When you get sick, all that matters at that moment is that you’re not feeling well – but when the fall and winter seasons come and the temperature drops, it gets even harder to figure out if you have the flu or just dealing with a common cold.
The symptoms of both sicknesses overlap, but luckily, there is one big difference. Professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Joseph Ladapo, M.D., Ph.D. says “the flue is like a cold on steroids. I’ve heard patients say, ‘This is the worst I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Nowadays, especially because of the coronavirus pandemic, getting sick is even more confusing this season. In order to combat your sniffles, the first thing that you need to know is what is causing them in the first place. Doctors and healthcare professionals explain that differences between a common cold and the flu, so you can actually take the right medicines that will cure you.
The reason as to why distinguishing between a cold or flu can be tricky is because there are very small differences between their symptoms.
COLD SYMPTOMS
Generally, when one has a cold – all symptoms are felt above the neck.
1] Coughing and sneezing
2] Sore throat
3] Runny nose
4] Swollen glands
5] Muscle pains
FLU SYMPTOMS
These symptoms will be felt both above and below the neck. You will be seeing signs of a cold, along with the following:
1] High Fever
2] Fatigue
3] Chills
4] Coughs rumbling in your chest
5] Headaches
6] Vomiting
7] Diarrhea
8] Aches and pains all over the body
Another difference between influenza and the common cold is the severity of how fast these symptoms rise. Michael P. Angarone, D.O., professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern Memorial Hospital said that with the flu, “one day you are feeling OK, and the next, all your symptoms arise.”
As compared with the flu, a cold is definitely milder and the symptoms set in at a much slower pace. “If you don’t feel horrible, you probably don’t have flu,” Dr. Ladapo says.
Still have it unclear? You can ask yourself these questions to ascertain which sickness you are feeling:
1] How badly am I feeling?
Cold: You feel weak and bad, while things are getting worse slowly. The first signs will probably include a scratchy throat, headache and some aches.
Flu: The sickness hit you like a speeding train. First, you get a fever but by the time you realize it, you can
barely do anything else like climb the stairs to your bedroom. Every inch of your body is painful.
2] Can I get out of bed?
Cold: Yes. You can walk around and do some chores.
Flu: Extreme fatigue will set in the next couple of days and getting out of bed will be the last thing on your mind.
TREATMENT
If you don’t know how to treat it, call your healthcare provider telephonically or have a video chat with them.
Cold Treatment:
1] Get some good old rest.
2] Make sure to always have a bottle of water nearby and keep hydrated.
3] Pop a pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
A cold can last for as long as 10 days, but once you are starting to feel better, you will no longer be contagious and can head back to work as long as you’re not overdoing yourself.
Flu Treatment:
Get some good, solid rest for the next three to seven days and call your healthcare provider to ask what the best medicine you can take is. Once your fever goes down, you can get back to your regular routine after 24 hours, but keep in mind that you will still be weak for the next couple of days.
Call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms:
1] Symptoms that overlap with COVID-19.
2] Have had contact with someone that is COVID-19 positive recently.
3] Trouble breathing or eating.
4] Fever higher than 100.4°F.
5] Severe vomiting or diarrhea.
6] A cough that you’ve had longer than 10 days.
7] Upper-respiratory problems that you’ve had longer than 10 days.
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