Bouncing back from a cold or flu with Dr. Katherine Ker

Cold and flu season is coming to a close which means it should feel like spring very soon. In excited anticipation of warmer weather, we sat down with Dr. Katherine Ker,  to learn her tips for recovering from a cold or flu with a spring in our steps.

“Cold symptoms are mostly respiratory – sore throat, coughing, sneezing, and/or a runny nose. The flu can have these symptoms too, but you will also likely experience fever and chills, along with headache, muscle aches, and fatigue,” says Dr. Ker.

Here are Dr. Ker's top tips for bouncing back from a cold or flu:

  1. Rest even more than you think you should. Fighting off a cold or flu takes a lot of energy, so you may find yourself needing more sleep than the usual seven to eight hours to get back on track.

  2. Drink more liquids than you normally do. Staying hydrated – it's a good thing.

  3. Steam and hot showers will help. "Inhaling warm, moist air can help thin out and loosen mucus," Dr. Ker says. Make a mini steam bath by leaning your head over a bowl of hot water, being careful not to scald yourself. Or indulge in an extra-long shower.

  4. Take a pain reliever like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen because these can provide relief from fever and body aches, says Dr. Ker.

  5. Light exercise is a good idea – when you have a cold. Having a cold shouldn't prevent you from getting out and enjoying some light exercise. If you have the flu, listen to your body, skip the gym and get some more rest.

  6. Mom was right – sip chicken soup or any other warm liquids. Warm liquids like tea and soup can help thin mucus and calm the symptoms of a stuffed-up nose and bad cough.

  7. Eating healthy can't hurt and it can help you prevent future colds and flu.
     
  8. Dr. Katherine Ker, Lead Physician,l Family Medicine Teaching Unit, North York General Hospital
    Dr. Katherine Ker, Lead Physician of the Family Medicine Teaching Unit at North York General Hospital

This article first appeared in the April 2015 issue of The Pulse.

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