Doctor Explains How to Care For Yourself at Home if You’re Diagnosed With the Flu

A doctor on TikTok has explained how you can best take care of yourself if you’re at home dealing with the flu.

Nick Romano, a physician’s assistant on the platform with the handle @medexplained2you, said in a video with more than 195,000 views within four days that he sees flu symptoms, “All the time”, during the winter season.

“Everyone’s coming in with it,” Romano said.

“It’s cough, congestion, body aches [and] fevers. People just feel horrible and they come to me saying, ‘What can I do?'”

“Well, here’s what I tell those people.”

Alternate Tylenol and Advil

One of the most effective ways to deal with the symptoms of a flu is using Tylenol, Advil or other other-the-counter pain relievers.

“Often times I will recommend that you alternate Tylenol with Advil every four hours,” Romano said, “So you do Tylenol four hours later, Advil four hours later, Tylenol, etc.”

Pain relievers help both with the uncomfortable body aches caused by a flu as well as the fever itself, which often comes down when you take them.

Nasal Mist

Romano said he recommends either Flonase, or a nasal saline mist.

Nasal sprays can provide relief from flu symptoms by reducing nasal congestion and inflammation, making it easier to breathe.

Some nasal sprays contain decongestants that shrink swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages, while others use saline to clear mucus and moisturize the nasal lining.

Cough Syrup

Romano said an over-the-counter cough syrup like Robitussin or Mucinex—anything that will help suppress a cough—can make a big difference.

“If you get a sore throat, it’s important to keep the throat moist,” he said, “So cough drops, warm saltwater, gargles, anything that’s gonna keep it liquidy, keep it smooth so it doesn’t hurt.”

A Reason for Caution

Romano said he recommends picking up over-the-counter medications based on your symptoms.

However, he added a note of caution.

“A lot of the medications do have Tylenol in them,” Romano said.

“Tylenol is a acetaminophen. So things like Dayquil, Nyquil, sometimes Robitussin, sometimes Mucinex actually contain Tylenol, and you’ve just got to be careful that you’re not overdosing yourself on it.”

Romano added that you should try treating your flu symptoms at home first.

“Obviously, if you get to the point where you feel like you need to see a doctor, then definitely go see a doctor,” he said.

“But that’s what I generally recommend for my patients that come in with the flu.”

Newsweek reached out to Romano by email on Feb. 10 requesting further comment.