Flu Season Unmasked: What You Need to Know to Be Safe

By Martha Michael

There are plenty of matters that divide generations, but when history repeats itself, we get a replay of shared experiences. Early baby boomers grew up hearing about their grandparents masking up to avoid the 1918 flu, the same way the kids in Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will spend decades hearing stories about COVID-19 from their parents.

Viruses are ever present and will continue to cycle through communities, some reaching pandemic proportions. Understanding the facts and becoming aware of symptoms will help Americans reduce the spread.

When Americans -- and the world -- masked up and kept their social distance to combat the pandemic, it had a huge effect on flu numbers. Now that the masks are off, here’s what you need to know about staying safe.

What is Flu?

It’s easy to assume it’s the flu when we hear someone cough or sneeze, but the influenza virus is more serious than a slight head cold. A highly contagious virus, the flu is a seasonal respiratory infection affecting people of all ages, according to an article by the Better Health Channel. Flu season in the United States typically occurs during the fall and winter throughout the United States.

Symptoms of influenza include:

• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Decreased appetite
• Headache

Though you can’t place an illness on a firm schedule, flu viruses often follow a pattern of asserting themselves:

Day 1-3 - You get slammed with symptoms quite suddenly, which may include muscle pain, weakness, cough, headache, fever, congestion, and sore throat.

Day 4 - Your muscles ache less and you regain strength. Your sore throat turns to hoarseness but the fatigue may continue.

Day 8 - You experience a decrease in symptoms, but may continue to feel tired and maintain a lingering cough for a few more weeks.

Like research showed about the coronavirus epidemic, the flu is spread through droplets in your breath and nose secretions. Symptoms of the coronavirus are also similar, though some coronavirus patients experienced shortness of breath and loss of smell and/or taste.

The Flu and Serious Illness

Most of us are familiar with flu symptoms and we may be cavalier about them, but complications from the flu can have serious consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the kinds of complications that are triggered by the flu and sometimes they end in serious illness or death.

Potential complications from the flu include:

• Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart
• Encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain
• Myositis, or inflammation of the muscle tissues
• Organ failure, including respiratory tract and kidneys

Failure to address problems such as inflammation can lead to sepsis, and it can worsen symptoms of chronic medical conditions from asthma to heart disease.

According to an article on BrainandLife.org, influenza viruses have been associated with illnesses involving the nervous system, including encephalopathy, or a state of mental confusion. The 1918 flu epidemic has been linked to symptoms resembling those of Parkinson’s disease -- facial muscle weakness, slow movements, and a lack of balance. Not unlike the public’s response during the coronavirus pandemic, some Americans wore masks, but medical research was scarce and there was no effective flu vaccination to stop its spread.

What Are Natural Ways to Relieve Symptoms of Flu?

Prevention is one of the best strategies to minimize your suffering from flu symptoms, says an article by GoodRX Health. Because it’s so contagious, it’s a good idea to maintain a distance from loved ones who feel sick, particularly in the winter. And nothing is more “natural” than wearing a mask, as unnatural as it may be to you. The much-feared “twindemic” never materialized during the pandemic as flu maintained an “unprecedented low profile.”

You can also fend off viruses and other illnesses by employing home remedies that increase your body’s production of immune cells.

Drink Fluids

Water intake is a healthy practice year round because staying hydrated can maximize your blood’s ability to transport nutrients to parts of your body. When battling flu symptoms, soup or broth contributes to hydration and boosts electrolytes while also soothing your nose and throat with its steam. It’s also a way to get nutrients to your body when you don’t feel well enough to eat.

Get Enough Rest

Fatigue and exhaustion are signs you aren’t getting enough rest. Whether you’re battling a cold or your immune system is depressed, listen to your body’s signals and reduce your energy output to get reenergized.

Natural Supplements

There are numerous choices of over-the-counter vitamins and other supplements. Taking zinc and Vitamin C is one way to boost your immune system. Zinc can reduce symptoms of cold and flu when consumed in the earliest points of contracting illness. It is often found in the form of syrup or lozenges. Vitamin C has been known to shorten the length of illness. Many people maintain a diet high in Vitamin C to help prevent colds and flu.

Herbal Tea

In addition to the benefits of steam to moisten dry nasal passages, certain teas may reduce the risk of catching a cold or flu. Green tea and other herbal drinks contribute to better hydration, and by adding lemon you can diminish congestion and mucus buildup. Adding honey to your tea is one way to soothe a sore throat.

Essential Oils

By adding drops to your beverage or through the use of a diffuser, essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, and tea tree oil, can improve symptoms of the flu. You can also add it to your bathtub water or use it with massage. The scent can be effective in relieving flu symptoms affecting your nasal passages.

Chiropractic Care

A routine chiropractic adjustment contributes to overall wellness, and various treatment modalities may help ease aches and pains related to colds and flu. By stabilizing joints and addressing headaches and muscle pain, a chiropractor can help you lower the negative effects of illness.

Balanced Diet

Eating right is one way to maintain a healthy immune system, which goes a long way toward reducing the incidence of injury and disease. Healthline offers a list of foods to eat when you’re battling the flu.

• Leafy greens
• Oatmeal
• Broccoli
• Yogurt
• Chicken soup
• Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit

Disease control and prevention is a lifelong goal if you want to feel your best and maximize your productivity. Opinions may vary where recovery is concerned, but many of the common sense practices for health and wellness are widely accepted. Eating right, getting enough sleep, and reducing the risk of injury all top the list, no matter which generation you identify with.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.