Author: Dinesh

How can one overcome this faster?

1. Hydrate : Winter can be a season when you do not drink enough water. Fluids are essential for proper functioning of bodily systems. During the winter months we do not feel thirsty even though the water content in our body reduces as it does all year long. We lose fluids when we sweat, urinate during bowel movements. During winter our sweat is evaporated quickly into the dry air around us. When this happens we do not feel like we are losing fluids. We are tricked into believing that we are not losing water which makes it more important to remember to drink water. During summer days our body gives us signals that we are losing fluids as when we sweat the sweat is not immediately absorbed into the air around us. Dryness in the air in winter absorbs our sweat instantly resulting in our bodies not giving us the signal to drink water and thereafter dehydration occurs. This is especially important for elders with kidney ailments.

2.Put off your early morning walk: Winter mornings can get very cold. Do not put yourself at higher risk of cold related ailments. The risk of respiratory ailments, flu and other cold related ailments increases when one exposes themselves to the severe morning cold. One does not need to tax their body making it work harder to breathe. We recommend postponing your morning walk to a later time. Instead of the 5 a m walk it can be taken up at 7 a m. Simple measure reduce the risk of falling ill.

3.Rest is Gold: Make sure you get enough rest when you have symptoms of flu. After all getting rid of it fast is more important than operating at half your abilities for many weeks. Hydration and medication is not enough. Rest is essential as by resting during the day the body can allocate more resources to fighting off the flu. Sleep gives the body the opportunity to focus on strengthening the immune system

4.Doctor consultation: Consult your doctor about anti-viral medicines. If you are 60 years of age or older you should consult your doctor if you have the symptoms of a flu. Unlike a cold, a flu can affect you suddenly and with severe symptoms. A flu can come back even after all symptoms have gone away. You are advised to keenly keep a tab of the various symptoms you may have. When you go to the doctors’, you are advised to wear a mask and maintain a safe distance from others.

5.Take a flu shot: Winter flu vaccines are a blessing for elders. Taking a flu shot increase your chances of a healthy winter manifold. You would like to be extra careful too when meeting groups of people including extended family and close friends. It is the elders that bear the greatest burden of a severe flu. The annual flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of flu and its potentially serious consequences.

Elders have to be more careful during the flu season generally. Nowadays the flu season seems to be here for the long haul. Lingering symptoms of flu which do not seem to be fading away any time soon need to be considered seriously by elders. Some simple steps to fight the flu or avoid it totally need to be followed as it is becoming more complicated each passing season.