Lifestyle and home remedies - Flu

If you do come down with the flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms:

Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration. Drink enough so that your urine is clear or pale yellow.
Rest. Get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection.

Try chicken soup. It's not just good for your soul â€” it really can help relieve flu symptoms by breaking up congestion.

Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) cautiously, as needed.

Remember, pain relievers may make you more comfortable, but they won't make your symptoms go away any faster and may have side effects. Ibuprofen may cause stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers. If taken for a long period or in higher than recommended doses, acetaminophen can be toxic to your liver. Talk to your doctor before giving acetaminophen to children.

And don't give aspirin to children or teens because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.