When should you seek medical attention for flu symptoms. How can you tell if your flu is becoming dangerous. What are the warning signs that indicate you need to see a doctor for the flu. Which flu symptoms require immediate medical care.

Recognizing Severe Flu Symptoms: When to Seek Medical Help

The flu typically resolves on its own within a week or two for most people. However, certain symptoms can indicate a more serious illness that requires medical attention. Understanding these warning signs is crucial for protecting your health and preventing potentially life-threatening complications.

Here are 8 key indicators that you should see a doctor for your flu symptoms:

1. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
2. Chest pain or pressure
3. Persistent vomiting
4. Pregnancy
5. Asthma or other respiratory conditions
6. Heart disease
7. Recurring symptoms after initial improvement
8. High-risk groups (elderly, very young children, immunocompromised individuals)

Respiratory Distress: A Red Flag for Flu Complications

Are you experiencing difficulty breathing or shortness of breath with your flu? This could be a sign of a serious complication like pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that can develop from flu infections, causing up to 49,000 deaths annually in the United States.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• Rapid or labored breathing
• Inability to catch your breath
• Bluish lips or face
• Chest pain when breathing

The Link Between Flu and Pneumonia

Why does flu sometimes lead to pneumonia? The influenza virus can weaken your immune system and damage the protective lining of your respiratory tract. This makes it easier for bacteria to invade and cause a secondary infection in your lungs. Prompt medical intervention can help prevent this dangerous complication.

Chest Pain and Flu: When Your Heart Needs Attention

Is chest pain a normal flu symptom? While body aches are common with flu, chest pain or pressure is not typical and should be taken seriously. This symptom could indicate several dangerous conditions:

• Pneumonia
• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
• Heart attack

For individuals with pre-existing heart conditions, flu can significantly increase the risk of cardiac events. Research has shown that the risk of heart attack can increase up to six-fold during the first week of a confirmed flu infection.

Protecting Your Heart During Flu Season

How can you safeguard your cardiovascular health during flu season? The most effective strategy is prevention through vaccination. If you have heart disease, getting your annual flu shot is crucial. Should you develop flu symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly to discuss antiviral treatments that can reduce the severity and duration of your illness.

Dehydration Danger: When Vomiting Becomes a Serious Concern

Can vomiting from the flu be dangerous? While not all flu cases involve vomiting, persistent nausea and inability to keep fluids down can lead to severe dehydration. This condition can rapidly become life-threatening, especially in children and the elderly.

Signs of severe dehydration include:

• Extreme thirst
• Dark-colored urine or decreased urination
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dry skin that doesn’t bounce back when pinched

The Hidden Threat of Sepsis

In some cases, persistent vomiting and dehydration can be signs of sepsis, a life-threatening complication of flu. Sepsis occurs when your body’s response to infection causes widespread inflammation, potentially leading to organ failure. Prompt medical treatment is essential to prevent this dangerous condition.

Flu During Pregnancy: Protecting Mother and Baby

Why are pregnant women at higher risk for flu complications? Pregnancy alters a woman’s immune system, heart, and lungs, making her more susceptible to severe illness from flu. These changes can persist for up to two weeks postpartum.

Potential risks of flu during pregnancy include:

• Premature labor and delivery
• Low birth weight
• Increased risk of birth defects
• In severe cases, stillbirth or maternal death

Flu Prevention and Treatment for Expectant Mothers

How can pregnant women protect themselves from flu? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends flu vaccination for all pregnant women. If you do develop flu symptoms while pregnant, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Prompt treatment with antiviral medications can help reduce the risk of complications for both you and your baby.

Asthma and Flu: A Dangerous Combination

Why is flu particularly risky for people with asthma? Asthma affects the airways in your lungs, making them more susceptible to inflammation and irritation from viral infections like flu. This can lead to more severe symptoms and a higher risk of complications such as pneumonia.

