Colds and Flu
Do you know how to tell whether you have the “flu” or just a “common cold?” Here are some of the ways to distinguish between the symptoms of a “cold” and the “flu”.
- The symptoms of the flu start suddenly and are severe, while those of a cold start slowly and build up.
- Flu can cause a high fever, while a cold usually produces only a slight elevation of body temperature.
- Headaches are almost always present if you have the flu – but not always with a cold – and these are usually sinus headaches.
- You will usually have severe body aches and pains with the flu – but these are mild if you have a cold.
- Flu victims often have shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness. These symptoms are rare when you have a cold.
- If you have the flu, you may have chest discomfort and a severe cough. With a cold, you will have a mild to moderate cough.
- Cold sufferers have runny noses, sneeze a lot and usually have a sore throat. With the flu, you may or may NOT have these symptoms.
By the way, if you have a cold, you should know that staying in bed with a case of ordinary sniffles is not only unnecessary, it may make you feel worse.
Getting up and moving around will clear up your sinuses and help loosen built-up mucus in your lungs. If you don’t have a fever, you can go to work. However, to avoid spreading your germs, you shouldn’t shake hands with co-workers or customers.
If you must travel while you have a cold, try to avoid flying because air pressure changes can affect your clogged-up ears. If you must fly, take a decongestant an hour or so before you take off.
Finally, after years in the pharmacy profession, I have often noticed a profound truth.
When someone else has a cold or the flu, it is usually fairly mild and not too serious.
But when I have a cold, it is very serious and I feel sick!