If often starts with a sore throat, followed by fatigue, headache and body aches. You feel terrible, but is it the flu or just a cold?
Like many people, you may believe you have the flu when in fact you have a bad cold. Both are caused by viruses and can make you head straight for the couch with the television remote and a cup of hot tea. However, the flu is much harder on your body than a cold, and knowing the difference can help you care for yourself better and recover sooner.
Though many of the symptoms are similar, such as congestion and cough, flu symptoms are significantly more severe. For example, while a cold may cause you to feel slightly achy, the flu produces deep, painful muscle aches. If you have a fever with a cold, it is likely to be low; with the flu, a fever of 100 degrees or higher is likely and is usually accompanied by chills. You may feel more tired or low on energy with a cold. With the flu, you feel like you don't have the energy to even get out of bed. Nausea and vomiting are also more common with the flu, but are seen more often in children than in adults.
Colds usually come on gradually and can last a week or more before your cough and congestion finally start to subside. With a severe cold, you may develop a sinus infection or bronchitis before you fully recover.
The flu typically hits suddenly; within hours, you feel sick and weak. Though you should start to feel better within three or four days, the fatigue caused by flu can persist for several weeks, so it is important to take it easy for a while. If flu symptoms don't improve after a few days, or if you start to feel worse, call your physician. You want to make sure you are not in danger of developing pneumonia or other complications.
Because both cold and flu are caused by viruses, there is really no effective treatment available for either one. Your doctor may be able to give you medications to help relieve symptoms such as a sore throat, cough or headache, but the virus has to run its course.
While prescription medications such as Tamiflu may help shorten the length of the flu by about half a day if taken within 48 hours of onset, recent studies have suggested it may not make much difference in an otherwise healthy adult. In fact, it increases the risk of suffering from nausea and vomiting.
Although frequently described as a type of flu, the "stomach flu" is not related to influenza. It is usually a viral infection that affects the gastrointestinal tract, and is most commonly caused by contaminated food or by physical contact with someone who has the virus. Nausea and vomiting usually last from 24 to 48 hours. Most adults don't need treatment unless there is no improvement, but young children should get medical attention if they can't hold anything down and are at risk of dehydration. Anyone with bloody diarrhea should be seen by a physician.
How can you help prevent all of these illnesses? Wash your hands well and often, and carry anti-bacterial gel for when you don't have access to soap and water. Also, get a flu vaccine at the start of flu season to increase your resistance to the most prevalent influenza viruses.
If you do get sick, try not to spread the virus to others. Keep your mouth covered when you sneeze or cough, and cough into the crook of your arm rather than your hand. Avoid going back to school or work until you start to feel better, and give your body time to recover from being sick before you resume exercise or sports.
Shalauta is a family medicine physician with Scripps Health. For more information or a physician referral, please call 1-800-SCRIPPS.
Like many people, you may believe you have the flu when in fact you have a bad cold. Both are caused by viruses and can make you head straight for the couch with the television remote and a cup of hot tea. However, the flu is much harder on your body than a cold, and knowing the difference can help you care for yourself better and recover sooner.
Though many of the symptoms are similar, such as congestion and cough, flu symptoms are significantly more severe. For example, while a cold may cause you to feel slightly achy, the flu produces deep, painful muscle aches. If you have a fever with a cold, it is likely to be low; with the flu, a fever of 100 degrees or higher is likely and is usually accompanied by chills. You may feel more tired or low on energy with a cold. With the flu, you feel like you don't have the energy to even get out of bed. Nausea and vomiting are also more common with the flu, but are seen more often in children than in adults.
Colds usually come on gradually and can last a week or more before your cough and congestion finally start to subside. With a severe cold, you may develop a sinus infection or bronchitis before you fully recover.
The flu typically hits suddenly; within hours, you feel sick and weak. Though you should start to feel better within three or four days, the fatigue caused by flu can persist for several weeks, so it is important to take it easy for a while. If flu symptoms don't improve after a few days, or if you start to feel worse, call your physician. You want to make sure you are not in danger of developing pneumonia or other complications.
Because both cold and flu are caused by viruses, there is really no effective treatment available for either one. Your doctor may be able to give you medications to help relieve symptoms such as a sore throat, cough or headache, but the virus has to run its course.
While prescription medications such as Tamiflu may help shorten the length of the flu by about half a day if taken within 48 hours of onset, recent studies have suggested it may not make much difference in an otherwise healthy adult. In fact, it increases the risk of suffering from nausea and vomiting.
Although frequently described as a type of flu, the "stomach flu" is not related to influenza. It is usually a viral infection that affects the gastrointestinal tract, and is most commonly caused by contaminated food or by physical contact with someone who has the virus. Nausea and vomiting usually last from 24 to 48 hours. Most adults don't need treatment unless there is no improvement, but young children should get medical attention if they can't hold anything down and are at risk of dehydration. Anyone with bloody diarrhea should be seen by a physician.
How can you help prevent all of these illnesses? Wash your hands well and often, and carry anti-bacterial gel for when you don't have access to soap and water. Also, get a flu vaccine at the start of flu season to increase your resistance to the most prevalent influenza viruses.
If you do get sick, try not to spread the virus to others. Keep your mouth covered when you sneeze or cough, and cough into the crook of your arm rather than your hand. Avoid going back to school or work until you start to feel better, and give your body time to recover from being sick before you resume exercise or sports.
Shalauta is a family medicine physician with Scripps Health. For more information or a physician referral, please call 1-800-SCRIPPS.