If you have asthma and develop flu symptoms, be alert for:

• Increased difficulty breathing
• Worsening of asthma symptoms
• Need for more frequent use of rescue inhalers
• Symptoms that don’t improve with your usual asthma medications

Tailored Treatment Approaches for Asthmatics with Flu

How should flu be treated in people with asthma? If you have asthma and suspect you have the flu, contact your healthcare provider promptly. They may prescribe antiviral medications to help reduce the severity and duration of your illness. However, it’s important to note that the antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza) is not recommended for people with asthma, as it can cause wheezing and other respiratory problems.

Heart Disease and Flu: Minimizing Cardiovascular Risks

How does flu affect people with heart disease? Flu can put additional stress on your heart, potentially leading to serious complications such as heart attacks or worsening of existing heart conditions. The inflammatory response triggered by the flu virus can also increase the risk of blood clots, raising the chances of heart attack or stroke.

If you have heart disease and develop flu symptoms, watch for:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Bluish lips or extremities
• Sudden dizziness or confusion

Proactive Management for Heart Patients

What steps can heart disease patients take to protect themselves during flu season? Getting an annual flu vaccine is crucial for reducing your risk of infection and potential complications. If you do develop flu symptoms, contact your cardiologist or primary care physician promptly. They may recommend early antiviral treatment and closer monitoring of your heart condition during your illness.

Recurring Symptoms: When Flu Takes a Turn for the Worse

Should you be concerned if flu symptoms return after initially improving? A resurgence of symptoms, particularly high fever and severe cough producing green or yellow mucus, could indicate a secondary bacterial infection such as pneumonia. This situation requires immediate medical attention.

Be alert for the following signs of a potential complication:

• Fever that returns after having been gone for 24 hours or more
• Worsening cough, especially with thick, colored mucus
• Increased shortness of breath
• Persistent fatigue or weakness
• Development of new symptoms unlike your initial flu symptoms

The Importance of Follow-Up Care

Why is it crucial to seek medical attention for recurring symptoms? Secondary infections can be just as dangerous as the initial flu virus, if not more so. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent these complications from becoming life-threatening. Don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you experience a resurgence of symptoms or if your condition fails to improve after a week.

High-Risk Groups: When Immediate Medical Care is Essential

Who is considered at high risk for flu complications? Certain groups of people are more vulnerable to severe flu illness and should seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms. These high-risk categories include:

• Children younger than 5, especially those under 2 years old
• Adults aged 65 and older
• Pregnant women and those up to two weeks postpartum
• People with chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, kidney disease, liver disorders)
• Individuals with weakened immune systems
• People with a BMI of 40 or higher
• Native American (American Indian or Alaska Native) individuals

Tailored Treatment Approaches for High-Risk Patients

How does flu treatment differ for high-risk individuals? If you fall into one of these categories and develop flu symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. They may recommend early antiviral treatment, which can significantly reduce the risk of complications when started within the first 48 hours of symptom onset. Additionally, closer monitoring and more aggressive supportive care may be necessary to prevent potential complications.

Understanding the signs that indicate a need for medical attention is crucial for managing flu effectively. While most cases of flu resolve on their own, being aware of these warning signs can help you seek timely care when needed, potentially preventing serious complications. Remember, when in doubt, it’s always better to consult with a healthcare professional. Your health and well-being are paramount, and prompt medical attention can make a significant difference in your recovery from flu.

8 Signs You Should Go to the Doctor for the Flu

Most people who come down with the flu experience mild illness that usually runs its course within a week or two. In this case, a trip to the doctor might not be necessary.

But for people who are at risk of complications from the disease, the flu can become life-threatening. Even if you live a healthy lifestyle, you can get seriously ill from flu.

The flu can cause some or all of these symptoms:

• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffed nose
• muscle aches
• headaches
• tiredness
• fever
• vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
• chills

Every year, between 5 to 20 percent of Americans get sick with the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated between 9.3 million and 49 million cases of the flu every year since 2010.

So, when should you see a doctor if you’ve got the flu? Here are eight reasons to seek medical attention.

Being sick with flu shouldn’t affect your breathing. It could be a sign of a something more serious, such as pneumonia, an infection of the lungs.

