How Doctors Take Care of Themselves When They Get the Flu
When physicians get struck down with the seasonal flu, these are the practices that help them feel better.
Wet season in the Philippines isn’t for the faint of heart. There are typhoons coming in strong one after the other, floods and storm surges, sudden thunderstorms, and, oh yes, the selection of viruses and respiratory diseases that abound during rainy season, and can strike just about anyone. And “anyone” includes you and your physician.
During cold and flu season, doctors and their loved ones get felled by the same seasonal flu we do, but the way the pros handle their business is—as always—instructive for the rest of us. We asked physicians for their best tips for recovering from the flu quickly and thoroughly, as well as when to seek medical treatment. Ahead, learn the healing hacks that the healers use themselves.
Meet the experts
Arthur Dessi E. Roman, MD, MTM, FPCP, FPSMID, is an internist and infectious diseases and tropical medicine specialist, and Head of the Medical Department at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, a clinical associate professor at the Philippine General Hospital, and an active consultant at Manila Doctors Hospital.
Gelza Mae A. Zabat, MD, MPH, FPCP, FPSMID, is an internist and infectious disease specialist practicing at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and Taguig City.
Mary Gover, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in New York City.
Krystina Woods, M.D., is the director of infection prevention at Mount Sinai West in New York City, and an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
What are the signs and symptoms of the flu?
Unlike the gradual build of symptoms that can be associated with coronavirus, flu symptoms tend to descend on an infected person more quickly. “What is very commonly described when someone has the flu is a very rapid onset of symptoms. You go from feeling well to suddenly feeling unwell,” says Krystina Woods, MD.
Common symptoms, according to Arthur Dessi Roman, MD, are “fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat or itchiness, runny or stuffy or congested nose, sneezing, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Especially in children, vomiting and diarrhea may be present.”
Gelda Mae Zabat, MD, adds that generalized rashes can also be experienced. The symptoms generally last from seven to 10 days, though Dr. Woods points out that if you’ve had a flu vaccine, “duration is often shorter and symptoms milder.”
Dr. Roman says that flu symptoms can be mild if the patient has a strong immune system, but for the elderly, pregnant, and those with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, emphysema, and the elderly, complications can become more serious. Pneumonia can develop, says Dr. Zabat, so “patients who are very young, very old, or immunocompromised should be monitored.”
How do doctors care for themselves and their loved ones with the flu?
In the words of Mary Gover, MD, her partner’s bout with the flu reminded her that the illness is “gnarly.” “The one thing I would most want to impart on everyone is that the flu is a real bummer of an infection,” she says. “You do not feel well with the flu! The fever wipes you out, so you are exhausted. The body aches hurt. And the other symptoms are just icing on the cake of not feeling well.”
For Dr. Roman, in case he or his loved ones start to develop any flu-like symptoms, “I tell them to wear a mask right away and minimize contact with other individuals. Cough etiquette by covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, frequent hand hygiene and disinfection of areas you frequent are important to minimize infecting others.”
To help alleviate those gnarly symptoms, here are a few of the steps that our experts take when they or a loved one catches the flu.
Stock up immediately.
“Flu is very contagious and will often spread to all members of a household,” says Dr. Woods, who saw this firsthand last flu season, when a close friend, her husband, and her kids all fell ill. “If one person in the household has flu, it’s a good idea for the still-healthy household member to get to the grocery store and pharmacy and purchase enough [supplies] to last for the week, for everyone at home, in case you all get sick,” says Dr. Woods.
That only applies if you have one healthy family member on hand, however: If everybody is already sick, she suggests asking another loved one to shop for you (or consider placing an online grocery order). “Do your part to keep your friends and neighbors healthy by not going out or socializing when you’re sick with the flu,” she says.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
“The most important thing to remember when you have the flu is to stay hydrated. Dr. Zabat says that hydration is very important to help our bodies fight off the virus.”Fever and the infection itself can leave one feeling dehydrated with a dry throat, making the phlegm more sticky and difficult to cough out,” she explains. “Replenishing your fluid stores, particularly with electrolytes, is important,” says Dr. Woods.
She recommends coconut water, a natural source of electrolytes, when possible, as well as products like hydration fluids, or electrolyte powders mixed in water. (For her part, Dr. Gover has used electrolyte tabs, powders, and drinks.) If you are caring for a child with the flu, Dr. Woods recommends offering ice pops to children as a fun and effective way to keep them hydrated.
