Sleeping more than usual is helping your body build up its immune system and fight off your illness. If you find yourself sleeping all day when you're sick — especially during the first few days of your illness — don't worry.
In addition to aches and pains, chills are another tell-tale sign that your body may be fighting off a virus. In fact, chills are often one of the first symptoms that people notice when they're coming down with the flu.
For most healthy people, the flu is an uncomfortable but short-term illness that resolves itself as the immune system fights it off. Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days.
Flu: Fatigue Can Last for WeeksYou likely start off feeling extremely tired and achy all over. That fatigue and weakness may last for up to 3 weeks -- or even longer in seniors and people with long-term (chronic) diseases or a weak immune system. With a cold, you usually feel bad for just a few days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , an uncomplicated influenza infection will last from three to seven days in most people, including children. However, a cough and feelings of weakness or fatigue can last for two weeks or longer.
Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs.
What to expect with the flu
- Days 1–3: Sudden appearance of fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, dry cough, sore throat and sometimes a stuffy nose.
- Day 4: Fever and muscle aches decrease. Hoarse, dry or sore throat, cough and possible mild chest discomfort become more noticeable.
- Day 8: Symptoms decrease.
His results demonstrated that the influenza virus triggers a bodily response that causes a rise in serum glucocorticoid levels, leading to systemic immunosuppression. Such effects render the body vulnerable to bacterial infections that would otherwise be innocuous.
Experts aren't sure why some viruses lead to post-viral fatigue, but it may be related to: an unusual response to viruses that can remain latent within your body. increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, which promote inflammation. nervous tissue inflammation.
Most of influenza's misery is caused by the human body itself, or more precisely the immune system's response to the virus. "Many of the things that feel bad are the body's attempts to get rid of the pathogen that's causing the mischief," said Dr. Alan Taege, an infectious disease specialist with the Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors typically recommend flu patients on bed rest increase activity from nothing to some as the body tolerates it, says Dr. Neides. Once a fever has subsided and a person doesn't feel lightheaded or dizzy when standing, a little activity can be added gradually.
Continued
- Drink plenty of fluids. You need lots of liquids when you have a fever.
- Breathe hot air. Hang out in a steamy shower or cover your head with a towel and hold it over a sinkful of hot water to ease dry throats and nasal passages.
- Don't take antibiotics .
- Eat healthy.
- Don't smoke.
- Keep the flu to yourself.
People with flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
It's cold and flu season, and you've caught a bug. Again. Being sick can make getting through the day a chore, but hot showers can offer surprising relief when you're feeling your worst. Hot showers stimulate blood flow to the rest of your body, and deliver benefits that can lessen cold and flu symptoms quickly.
Give these a try today.
- Stay home and get plenty of rest. Mind your flu manners.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Make sure you get more liquids.
- Treat aches and fever. Got fever?
- Take care of your cough. Over-the-counter treatments can calm your hack.
- Sit in a steamy bathroom.
- Run the humidifier.
- Try a lozenge.
- Get salty.
In addition, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when you don't get enough sleep. So, your body needs sleep to fight infectious diseases. Long-term lack of sleep also increases your risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
Many people like sleeping in a cool room, but don't make it so cold that you wake up shivering in the middle of the night. When you're feeling sick, you might want to consider raising the temperature a little, rather than letting the thermostat drop. Just don't forget to change it back when you're feeling better.