Pneumonia is a common and potentially serious complication of flu. It causes up to 49,000 deaths in the United States every year.

Feeling pain or pressure in your chest is another warning sign that you shouldn’t ignore.

The flu can trigger heart attacks and strokes in people with heart disease. Chest pain is also a common symptom of pneumonia.

Vomiting depletes your body of fluids, making it difficult to get well from the flu. Because of this, you should call your doctor to get examined.

Vomiting or not being able to keep liquids down could also be a sign of sepsis, a serious flu-related complication. If not treated immediately, sepsis can lead to organ failure.

If you’re pregnant and get sick with the flu, you’re at a higher risk of complications, such as bronchitis.

You’re also at a higher risk of having your baby prematurely or at a low birthweight. In some cases, having the flu while pregnant may even lead to stillbirth or death.

The CDC recommends that all pregnant women get a flu shot. But it does not recommend the nasal spray flu vaccine for pregnant women.

One in 13 Americans has asthma, a disease that affects the airways in the lungs. Because people with asthma tend to have weaker immune systems, symptoms of the flu are often worse.

Adults and children with asthma are also more likely to be hospitalized for flu complications and develop pneumonia compared with those who don’t have asthma.

If you have asthma, you should see your doctor about taking an antiviral medication. But you shouldn’t take the antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza), as it can cause wheezing or other lung problems.

About 92 million Americans have some form of heart disease or live with the aftermath of a stroke. If you are one of these people, you’re more likely to develop serious flu-related complications.

Researchers have found that the risk of a heart attack goes up six-fold during the first week of a confirmed flu infection.

If you live with heart disease, the best way to avoid the virus and potential hospital care is to get the flu vaccine.

Your symptoms shouldn’t reappear after they’ve subsided. A high fever and a severe cough that produces green or yellow mucus are possible signs of an infection such as pneumonia.

You’re at a higher risk of flu complications and should seek medical treatment right away if you fall into one of these categories:

• women who are up to two weeks postpartum
• children younger than 5, but especially those younger than age 2
• adults ages 65 years and older
• residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
• people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney or liver disorders, and chronic lung disease
• people with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as HIV or cancer
• people younger than 19 who are on long-term aspirin therapy or take salicylate-based medication
• people who are obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more
• people of Native American (American Indian or Alaska Native) descent

If you’re over the age of 2, you can use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to ease your symptoms at the start. However, it’s more important to see a doctor immediately. Parents of children under 2 should consult a pediatrician before giving them OTC medications.

Antiviral drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor or healthcare provider. Taking antiviral medications within two days of getting sick has been shown to lessen symptoms and shorten the length of the illness by one day.

If you relate to any of the points above, you should make seeing your doctor a priority. Even if you don’t have asthma, chest pain, or symptoms that have returned, if you’re ill with the flu virus and you feel something isn’t quite right, you should seek medical attention.

When Should I See a Doctor for the Flu?

Overview

If you get the flu, you’ll likely experience a high fever, sore throat, cough, and lots of aches and pains. You might feel like you don’t need to see a doctor, and opt to treat yourself with extra rest and fluids. But in certain cases, seeing a doctor will help you get better faster and prevent major complications.

Since 2010 in the United States, the flu has resulted in 140,000 to 960,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 to 79,000 deaths each year. During the 2017-2018 season, there were at least 185 flu-associated deaths in children, and roughly 80 percent of these deaths occurred in children who hadn’t received a flu vaccination.

Even though most people recover in a week or two at home, the flu shouldn’t be taken lightly. Being aware of when you should see a doctor is important.

Symptoms of the flu are similar to the common cold, but tend to come on more rapidly and are much more severe.

The most common symptoms of the flu include:

• fatigue
• fever above 100°F (38°C)
• sore throat
• dry or wet cough
• chills
• muscle aches
• runny or stuffy nose

You should go to the emergency room if you have any of these symptoms:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• sudden dizziness
• severe neck stiffness
• loss of consciousness

Some people are at a higher risk of experiencing dangerous flu-related complications, like pneumonia or bronchitis.

