal, though some people have lower or higher base temperatures), that’s a clear indicator that your antibodies are working hard to protect you from something. If you have a fever over 100 degrees for several days, it might be a good idea to check in with a healthcare professional to make see whether medication is necessary to treat your illness and relieve fever symptoms.

Another reason it’s good to know whether or not you have a fever is that it’s a big part of your being in charge of your personal health and wellness. During your illness, you might need to take your temperature several times each day to see whether resting and fever reduction medicine is having the desired effect. As you start to feel better, you’ll see your temperature return to the usual reading.

If your fever or condition worsens, your healthcare provider will want to know what your temperatures have been if you end up feeling bad enough to seek their care. Fortunately, telehealth visits are often available so you can stay cozied up in bed instead of making the trek to a doctor’s office. If you are having trouble breathing, your professional care team will want to know if enough oxygen (O2 in scientific terms) is getting to your blood cells. The good news is, you can easily measure your blood oxygen saturation level at home with a pulse oximeter. Additionally, many of the latest smartwatches now feature advanced health metrics and may be able to detect O2 levels.

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re officially sick, whether by official lab results or the fact that you feel horrible, it’s time to make yourself as comfortable as you can be under the circumstances. There are certain products that can make an enormous difference when you’re trying to get as much rest as you can to recover quickly. For example, if you have a cold, running a humidifier in your bedroom adds moisture to the air which can help loosen a dry, persistent cough and alleviate dryness that’s resulted from repeatedly blowing your nose.

On the other hand, if you’re having trouble blowing your nose in the first place because it’s congested, using a facial steamer can do wonders for opening up nasal passages. Some models even have the option of adding essential oils that are known to support that process. Just be sure to have a box of tissues ready after your steamy session gets your sinuses moving.

Being comfortable also means managing your pain. One symptom that the flu is famous for delivering is body aches, although some severe colds can also bring them to the party. Applying heat with a heating pad can help soothe your sore muscles and joints. Likewise, electric blankets can be useful in taking the edge off an episode of the chills. If your body is craving a bit more TLC, try a shiatsu massager with a heat element feature.

Those who are familiar with the saying “starve a fever, feed a cold,” will know exactly what that means when sick with a cold or the flu. When your fever is high, you rarely feel like eating or drinking much of anything. Not to mention, an upset stomach caused by the flu isn’t very conducive to consuming your favorite foods. However, it’s important to keep a water bottle nearby to sip from every so often. This will help to prevent dehydration than can result from several days of high fevers.

Getting enough fluids is also a big part of nourishing your body during a cold. Plus, when you’re suffering from the sniffles and a sore throat, having an insulated mug of hot tea can do wonders for your weary soul. Rather than waiting for water to boil each time you need a refill, try using an electric tea kettle that heats up water in less time than it takes on the stove.

Another everyday task that feels impossible when you’re sick is making something to eat. Which is why having the right kitchen appliances can reduce the amount of time you have to be out of bed. If you’re currently reading this amidst a bout with influenza, then your best bet for a wholesome meal might be heating up a can of chicken noodle soup in the microwave.

But if you’re a planner, you can enjoy fresh, homemade soup without much effort. While you’re still healthy, make a batch of Mother Nature’s medicine for a cold, then freeze it in storage containers. Then when you’re down for the count, you only need to put the frozen soup into a slow cooker that will heat up your sustenance and keep it warm until you’re ready to eat. Plus, if more than one person in your household is sick, this is an efficient way to feed a crowd.

One of the worst parts of being sick is not being able to do anything enjoyable. Even when you start to feel better, staying in bed for a bit longer may be necessary to fully recuperate. Unfortunately, being sick does not give you immunity from boredom. In addition to nourishing your body with the right foods and therapeutic remedies, your soul needs a boost as well.

Why not use this forced time away from your daily responsibilities to read a book on your e-reader or catch up on your TV homework that’s waiting on your streaming media player? If you don’t have a TV in your bedroom, you can just prop up your phone or tablet on a lap desk and relax until it’s time to take another nap.

Speaking of sleep, it’s typically easy to drift off when you’re under the weather. But if there’s other people at home during the day making noise, it can be hard to get the shuteye you need to get back on your feet. A perfect solution is to turn on a white noise machine that can block out the sound.

After you heal and rejoin the land of the living, remember to take steps to ensure that you stay healthy. Since your immune system might still be weakened, you might consider wearing a face mask when you’re in crowded public places. Another preventative measure is to make sure that you’re getting enough vitamins in your diet to improve your overall health. And because some colds are the results of irritating particles that are breathed in, set up an air purifier in your home to remove the culprits and improve air quality.

While you may not be able to completely avoid catching a cold or getting the flu, you can make it a less miserable experience. By having these key items on hand, you can address your symptoms quickly, treat yourself with care, be more comfortable and hopefully keep future sickness at bay.