The common cold and flu share similar symptoms, such as a runny nose, coughing and sore throat to name a few. It is important to determine which symptoms differentiate the two and when to seek professional medical treatment. Neglecting either of these and avoiding treatment will only make the condition worse.
In fact, the cold and flu are notorious for starting out with minor symptoms and seeming mostly harmless. While prevention is an effective strategy for dealing with the common cold or flu, it is not always an option.
If you or your child begin to suffer from early signs of a common cold or flu, be sure to act and visit us for professional treatment as soon as possible. By doing so, we can help you receive the necessary care you need to help speed up the recovery process.
Since cold and flu symptoms are similar, people may not always realize the differences between them. In many cases, people will follow the bad advice of friends or family and make the condition worse. For instance, an individual who suffers from a runny nose, constant coughing and a sore throat may assume that they have the flu.
However, there is a high likelihood that they only have a common cold, especially if there is not a fever present with the other symptoms. Some people are able to take store-bought medication that eases symptoms, get some rest and drink plenty of fluids to recover from the cold or flu. With the more serious cases, these at-home treatment methods will not be enough.
With professional treatment, we can provide:
While people might believe that they are only likely to get a cold during winter time, the truth is that people can get a cold any time of year. People may also not realize that antibiotics will not treat a cold. Thus, seeking professional treatment is the most effective option when the condition only seems to get worse.
If the symptoms are concerning, it is essential to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Being able to the differences between a cold and flu will help the patient know what they are dealing with. In most cases, the flu is more severe than a common cold, which means it should be treated with an extra sense of urgency.
Along with that, the common cold can make patients more susceptible to the flu virus. However, the common cold does not turn into the flu.
Symptoms of the flu that differ from the common cold can include:
With the flu, these symptoms can be sudden and almost seem unannounced. In other cases, the patient will assume it is only a case of the sniffles or a sore throat. However, what starts out as a cold can quickly get worse if it is left unattended. The longer the patient remains untreated, the harder it is to treat.
People with the flu may also have a sore throat, runny nose, stuffed sinuses and constant sneezing. These may be the same symptoms of a common cold, which is why people may not realize they have the flu until it progresses.
"In many cases, people will follow the bad advice of friends or family and make the condition worse."
A patient may not exhibit all these symptoms if they have a cold. Due to that, people may not realize what they have and the level of risk they have for contracting the flu. The symptoms of a cold tend to have a more gradual onset, which means it may worsen to its peak over a two to three-day period.
By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with stronger medication and treatment options instead of ineffective store-bought products.
In fact, there are several myths about what can actually treat a cold or flu. Here are three of those myths and the truth behind each.
While both have similar symptoms, there is no evidence the cold causes the flu. In reality, the cold can weaken the body's immune system, so the patient is more susceptible to contracting the flu. If a patient with a cold seems to not be getting better, then there are a variety of possibilities as to what is causing the symptoms.
If a patient has the flu and develops a fever, starving the body is the last thing they will want to do. The fever is the body's attempt to get rid of the virus. When you are sick, drink more fluids and try to keep the same level of caloric intake as you would normally. We can help go over foods that are easier for the stomach to digest when sick.
While vitamin C can help with the body, the amount of sugar in orange juice puts the body’s immune system to sleep instead of helping boost it. Thus, drinking orange juice or consuming large amounts of vitamin C will not be nearly as effective to treat a cold or flu as people think.
Q. What is a key difference between the flu and the common cold?
Q. If I have the flu, what can I do to treat it?
Q. When do I need to seek urgent care treatment for a cold or flu?
Q. Can my cold or flu become strep throat?
Q. Are there any similarities with symptoms of colds and strep throat?
Q. My eyes are irritated and itchy, are those symptoms of a cold or something else?
We understand patients may have questions about the cold or flu and have a few with our answers here.
Q. What are the most significant differences between the common cold and the flu?
A. There are several notable differences between the common cold and the flu. Most significantly, the flu is much more serious than the common cold with more concerning symptoms. While a cold usually only involves a stuffy nose, sneezing/coughing and a sore throat, flu symptoms can include body aches, chills, extreme fatigue and a fever.
Q. I have a cold, but the symptoms are not that severe. Is it okay for me to go to work or school or am I too contagious?
A. The common cold and flu are both extremely contagious, especially the first few days after the symptoms appear. It is usually a good idea to stay home from work for the first few days after suffering flu-like symptoms, even if they do not hinder your ability to work effectively and efficiently.
Q. What all do I need to know before getting a flu shot? Are they safe? Will I get sick from a flu shot?
A. Flu shots are safe. The flu shot injects you with a small substance of influenza, allowing your body to fight it off. The body can remember this when it identifies the flu in the future. However, since there are so many variations of the flu, the vaccine does not guarantee immunity.
Q. How Long Does it Take to Recover from the Cold or Flu?
A. While it can sometimes only take a few days, more serious cases can take a week or longer. The length of time will depend entirely on the extent of the symptoms and how soon the patient seeks treatment. Also, the amount of rest a patient gets can influence the length of time.
Q. Is there a Flu Treatment to help me Sleep at Night?
A. We can help find remedies and medications to help ease symptoms so you can get enough rest. The proper amount of rest when sick is crucial to promote recovery. We can go over more during an appointment.
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