'Flu is most common during the winter months

Jenny Leggott offers advice on dealing with the inevitable bout of 'flu or cold which sweeps the population at this time of year.

It’s that time of year again: time for flu! Flu is one of those annoying illnesses which have a tendency to strike you down at the perfectly wrong time, like when you have a deadline looming and, unfortunately, there is no quick cure. However, there are several little techniques you could implement in order to help speed your recovery.

So what exactly is flu? It’s simply a virus which gets passed around in little droplets via coughs and sneezes that can spread rapidly. Also, as it’s a virus, antibiotics cannot be used to treat it. Very rarely they will be used but only if there is another bacterial infection alongside the flu, such as a chest infection, but this is a fairly uncommon occurrence.

So if you can’t get a quick fix with some meds from the doctor, what can you do to treat the flu?

Well, the best medicine, as basic as it sounds, is actually just resting. Getting some extra sleep will help you to recuperate and will also keep you from spreading the bug to those around you.

Don’t go wrapping yourself up tightly in your duvets - this can be detrimental. If you have a fever, don’t wrap yourself in a cocoon. Instead, lay your duvet across your body horizontally with your feet sticking out the bottom and pop open a window. This will help to lower your body temperature and will, in turn, help you to feel much better.

Some other things you can try are:

• Drink plenty of liquids (this does not include vodka by the way! Hot lemon and honey, hot Ribena – anything full of vitamin C is great.)
  
• Eat light meals when you feel like it (soup is a favourite.)
  
• Take painkillers if you have aches and pains with a high temperature, or general cold symptoms (asthmatics beware of aspirin, which could make you extra wheezy.)
  
• If you feel nauseous drink lemonade or tonic water.
  
• Try a steam inhalation if you’re feeling blocked up.
  
• Don’t exercise vigorously, you will just feel worse.
  
• Pop some Olbas Oil on your pillow (smells lovely and works a treat!)

All in all, flu sucks but there isn’t much you can do about it. My advice is to just enjoy the relaxation period and get your flatmates to wait on you hand and foot as, no doubt, you would do the same for them if the tables were turned.