Is It A Cold Or The Flu?

You feel lousy. Does it matter whether it’s a cold or the flu? Yes. It’s important because the influenza virus can have very serious complications, such as pneumonia, and can be deadly. While both colds
and the flu are caused by viruses that produce some of the same symptoms (sore throat, headache, nasal congestion), there are some definitive symptoms you should look for. Ask yourself these questions:

Do I have nasal congestion, a stuffy nose or frequent sneezing?
Do I have a runny nose with thick discharge?
Do I have a moist cough?
If your symptoms are from the “neck up” and come on gradually,
it’s probably a cold, caused by the rhinovirus or more than 200
other viruses.

Do I have a high-grade fever (102 degrees or above)?
Do I have chills, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, and pains?
Do I have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath?
If your symptoms come on suddenly and your body feels weak and
tired, it may be the flu.

What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Do…

If you have a cold:
   Rest and drink water, juice, broth or warm lemon water with
honey to loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. Avoid
alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which are dehydrating.
   Eat chicken soup. Even the Mayo Clinic says it might help by
acting as an anti-inflammatory and speeding up the movement of
mucus.
   Gargle with salt water (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-
ounce glass of warm water) to temporarily relieve a sore throat.
   Try an over-the-counter medication to ease your symptoms, but
read the labels to make sure you don’t overdose on acetaminophen
(Tylenol).
   Don’t take antibiotics (they attack bacteria, not viruses). If your
symptoms don’t improve after a week, however, you may have a
bacterial infection that could be treated with an antibiotic.
   Use a saline nasal spray to rinse the virus out of your nasal
passages.
   Put a humidifier in your room. Cold viruses thrive in dry
conditions (that’s why colds are more common in winter).
   Consider herbal remedies like Echinacea, vitamin C and zinc
(some people have great success), but talk to your doctor first.
   Don’t believe the adage “starve a cold, feed a fever” or vice
versa. There’s little scientific evidence either way works.

If you have the flu:
♦   Try to avoid it in the first place by getting a flu shot. The U.S.
Centers For Disease Control recommends that everyone over six
months of age be vaccinated annually.
♦   Get to a doctor fast. He or she can take a nasal or throat swab to
see if you test positive for the flu. Prescription anti-viral
medications like Tamiflu and Relenza, which shorten the length and
severity of the illness, should be taken within 48 hours of the onset
of the symptoms.
♦   Don’t take antibiotics -- unless you have a complication. If
you’re coughing up green phlegm spotted with blood, you may have
a bacterial infection and antibiotics could be appropriate.

-Chuck Michael -- www.ChucktheRealtor.org

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