Fighting off the flu can be rather exhausting. For this reason, staying hydrated is the best way of ensuring that your body has the necessary fuel for battling the virus.
If you’ve ever been to the doctor because of the flu, there’s a high chance that they told you to drink plenty of fluids.
It’s flu season again, (Flu season in Australia is July – August, sometimes stretching to September – October) which means that there’s a high chance that you’ve either caught it, or know someone that needs help battling it. The particular strain that is popular this year is a pretty tough one.
The reason is that it’s very widespread, and that the remedies aren’t that effective. In fact, the vaccine for it is only 10% effective in Australia. This means that everyone with the flu needs all the help they can get in order to fight through the disease as easily and effectively as possible.
Finding the right technique to battle the flu requires certain knowledge. For that reason, we’re going to explain what happens to your body when you contract it. After we do that, we’ll offer some of the best advice on how to make sure it doesn’t drain you, and how to manage it effectively.
Also read Flight Dehydration – How to stay hydrated on a long flight.
How Does the Flu Affect Your Body?
As you probably know, flu spreads mainly through the air. This means that if the distance between you and an infected person is shorter than 6 feet, you’re likely to catch the virus yourself.
After you inhale it, the virus latches itself to the mucous membranes at the back of your nose, throat, and bronchial tubes. At this point, you probably won’t even notice that it’s there, since it still hasn’t started replicating.
To replicate, the virus enters the cells of the mucous membranes and use their metabolic mechanisms. At the beginning of this process, your body still doesn’t recognise any danger. The problem occurs when the virus starts spreading and invading a larger portion of your body. This is when your body activates the anti-inflammatory response to start battling it.
When this happens, you start feeling the symptoms. What’s interesting is that it’s not the virus that causes them, but rather your body. In order to fight it off, it activates proteins, and the fight between them and the viruses damages your body.
Common symptoms are pain, fever, and low energy levels. This is especially troublesome for people living an active lifestyle. Athletes usually suffer from a severe drop in energy, which prevents them from performing well. This is why making sure to give your body everything it needs to battle the flu is important. Out of all the things you can do, ensuring sufficient fluid intake is the most important.
Hydration – Your Best Weapon
If you’ve ever been to the doctor because of the flu, there’s a high chance that they told you to drink plenty of fluids. This includes soup, water, and other healthy liquids. But why is this the case?
The main reason for this is that you are far more prone to dehydration (dehydration symptoms) when you have the flu. The war between the virus and your body takes a toll on your fluid level. You might start noticing that you don’t have to go to the toilet as often, and that your urine is darker.
This is a clear sign that your body needs fluids. What’s important is that you choose the right ones. Of course, water should be your best friend, but sometimes plain water isn’t enough, since your body can’t absorb it.
Instead, water that contains high levels of electrolytes should be your choice. Electrolytes ensure that your cells stay hydrated and give you more energy and strength. Drinking both plain and electrolyte-rich water can make a world of difference when battling the flu. Water will do a better job at helping proteins reach the virus faster, and boost your immune system.
If you use this method, you’ll feel more energised and spend less time feeling sick, so you’ll be able to go back to your best performance much quicker.
The Final Word
We hope you now have a better picture of the way your body battles the flu. You can use this knowledge to find the best techniques for fighting it off as quickly as possible.
SOS hydration wants to help everyone combat the virus more easily. This is why we designed the drink that is full of important electrolytes and can ensure that you replenish the water you lost during this fight more easily. To learn more about our solution, visit our shop for more information.
