Have you clicked onto this page with a cold compress on your head or a cup of lemon and honey in hand? You might be down with the flu.
A high temperature, headache and cough are common flu symptoms and can help differentiate it from a common cold.
Unlike a cold, flu symptoms usually start suddenly and can make you feel very unwell. While symptoms often improve after about a week, cough and tiredness may linger for longer.
So, what causes a high temperature, headache and cough to arise, and how exactly do they go away?
A temperature of around 38°C or higher is often considered a fever and can result in sweating, flushed skin, and a feeling of warmth.
However, you may still feel feverish, hot, or shivery even if your temperature is slightly below 38°C.
Why does this happen?
Usually, a high temperature is a sign of your body fighting an infection. Because of this, staying home and avoiding close contact with others is recommended to help prevent the spread of illness.
There are several ways to manage a high temperature at home, however, following advice from a trusted healthcare professional, such as our pharmacist, can help speed up recovery.
Treatments available at Allied Pharmacy range from recommended over-the-counter medicines to self-care tips. So, if you’re experiencing sweating, red skin or shivers, don’t hesitate to contact your local Allied Pharmacy for expert advice.
Headaches can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. They usually clear on their own, but rest, hydration, and over-the-counter relief can help ease discomfort and speed recovery.
If your headache comes with a high temperature or an inability to carry out your daily activities, this may be caused by pressure, dehydration and other effects of the flu.
Our pharmacy teams can help you in managing your headaches, when you visit us at Allied Pharmacy. Pop in-store or give your local Allied Pharmacy a call for personalised headache help!
Because the flu is a contagious respiratory illness, it can trigger a cough. Unlike a headache, a cough can sometimes persist for a couple of weeks after other flu symptoms have eased. Yes, you read that right!
During this time, rest and fluids are recommended to boost your health. Depending on your symptoms, our pharmacist may suggest the likes of cough syrups, lozenges, or other remedies to help reduce coughing.
These medicines can be found in your local pharmacy, like ours.
If your cough lasts longer than 3 weeks or gets worse, it’s best to speak with your GP. For convenient advice, speaking with our pharmacist is a great first step.
From the 1st of October, the NHS Autumn/Winter flu vaccination service is available for eligible groups, at Allied Pharmacy. If you qualify, you can receive a flu vaccine free of charge.
While the flu vaccine doesn’t guarantee full protection against the flu, it helps reduce your risk of catching it and makes potential illness milder and shorter - if you do get infected. However, it does take around 10-14 days after your jab for protection to develop.
At Allied Pharmacy, offering this service is part of our commitment in creating safer communities by protecting patients at higher risk of severe flu complications.
If you’re interested in protecting not only yourself, but others from the flu, discover more about our Seasonal Flu Vaccination service online on our website!