Q&A for How to Know if You're Too Sick to Go to Work or School

You should get a glass of water and take your temperature (after waiting a few minutes) to make sure that you do not have a fever. If you are still dizzy light-headed tomorrow you should stay home a rest.

You never know, some bugs only take 24hrs to get out of your system. However, if you are having a fever, coughing uncontrollably, with nausea and vomiting, or having diarrhea I would stay home.

The best thing to do when you are sick is to rest and use supportive therapy to get better.

Supportive care of your body is very important for speedy recovery from cold, flu, or any other respiratory illness. Here are few tangible things you can do to help you recover faster: Stay hydrated by drinking warm fluids throughout the day. Take 1000 mg of vitamin C 3 times a day, as well as oral zinc supplements and vitamin D. Put 2-3 drops of nasal saline into your nose every 3 hours to relieve stuffiness and help to clear out mucus from the nasal passages. To soothe a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water every 3-4 hours. Go easy on food and consume light but nutritious foods and beverages, such as chicken broth or soup and herbal teas with honey, ginger, and lemon. Take a mucolytic such as Mucinex if you have cough and have no contraindication for taking it. Relax, rest, and listen to healing music and soothing affirmations to boost your immune system. Elevate the head of your bed or have extra pillows to help with drainage from your nose and back of your throat, and have a dehumidifier in your bedroom and take steamy showers to relieve congestion.

If you constantly feel unwell, it is a good idea for you to go and be checked to make sure you don’t have an underlying condition. Anxiety and depression can be caused by a variety of factors, including and under-functioning thyroid gland or a vitamin B or D deficiency. It might be useful to discuss lifestyle factors and your coping strategies with your doctor as well.