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For those in the medical field this is high season. The phone is ringing constantly with people thinking they or their children have they flu. For the most part, they do not.  Can you tell if you have a cold or the flu?

If you have the common cold, I think it is called that because everyone commonly gets the cold, you can feel it coming for around a week before you actually come down with your cold. It will almost always start with a scratchy feeling in your throat. This is often followed by sneezing, and sniffling, then congestion in your head and throat and sometimes moving into your chest. If you have any fever it is most often mild for adults but can be pretty high in children. Coughing is often much like a dry hacking and is mostly due to the congestion. During the early part of your scratchy throat phase, you may be able to deter your cold by taking extra vitamins and getting some extra sleep.

The influenza virus in all of its many forms on the other hand, often starts near instantly. It will often begin with a fever of over 101 and this will often last between 3 to 7 days. Other symptoms that will accompany the flu are a headache, and the feeling that your body is aching everywhere. No matter what position you turn and twist into you just can’t find any comfort. You will normally feel exceptionally tired and should get as much rest as possible during the flu. Coughing is generally dry and hacking and will stick around well after your other flu symptoms have left.

The flu will pretty much affect your entire body, you will feel it everywhere. The cold on the other hand will generally just effect your upper body, meaning your eyes, ears, nose, throat and sometimes chest. While you will at times have some of the symptoms of colds with your flu such as a stuffy nose, sneezing, and a sore throat it is not so common. The reason the flu is so serious a problem for those who already have health troubles is because it can lead to so many major issues, the largest being pneumonia.

Sometimes you might feel your stomach is upset and think that you are catching the flu as well, it is most likely not though that is probably only gastroenteritis. Or you could have eaten something that is super disagreeable to your digestive system.

For the most part a virus such as the cold or the flu will be completely out of your system in 3 to 7 days. For most people there is no need to see a doctor for such things. However, if you have any type of a chronic involving your lungs or your breathing is compromised in any manner, then you should seek immediate medical attention when you get a cold or flu. If you illness lasts for more than 10 days you should also look into seeing a doctor as it could be a sign of something more serious.

In the long run it is best to avoid the flu and colds by staying healthy for the long run.  So eat well, get plenty of exercise and be sure to take your vitamins.

Cold or Flu? Which is it? is a post from: Symptoms of Swine Flu