Make sure you eat healthy food.
If you have no appetite, try eating bland, salty foods. Stick to sick-day mainstays, like saltine crackers and chicken soup. If you have an upset stomach, Dr. Woods suggests having chicken broth only. Dr. Zabat considers eating healthy second to hydration. “One has to have nutrients to be able to fight off the virus. I usually tell my patients that if their taste is off, they can eat fruits because somehow, the fruits retain their natural taste.” Dr. Roman suggests going for your favorite comfort food. “It’s a cliché, but it can help. Fresh fruits and vegetables, broths, soups or congees are some examples.”
Over-the-counter medicine.
For Dr. Zabat, providing relief from symptoms is very important, so she recommends taking “decongestants for stuffy nose and colds and paracetamol for fever and body aches.” Reach for non-prescription medicines that can help bring down a fever and relieve muscle aches. Dr. Roman also says to reach for medicines to address symptoms—anti-fever, cough suppressants, analgesics for headache and body pains and cold remedies and decongestants.
Gargle with warm salt water.
“Gargling with antiseptic gargle or salt water solution may also help with a painful throat,” says Dr. Zabat. Dr. Roman also recommends drinking warm tea with some honey, which can also help alleviate throat itchiness and irritation.
For persistent coughs, try lagundi.
“Lagundi is a common herbal medicine that has been proven to reduce cough,” says Dr. Roman, who also cautions that there is no evidence for other herbal medications to treat flu at this time.
Don’t get too cold or too hot.
In addition to taking medication, fever management can also mean being extra cognizant of your body temperature. “Take a lukewarm (not hot) bath,” says Dr. Woods. “Just make sure you get out of the tub before the water starts to cool, because shivering can increase core body temperature.”
She also suggests dressing in loose-fitting, breathable fabric such as cotton, which helps keep the body from overheating. “When you have chills, it’s OK to wrap up in a blanket. But as soon as you start to feel sweaty, it’s best to remove the blanket to avoid overheating.
Get as much rest as possible.
“This is not the time to try to work from home,” says Dr. Woods. “Rest and sleep are big components in healing and getting yourself back to 100%.” Dr. Roman advises patients to see if they need to take a break from work. “Resting to recharge and recover is very important.”
When should you seek medical treatment for the flu?
Most people with the flu don’t need to seek medical care, says Dr. Woods. That said, certain patients may need to contact their doctors. According to Dr. Gover, that list includes patients who are more than 65 years old, immunocompromised patients, and those with certain chronic conditions, all of whom have a higher risk of complications from flu, such as pneumonia. She also suggests that pregnant women contact their doctors if dealing with the flu. “For someone outside these categories, contact your doctor if you are unable to keep foods and liquids down or take them in and if you develop a pronounced cough or respiratory symptoms,” she says.
Dr. Roman also says to contact your doctor ASAP for the following cases: if you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or you are unable to keep food down, if fever persists beyond two days, cases that include alarming symptoms such as seizures, bluish lips, skin or nails, chest pain, increased sleeping, confusion, or severe muscle pain or weakness.
But most importantly: don’t be afraid to get in touch with your physician if you have the flu. As Dr. Gover puts it, “If you have symptoms and are uncertain, it is never wrong to contact your doctor for guidance.”
A note on medications for the flu
Medications for flu generally involve treating its symptoms. “We treat the symptoms of fever, colds and cough,” says Dr. Zabat. She mentions, however, that after you seek advice from your doctor, your doctor may prescribe an anti-viral medication. “The use of the antiviral is very important, especially among those who are at risk for severe disease. This will prevent complications such as pneumonia,” she explains.
Dr. Roman, on the other hand, stresses that “antibiotics are not routinely given to viral infections at the outset because antibiotics do not cure viral infections.” He explains, “I emphasize this to my relatives, who are sometimes very insistent that they need antibiotics. Antibiotics are only started when there are clear indications that there is a superimposed bacterial infection already. Usually that means that fever has persisted beyond five days, there’s thick and yellowish phlegm, pus, and swelling of the throat or tonsils, or if I suspect pneumonia after a thorough assessment.”
Originally published by Allure US
