Are you worried about your Nausea & vomiting?
Influenza is commonly known as the flu. It is a highly infectious viral disease that everyone will experience at some stage of their lives. If you are suffering from the flu, you may find that you experience a very high temperature, at 38 degrees or above, suffer aches and pains all over your body making you feel tired or exhausted, it is common to suffer a sore throat, cough, or headache in addition to nausea and in some cases, you may also get diarrhoea. It is likely that while you are feeling run down you lose your appetite and as a result you may find that you lose a small amount of weight unintentionally. In most cases your symptoms will last no longer than two weeks and will gradually improve on their own. If your child is suffering from the flu, they may find it harder to cope with the symptoms and seem out of sorts, they may also experience an additional symptom of earache.
Although it is a common and completely natural problem, feeling sick is an unpleasant experience that you will encounter in your life. If you are feeling nauseous there are things you can do at home to help alleviate your discomfort and help you recover a healthy balance afterwards. If you are feeling sick you could try venturing outside for a short walk, if you are not able to do this then opening a window to refresh the air circulation in the room may help. It may not be easy but try not to focus on the feeling, instead distract yourself by watching a film, reading a book, or listening to music. Avoid eating large meals with greasy or fried fatty foods or drinking fizzy or caffeinated drinks that may irritate your stomach and worsen your symptoms. Take sips of water or food and drink that contain ginger or peppermint, a proven herbal remedy, to ease the symptoms instead. Try to avoid wearing tight clothing that puts pressure on your waist, instead opting for looser fitting clothing. If you are experiencing nausea at night try to avoid eating late in the evening, as lying down soon after eating a meal can exacerbate your symptoms. It is important to note that the flu is a highly contagious disease that is easy passed from person to person through coughing and sneezing which can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours. Covering your mouth when you need to cough or sneeze or wearing a mask may help to reduce distribution of germs, as will hand washing and antibacterial hand gels.
- Try to get some rest
- Remember to drink plenty of fluids and keep hydrated
- There is no need to avoid food but try to eat small portions and avoid fatty, greasy foods
- Take paracetamol if you are suffering from additional symptoms
- Avoid fizzy drinks, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks
In most cases feeling or being sick is not a symptom of a serious underlying illness or condition, it is often temporary, and it will likely go away on its own. Often additional symptoms will dictate what is causing it and how you are diagnosed. As you get older your ability to fight a common infection like the flu is reduced making you more vulnerable, if you are getting older you may benefit from a flu vaccine, it is beneficial to receive your vaccine dose in the autumn as the flu will be more prevalent during winter months. If you, your child or somebody vulnerable experience any of the symptoms listed below then it could be a medical emergency and you should seek immediate medical assistance.
Here at VIDA we have expert clinicians on hand to help diagnose and treat your condition. To find out more about these services, we recommend visiting the following pages:
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