You’re considered high risk and should see a doctor at the first signs of the flu if:

• you are age 65 or older
• you have a chronic medical condition (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)
• you have a compromised immune system
• you are pregnant or up to two weeks’ postpartum
• you’re a nursing home resident

If you fit into one of these categories, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication. These medications work best when they’re taken within the first 48 hours after symptoms start. The earlier you can see a doctor, the better.

If you’re not considered high risk and you’re not having severe symptoms, you can likely skip a trip to the doctor and ride out the flu with rest and fluids.

But there are a few other reasons you should plan a doctor’s visit. These include:

• your fever gets better, then suddenly worsens
• your symptoms don’t improve within two weeks
• you can’t get rid of your cough or your cough begins producing thick mucus
• pain is concentrated in a single area (like your ear, chest, or sinuses)

Most people recover from the flu within a week. But if you start to get better and then rapidly deteriorate and your fever spikes again, this could mean you have a flu complication. The main complications of the flu are infections of the sinuses or lungs (pneumonia).

If you get sick with the flu and are at high risk of flu complications or you’re concerned about your illness, you can always call your doctor’s office for advice and to find out if they think you should come in.

If you decide to head to the doctor’s office or emergency room, wear a facemask if you have one. Wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Getting a flu vaccine can greatly lower your chances of getting the flu. In the 2016–2017 flu season, the flu vaccine helped prevent an estimated 5.3 million flu-related illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits, and 85,000 hospitalizations in the United States.

How doctors treat influenza: doctors told what they do if they get sick themselves

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Doctors shared tips on what they do themselves if they get ARVI or flu and are treated at home. Everyone says the same thing – there is no one way to quickly get better, but there are complex methods that you can also adopt.

December 16, 20224

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If you catch a virus – SARS, flu, covid – and the disease proceeds without complications, then any doctor will leave you to recover at home, and some will not even prescribe any medications.

– There is no magic pill to get rid of the virus . But then there are remedies that will ease your condition and speed up your recovery – and they will not cost you a penny, the doctors said in an interview with the Huffigton Post. – This is how we treat influenza and SARS ourselves if we become infected during the epidemic.

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How Doctors Treat When They Get Sick

Eat the Right Foods

“I support my body when I get sick with rest, plenty of fluids, and high protein foods,” says Dr. Dhawal Desai of Atlanta. – The patient’s diet should include eggs, fish, chicken, natural yogurt, whole grains. But it is better to exclude sausage and products that do not have nutritional value, as well as coffee and strong tea.

Do not drink alcohol during illness, doctors add, it can disturb your sleep, dehydrates and categorically does not combine with antipyretics if they have to be taken.

Drink a lot

Hydration is essentially a healing treatment, doctors are sure. It is imperative to drink during illness – and even more than you usually do.

— It is obligatory to drink warm water when you are sick. Not bad if the drinks are with vitamin C – fruit drinks, decoctions, diluted natural juices. The optimal ratio of water to other liquids is 70 to 30, advises doctor Elena Chernenko. – During an illness at a temperature, you should drink up to 100 ml of liquid per kilogram of body weight and up to 50 ml per kg of body weight – for coughing, runny nose and SARS without fever. We are talking about the rate of fluid per kilogram of normal human body weight – minus extra pounds.

Sleep a lot and stop exercising

If you don’t feel well, your body needs to rest, and it’s a bad idea to limit yourself to hours of sleep. According to Mayo Clinic , “When you don’t get enough sleep, there are fewer antibodies and infection-fighting cells.” So sleep deprivation will take longer to recover.

– If I’m sick, slow down as much as possible and let the body’s immune system do its job, says Florida family doctor Christopher Scuderi . – If I wake up when I’m sick, I try to fall asleep again and allow myself to take a nap in the afternoon, go to bed early. And also – I categorically refuse any serious physical activity and additional obligations on the days of illness.

“Even if there is no fever and you feel better, you don’t need to start general cleaning, wash dishes, scrub floors,” doctor Elena Chernenko also advises. – Give your body a rest.

