5 habits that make the flu last longer

Drink less water

High fever is a common symptom of flu, easily causing sweating. Some people also experience vomiting and diarrhea, causing dehydration. People with flu need to supplement enough fluids to rehydrate and support the immune system to fight infection. Drink water, herbal tea or unsweetened electrolyte solutions, and avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Not getting enough sleep

People with flu do not get enough rest, causing the illness to last longer, take longer to recover, and weaken the immune system. The body needs reasonable rest time to fight viruses, in which quality sleep plays an important role in helping to recover faster. Patients should sleep about 7-9 hours per night, arrange a clean, tidy sleeping space, have soft lighting, and limit the use of phones, watching movies or social networks before bed to not affect sleep quality.

Choose the wrong food

People with flu should avoid foods that burden the digestive system such as processed foods, fried foods, and drinks high in sugar. When you have the flu, your immune system is weakened and needs to be supported with appropriate nutrition. Foods rich in vitamin C help boost immunity and support bone and cartilage health. Good sources of vitamin C include strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.

Green leafy vegetables such as kale and bok choy are rich in vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial for the immune system. They can be eaten cooked or blended for easy digestion. Eggs are a source of high-quality protein and contain zinc and selenium to help the body recover faster. People with cholesterol problems should limit yolks, eating only about one yolk per day.

Delay medical examination when symptoms persist

People with flu should see a doctor when their fever is above 39-40 degrees Celsius for a long time, does not respond to fever-reducing medication, is accompanied by confusion, convulsions, shortness of breath, chest pain or signs of dehydration such as little urination and dry lips. High-risk groups including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with underlying medical conditions need to be hospitalized early if symptoms worsen or recur after improvement to prevent complications.

Patients should not arbitrarily buy medication without a doctor’s prescription. Overuse of cough suppressants and vasoconstrictors can mask symptoms, prolong the illness and increase the risk of complications such as pneumonia or respiratory failure.