Can A Flu Affect Your Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Complications can include pneumonia, ear or sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes

. The flu can be fatal in elderly people, people with chronic diseases; and anyone with a weak immune system.

What are the long term side effects of the flu?

Both Covid-19 and flu patients suffered from lingering symptoms like

anxiety, fatigue, pain and breathing problems

three-to-six months after infection, according to the peer-reviewed study of mostly-U.S. medical records from more than 270,000 Covid-19 patients and around 115,000 influenza patients.

What body systems are affected by the flu?

Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your

respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs

.

Can the flu affect your lungs?


The flu affects your whole body—including your nose, throat and lungs

—and can lead to serious complications in those with chronic illness.

What are this years flu symptoms?

Flu Symptoms

You may have a

high fever, headache and muscle aches, cough, sore throat, and tiredness

. You also might have a runny or stuffy nose, chills, headache, and nausea or vomiting.

Can the flu cause permanent damage?

They include viral or bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and ear infections and sinus infections, especially in children.

The flu can worsen long-term medical conditions, like congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes

.

Can the flu cause permanent lung damage?

The proper functioning of influenza-specific T cells is critical for efficient clearance of the virus from the lungs.

When T cell function declines, such as with increasing age or during use of immunosuppressive drugs, viral clearance is delayed. This results in a prolonged infection and greater lung damage

.

How long do the symptoms of Covid last?

How long do COVID symptoms last? Those with a mild case of COVID-19 usually recover in

one to two weeks

. For severe cases, recovery can take six weeks or more, and for some, there may be lasting symptoms with or without damage to the heart, kidneys, lungs and brain.

Does flu weaken immune system?

His results demonstrated that

the influenza virus triggers a bodily response that causes a rise in serum glucocorticoid levels, leading to systemic immunosuppression

. Such effects render the body vulnerable to bacterial infections that would otherwise be innocuous.

How does the flu leave your body?


Coughing and Sneezing

—Within a few days of a viral infection, the fluid from a runny nose may change color from clear to yellow to green. Mucus is designed to trap offending viruses, which are efficiently and quickly expelled from the body through coughing and sneezing.

How long till flu is gone?

Flu symptoms, including fever, should go away after about 5 days, but you may still have a cough and feel weak a few days longer. All your symptoms should be gone within

1 to 2 weeks

.

How do I strengthen my lungs?

  1. Stop smoking, and avoid secondhand smoke or environmental irritants.
  2. Eat foods rich in antioxidants.
  3. Get vaccinations like the flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine. …
  4. Exercise more frequently, which can help your lungs function properly.
  5. Improve indoor air quality.

How do you know if your flu has turned into pneumonia?

Common Pneumonia Symptoms


High fever, up to 105 F

. Coughing up greenish, yellow, or bloody mucus. Chills that make you shake. Feeling like you can’t catch your breath, especially when you move around a lot.

How do you heal your lungs after the flu?

  1. Steam therapy. Steam therapy, or steam inhalation, involves inhaling water vapor to open the airways and help the lungs drain mucus. …
  2. Controlled coughing. …
  3. Drain mucus from the lungs. …
  4. Exercise. …
  5. Green tea. …
  6. Anti-inflammatory foods. …
  7. Chest percussion.

Can Covid come back?

Reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 means a person was infected, recovered, and then later became infected again. After recovering from COVID-19, most individuals will have some protection from repeat infections. However,

reinfections do occur after COVID-19

.

Can you have flu without fever?

The flu is a viral infection that spreads easily.

It can occur without a high temperature, or fever, but typically does include this symptom

. A fever is the body’s reaction to the infection and helps it fight back and recover.

How long is someone contagious with Covid?

According to the CDC, if you have mild to moderate COVID-19, you may be contagious for

10 days from the first day you noticed symptoms

. If you were severely affected or critically ill from COVID-19, you may stay infectious for up to 20 days from the start of your symptoms.

Can the flu damage your brain?


Brain flu is a very rare neurological complication of the influenza virus

. It can lead to an altered mental status and other neurological symptoms.

What are 5 symptoms of the flu?

Uncomplicated influenza illness is typically characterized by the abrupt onset of constitutional and upper respiratory tract signs and symptoms (e.g.,

fever, chills, myalgia, headache, malaise, nonproductive cough, sore throat, and rhinitis

).

How does the flu affect your muscles?

It is well-known that muscle aches and weakness are prominent symptoms of influenza infection. Our study in an animal model found that influenza infection leads to

an increase in the expression of muscle-degrading genes and a decrease in expression of muscle-building genes in skeletal muscles in the legs

.

How long does it take for symptoms of Covid-19 to appear after exposure?

When do symptoms start after being exposed to COVID-19? Symptoms usually appear

2 to 6 days

after exposure to the virus. However, it sometimes takes longer — up to 14 days — so it is recommended you wear a mask and minimize close contact with others for at least 10 days after the last day of exposure.

When will I feel better from COVID?

The average recovery time for those who have mild or normal cases of COVID-19 or flu is

between one and two weeks

. If you have COVID-19, the CDC recommends isolation from others. Also, make sure you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Can I test positive for COVID-19 after recovering?

Research shows

many individuals who recover from COVID-19 may continue testing positive for the virus for weeks to months

, despite no longer being contagious.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.