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Monitor symptoms closely

“I definitely listen to my body and its signals,” says doctor Desai. – And I can’t stand it if I have a headache or a temperature above 38 – I use symptomatic treatment. But the main thing here is not to overdo it.

As the therapist warned earlier, if the high temperature does not subside after taking the pill, it is absolutely impossible to take the second one.

It is not worth prescribing pills on your own if you have any health problems or unusual symptoms without a doctor, the doctors say unanimously. Especially when it comes to small children.

“We don’t recommend using cough suppressants or any other over-the-counter cold medicine for young children, for example, without the advice of a doctor,” says the doctor. “It can have dangerous consequences for their health and life.

Use gargle and honey

— If you have a sore throat, salt water gargles work very well , says Scuderi. – Preparing the solution is simple – mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle with them – this may bring temporary relief.

“I use honey as a natural cough suppressant,” notes Desai. – Studies have shown that honey can reduce coughs in children and adults. If you feel unwell, you can add some honey to your tea or oatmeal. Important – it is contraindicated for children under one year old and with individual intolerance.

Use humidifiers

“When I get sick, I turn on the humidifier and go to bed,” Flores, a pediatrician, says. — More than moisture-saturated air helps to facilitate breathing, reduces nasal congestion . If you don’t have a humidifier, you can spray water with a spray bottle or place a container of water in front of a fan. Important – if you have a chronic disease or the disease is severe, before you start using a humidifier, consult your doctor.

Do not take antibiotics

— Antibiotics work against bacterial infections, — doctor Desai explained. – A virus causes influenza and SARS. So such treatment can even be dangerous. If you take antibiotics in the hope of curing a cold, you are putting your body at risk of getting toxic effects. And over time—if you do this often—antibiotic resistance can develop. And pills will no longer help when the body really needs help.

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Stay at home

– If I get sick, I isolate myself from my relatives so as not to put them at risk, and, of course, I don’t go shopping and to work, — the doctors confirm. – It is very good to regularly ventilate the room where the sick person is located in order to prevent the spread of viruses.

As for flu and covid tests for mild illness, opinions are divided – some doctors believe that they should be done in order to know which virus has struck you and be prepared for possible complications that it can give. Others believe that testing is a waste of time and money.

— If you take a test and find out you have the flu, or covid, or neither, what should you do? The recipe is the same in all cases – stay at home, eat chicken soup, take paracetamol, be patient , says the famous doctor Alexander Myasnikov. — Testing may be justified when, for example, a severely febrile patient is admitted to the hospital. There may be various options – and a test is needed. But why he is in outpatient practice, I do not know.

Text author:Anna Mayskaya

What are the complications of the flu and why you need to go to the doctor – January 31, 2020

Rospotrebnadzor calls vaccination the only way to prevent influenza

Photo: Artem Lenz

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In Krasnoyarsk, the number of infected with SARS and influenza. If two weeks ago the incidence rate was 30.3 per 10 thousand of the population, now it is 43.2 per 10 thousand of the population. As of January 22, the numbers are below the epidemic threshold by 29,5%.

Rospotrebnadzor tells why you should not lie at home or go to work with the flu, but go to the doctors.

— The answer is simple: the flu is the only acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) that entails serious complications that not only disrupt the functioning of our body, but are also life-threatening. And these complications occur very often. Most often, the complications of influenza are delayed, appear after some time, when the person has already forgotten about the infection. Problems begin in the functioning of the cardiovascular, nervous and other systems of the body, they say in the department.

According to the World Health Organization, up to 500 million people fall ill with influenza and SARS every year, and about 2 million people die from complications of the disease.

The source of influenza is a sick person with severe symptoms or with no symptoms. An important role in the transmission of infection is played by patients with an erased form of the infection, carrying the disease “on their feet”. Most often, the virus affects the respiratory system, heart, blood-forming organs.

Complications are dangerous for children under one year old, adults over 60 years old with concomitant diseases of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system and endocrine pathology, in which a fatal outcome is possible due to complications of previously existing diseases.