As concerns grow about the increase in the number of cases of flu reported in the UK during the last few weeks, we would like to take another look at this condition and how it differs from the common cold. Cold and flu symptoms can often be similar, so many people are unsure of how to recognise the difference between the two illnesses. However, the flu is not just a bad cold. Flu can be much more serious and can even have life-threatening complications, so it’s important to know how to spot it so you’ll know how to treat it.
Colds
The symptoms of a cold include:
- Runny nose
- Blocked nose
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Cough
In some cases, people also suffer from mild fever, headache, earache and tiredness.
Cold symptoms develop over one or two days, and are usually at their worst for no more than a few days. Some symptoms can last for up to two weeks, but will gradually decrease during this time.
Flu
Flu usually comes on much more suddenly than a cold. While someone with the flu may experience the same runny nose associated with a cold, the defining symptoms are:
- Sudden fever of 38-40C (100-104F)
- Muscle aches and pains
- Sweating
- Feeling exhausted and needing to lie down
- Dry, chesty cough
Most people recover within a week, although many feel tired for longer.
Knowing the Difference
A couple of things to keep in mind when trying to tell the difference between the two conditions are:
- Colds come on much more gradually than the flu.
- The symptoms of a cold are most often predominantly above the neck, while flu affects the whole body.
- While colds can sometimes cause mild fever, a high fever usually indicates that it’s the flu.
Treating Colds and Flu
You can manage cold symptoms yourself by taking over-the-counter medications. Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can help to relieve aches and mild fever, while decongestants can help to relieve a blocked nose. There are many cold medicines available which contain a helpful combination of both painkillers and decongestants. You should also make sure you drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest and eat healthily.
Flu symptoms can also usually be managed at home in a similar way. Flu sufferers should keep warm as well as resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Again, paracetamol and ibuprofen can help with aches and fever. However, you should see your GP if your symptoms continue to get worse or last longer than a week. You should also see your GP if you’re at high risk of becoming more seriously ill, which includes people who are over 65, have a weakened immune system or have diabetes.
Dr Chris suggests that adding more vitamin C could help speed up your recovery from colds and the flu. By adding more of the vitamin into our diet, we may be able to cut the duration and severity of flu. Despite strong scientific evidence, many people swear by this as an effective measure.
It is also important that as the nights close in, we get as much natural daylight as possible. while is is tempting to turn increasingly to comfort food, it is vital we eat more fruit and vegetables to gain their beneficial effects.
Ensure you stay active even if that means just turning the lounge into a mini gym!
Prevention
Good hygiene can help you avoid both conditions. Make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, and keep surfaces such as keyboards and door handles clean. To avoid spreading germs to other people you should always use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible.
The flu vaccine can also help to significantly reduce your risk. It’s available for free on the NHS each year for:
- Anyone over the age of 65
- Pregnant women
- Anyone who is very overweight
- People with an underlying health condition
- People with weakened immune systems
Although the optimum time for receiving the vaccine is mid December, the National Infection Service stress that it isn’t too late now to be vaccinated. They also stress the importance of the vaccine for anyone in the at-risk groups. If you are concerned but don’t qualify for the injection on the NHS, it is available from a variety of chemists such as Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, Tesco and Well Pharmacy. The vaccine is also available in the form of a nasal spray.
With the increase in increasingly virulent strains such as “Aussie Flu” it is vital that we monitor our own health and the health of our loved ones and be aware of the symptoms to look out for. If you would like to read more details of the Aussie flu strain, you can follow this link to the Daily Mail.
Colds and the flu share a few similarities, but make sure you know the difference so you’ll know when you might need to see a GP to avoid more serious illness or problems. However, the good news is most people can overcome both at home in only a short period of time.
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