This busy cold and flu season, many are willing to try anything to help them get feeling better fast. We are often told that one of the best ways to beat the flu is to sweat it out; but is this true or just another tall tale?
We are sorry to disappoint you, but there is no research backing the belief that you can sweat out the flu or a cold. There are, however, a few tested and proved tips you can follow to make your time with the flu a tad bit easier.
“Staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest are the best things you can do to help your body fight the illness,” says Dr. Lee Barnes, a family medicine physician at the White-Wilson Niceville Clinic. “Anything that prevents you from resting or hydrating can actually slow down your recovery.”
Dr. Barnes urges anyone who thinks they may have the flu to visit their doctor as soon as possible—especially those with pre-existing medical conditions and those most likely to experience complications from the flu, such as children, pregnant women and the elderly.
“What is most important during a bout with the flu is making yourself as comfortable as you can,” said Dr. Barnes. “A visit to your doctor will help get you on your way to feeling better.”
So if snuggling up under the blankets makes you feel better, we say go for it! Just don’t expect the heat to beat the flu for you.
THIS MYTH IS BUSTED.
