Colds and flu: Symptoms and treatment

The first symptom of flu tends to be a fever, and as your temperature rises, National Lead for GP Services at Nuffield Health Dr Unnati Desai recommends fan therapy.

She said: “If you’re getting a really high temperature, you need to remove clothing and get a fan on as it will bring the body temperature down as quickly as possible and will help you feel better.

“You may feel cold and want to wrap up, but this is one of the best ways to bring down body temperatures.”

Cuddling up to a hot water bottle may be at the top of many people’s lists when they have the flu.

But Dr Desai recommended against it. She said: “If you’re struggling with a cold and fever, wrapping up and getting a hot water bottle will keep your temperatures up.”

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Instead, she said: “Fan therapy is one of the best things you can do when feeling unwell.”

Dr Desai previously recommended taking two pills the moment you feel ill. 

She said: “If you feel a cold coming on, [paracetamol and ibuprofen] should be taken together, in their generic forms (at adult doses) rather than as a combination tablet, if no allergies.

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“This allows you to ensure you take the correct adult dose at the right time and allows you to decide when to take them.”

She added: “The majority of cold and flu tablets on the market have less paracetamol and ibuprofen in them, which is what helps to bring the temperatures down.”

The NHS recommends the following things to help you get better more quickly from flu:

• Rest and sleep
• Keep warm
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)

The health body adds: “A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.

“Do not take paracetamol and flu remedies that contain paracetamol at the same time as it’s easy to take more than the recommended dose.”

If you experience sudden chest pain, have difficulty breathing or start coughing up a lot of blood, call 999 or go to A&E. 

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