It is perfectly normal and expected for illness to strike at different points in our lives. Everybody gets ill and usually more than once. Even if you are the most healthy and hygienic person to grace the planet, it is within your body’s nature to develop a sickness from time to time. Whether it be the common cold, a stomach bug, or a fever, it is normal to get ill. Despite this acknowledgment, being ill, while being perfectly normal and a sign of a well-functioning body, is not a nice experience to go through. Also, if the illness is a serious one, then it can have an array of detrimental impacts on your health and wellbeing, physically and mentally. So, if you notice that your health is deteriorating, then this article could be of great use to you. Continue to read on in order to learn about the four things that you can do to improve your health if you are feeling unwell.
- Go visit your doctor or nurse
One of the first things that you must do, if you are ever feeling ill, is to pay a visit to your doctor. A doctor’s job is to help diagnose and treat those who are suffering from a medical illness. So, it is their job to help you if you feel that you need it. Of course, if what you are suffering is mild and common (e.g., a cold), then it is perhaps not such a good idea to visit your doctor as there is nothing that they will be able to do to help you recover, except for telling you to get some rest.
However, if what you are experiencing is more severe and is causing you lots of pain, then it is advised to consult your doctor right away. This is because they will be able to help you identify what the problem is and hopefully help you to solve it. This will hopefully give you some clarity and help you avoid self-diagnosing, which is very dangerous and can cause undue stress, worry, and anxiety.
Importantly also, for many serious conditions, early diagnosis is always best. So, if you spot the signs of something serious, then do not hessite to get in touch with your local doctor so that they can help you. After all, doctors and professionals often know best and will know what to do. If you are a nurse yourself, you may wish to study for BSN DNP online in order to expand on your medical knowledge and be a helpful member of the community. When someone is feeling unwell or suffering from an illness, you could offer a guiding hand.
- Get some rest
If you are feeling unwell, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to get some rest. Why? Because lack of sleep can make you unwell. So, if you find that you are not sleeping well (i.e., not getting the daily recommended amount of sleep) or your sleep quality is poor, then you should do everything that you can to revert this. For instance, you could try staying away from your devices, such as your phone, laptop, or tablet before going to bed to reduce the amount of blue light that you see. Another helpful tip is not to eat too close to bedtime. So, if you sleep at 10pm, try to ensure that your last meal is at least three hours before then, at 7pm, in order to give your stomach and body enough time to digest the food that you have consumed. When you are suffering from an illness, your body is exerting a lot of time, energy, and resources trying to make you feel better again. That is why it is important to give yourself time to rest.
- Do light exercise
If you want to improve your health when you are ill, another tip is to do some light exercise. While you should avoid doing anything too strenuous, it is still important to keep your body active and moving. Of course, it depends on how unwell you are feeling and what sickness you are suffering from. So, if you are suffering from an illness that is causing you to lose all your energy, then it is not advised that you engage in lots of exercises. However, if your illness is mild, then it is encouraged that you get up and get your body moving, as it can help you feel a lot better.
If you are unsure of whether you should be exercising or not, please consult your doctor. However, tips to help you determine whether you should exercise when you are sick are listed below:
- Listen to your body – at the end of the day, your body knows best. If you feel that your body is telling you to rest, then rest. Similarly, if you feel that your body is telling you to exercise, then exercise. Nobody knows your body more than you do, so when it is feeling unwell, one of the best things that you can do for it is simply to listen. Listen to what your body tells you and abide by it.
- If your symptoms are anywhere from the neck down, then going out of your way to exercise may not be a good idea. So, if you are suffering from a sore throat, headache, or runny nose, then you should be okay to exercise if your body feels like that is the right thing to do.
- Watch what you eat
You should always try to eat a balanced, nutritious, and healthy diet. However, this is even more important when you are ill. Since your body is fighting for you, you need to provide it with good fuels and nutrition in order for it to fight well and tough. That means that you have to avoid eating processed and junk food when you are feeling unwell. Instead, give your body the nutrients that it needs by eating clean.
