Doctor Recommends Stocking Up On These Items Every Flu Season
Dr. John Mafi is a primary care physician and “associate professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,” according to CNBC Make It. Dr. John Mafi says that he tried to avoid using OTC medicines during cold and flu season and instead recommends that everyone keeps two items stocked. The two items he always has on hand are honey and garlic.
When Mafi gets sick, he says that one of the first items he reaches for is honey. Honey has been known to help with seasonal allergies and cold symptoms for a long time. Honey paired with warm tea can be one of the best things to have while sick or experiencing allergy troubles. Research has shown that honey is good at reducing the symptoms and duration of colds. It’s also specifically good at helping things like sore throat. It can be a good replacement for OTC medicines when you have a common cold.
However honey isn’t the best option for all people. Honey shouldn’t be given to babies or any child under one year of age. Mafi says it is also important that people with diabetes are watchful of their sugar intake if consuming honey. People who are allergic to things like bees and wasps should also be mindful when eating honey.
Garlic is also known to be good at helping cold symptoms. An experiment in 2014 showed that those who were given a garlic supplement had a 60% lower chance of getting a cold. However, the groups didn’t have a huge difference when it came to cold recovery time.
There was also a trial done in 2016 that showed that a group given garlic actually had a less severe and shorter cold than those who hadn’t. “The only harm with that is you get bad breath,” Mafi says.
5 Surprising Symptoms People Ignore Most When They're Sick
Cold sweats or Chills
Chills and cold sweats can be uncomfortable. Chills feel like a sudden wave of cold running through your body, making you shiver. Cold sweats, on the other hand, are when you start sweating but your skin feels cold and damp instead of warm. Some people may not immediately associate these symptoms with something serious. They might attribute them to temporary factors such as being in a cold environment or wearing too many layers of clothing. People may underestimate the significance of cold sweats or chills, especially if they are not accompanied by other noticeable symptoms. They may assume it’s just a passing discomfort that doesn’t require medical attention.
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Fever
When you have a fever, your body temperature rises above its normal range, which is typically around 98.6°F (37°C). Fevers can vary in severity and may range from mild to high-grade, depending on the underlying cause. Sometimes, people ignore a fever for a few reasons. They might think it’s just a common cold or flu and believe it’ll go away on its own. It’s important to remember that a fever can be a sign that the body is fighting an infection or an underlying health condition.
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Body Aches
When you experience body aches, you may feel soreness, tenderness, or a general sense of discomfort in your muscles, joints, or other areas. People may dismiss body aches because they may think it’s just a normal part of everyday life and not something to be concerned about. Some may believe their body aches are due to factors like physical exertion, tiredness, or overexertion during exercise. Also, if someone has experienced them before and they have resolved on their own.
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Green Mucus
Some people may believe that the color of mucus is not a reliable indicator of an illness. While green mucus can be associated with certain infections or respiratory conditions, it’s not always a definite sign of a serious problem. People may assume that it’s normal and will resolve on its own.
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Serious Cough
This kind of cough can disrupt your daily life, mess with your sleep, and leave you feeling exhausted. People ignore serious coughs for a few reasons. Some think it’ll go away on its own or believe it’s just a minor issue like a cold or allergies. Others worry about the cost or hassle of going to the doctor. There’s also the fear of getting a serious diagnosis that can make people hesitant to seek help.
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