Feeling run down or sick is no fun… getting back into your routine and figuring out how to bounce back after getting sick. These tips will help!
According to Becker’s Hospital Review, the global pandemic comes with some unexpected developments. Namely, flu cases in the U.S. are at a record low this year. Even so, people are coming down with rare instances of the flu. Others may experience stomach bugs, colds, or even mild symptoms from the coronavirus. If you have recently been ill, return to your normal self and your normal routine sooner using the following tips.
Set Realistic Expectations
Knowing how long it takes for your particular ailment to run its course can be an important part of your recovery. For example:
- The common cold typically lasts just about a week. Particularly stubborn colds may linger for up to two weeks.
- When you come down with the flu, expect your symptoms to last five to seven days.
- Symptoms of the coronavirus last at least two weeks, but some people may take considerably longer to recover.
- Swimmer’s ear, an outer ear infection that affects people of all ages, will take seven to 10 days to clear up. Adults may contract swimmer’s ear from swimming, showering or bathing, or simply living in a particularly humid climate.
Once you know how long it will take for you to feel better, you can plan rest and days off from work accordingly.
Rest
Getting adequate sleep is an important part of any healthy lifestyle. It is especially important when you are recovering from an illness.
Plan to sleep a minimum of one extra hour per day. If you have the luxury of fitting it into your schedule, listen to your body and sleep as much as you need. Getting plenty of rest helps rejuvenate and boost your immune system — something that you want to encourage to work extra hard right now.
Drink A Lot of Water
Being sick leads to dehydration. Combat that dehydration by drinking lots of water. As many as 13 million U.S. households get their water from private wells. Whether you will be drinking well water, filtered water, or another source of freshwater, plan ahead and have plenty on hand and ready to drink.
It is also helpful to drink sports drinks, like Gatorade, for extra electrolytes, hot water or tea to help break up mucus and soothe a sore or scratchy throat, and to sip on hot chicken broth. Chicken broth is packed with minerals and nutrients, and it helps clear nasal passages.
Choose Nutritious Foods
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and choosing nutritious foods is just as important — and perhaps even more so — when you are recovering from being ill.
Eat fresh, whole foods, and do your best to put together a colorful plate. A diet rich in colorful whole foods is also a diet rich in vitamins and minerals that help stave off illness and disease.
If you continually fall ill, consider cutting back on your sugar and alcohol intake. Sugar may spike inflammation, while frequent alcohol consumption may inhibit your immune system.
Ask Your Doctor About Pain Management Options
Another important part of bouncing back after getting sick is prioritizing your comfort. If you continue to feel aches and pains — or any discomfort at all — as a result of recently being ill, talk to a doctor about your pain management options.
Some ailments, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis, frequent headaches, and neuropathy, leave patients with chronic pain.
Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medication, prescription medications, or natural remedies, like cannabis, essential oils, hot baths, or physician-approved physical therapy, stretching, or exercise program.
Legally prescribed cannabis is an effective pain management tool. In fact, 85% of medical cannabis is used to treat pain. Talk to your doctor about essential oils, like lavender oil or peppermint oil, that can be used to naturally alleviate pain.
Feel better — and stay better. Use the pointers above to recover from illnesses as quickly as possible and make sure your recovery sticks.
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