Taking Care of Yourself When Sick
Contributed by Isabella Paganini — Speak Up for Kids Student Intern, a Georgetown University student majoring in International Politics, with a global perspective on advocacy, leadership, and public service.
Getting sick happens to us all, but sometimes the best remedies can be done from home, without paying for a doctor’s visit or expensive medications. With illnesses like the cold or the flu, treating your symptoms can be quite easy. Just keep on reading to figure out what you need to do if you’re feeling under the weather!
Identify Your Sickness
The first step is trying to identify what kind of sickness you have. You may have any kind of illness, but the cold and the flu are common.
The common cold is harmless, but they can happen quite often since they spread very easily. Symptoms include congestion, coughing, sneezing, a sore throat, headaches, body aches, and a fever.
The flu is a contagious illness that can be anywhere from mild to severe. It can be prevented by taking the flu vaccine, but it is still possible to contract the virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, a sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Learn to Measure Your Temperature
A key skill to learn is measuring your own fever. A fever means your body temperature is higher than normal. This is important because a fever is a sign your body is fighting an infection. A normal body temperature is 98.6°F. Any reading of 100° F or higher is generally considered to be a fever. You can measure your fever with a thermometer in your mouth, ear, or on your forehead. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can feel your forehead with the back of your hand. If it feels hot, you may have a fever.
Fighting the Sickness
Once you have an idea of what kind of illness you have, you can get started on taking care of yourself and recovering. Here are some at-home remedies and general tips to feeling better:
Stay Hydrated: drink lots of water, electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade, tea, etc. Add some honey to your tea to help with a sore throat!
Rest: your body is using more energy than usual to fight the sickness so it’s important to get some more sleep and try to work/exercise less. Take this time to heal and recharge.
Eating: you might not have the appetite for a full meal but it’s still necessary to replenish your body with fuel and nutrients so it can fight the cold/flu.
Eating plain, starchy foods: bread, crackers, bananas, rice.
Eating liquid foods: soups, broth (chicken noodle soup is a delicious and great choice when sick).
Foods high in vitamin C, like oranges.
If you have a bit more of an appetite, try for protein-rich foods like Greek yogurt or plain chicken.
Visit Your Local Pharmacy
Aside from diet and rest, there are certain medications you can take, which you can find at your local pharmacy. If you don’t know what you can or should take, ask the pharmacist for their advice. On the other hand, pharmacies have designated sections for cold and flu, nausea, upset stomach, headaches, and many other types of illnesses.
Consider Visiting a Doctor
While most cases of the cold and flu can be treated at home, there are times when visiting a doctor is the safest way to recover. They are the experts after all!
But when do you need to see a doctor?
Flu: Running a high fever (100 F or higher) for more than 5 days, severe vomiting and nausea + can’t keep any food or liquid down
Cold: If your cold is accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, vomiting, or a persistent sore throat that lingers for more than a week and is intensely painful, or if it interferes with swallowing or breathing
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms above or feel you need to see a doctor, search for the nearest urgent care center or emergency clinic, or call your primary care doctor for an appointment. To know which places are covered by your insurance, you can visit your insurance account to get more information on your plan or call your insurance company.
Final Thoughts
Feeling sick is never fun, but with the right steps, you can take charge of your recovery from the comfort of your home. By identifying your symptoms, staying hydrated, resting, and knowing when to seek professional help, you’re giving your body the best chance to heal. Always listen to your body, and don’t hesitate to reach out to a doctor if your symptoms worsen or linger. Stay well!
