Cold vs. Flu: The Important Differences you Need to Know
With the onset of the winter season, the chances of people developing a sore throat or cough increases significantly making one question whether it is a simple cold or flu. This initial stage is the stage when both types of illnesses are at their most difficult to differentiate due to their systemic medical signs and symptoms which overlap. Understanding the nuanced shifts in one’s physical state can aid in self diagnosis as well as assess the need for seeking medical assistance.
What is the Common Cold?
The common cold can be defined as a localized invincible disease of the throat and the nose which has an idle range of not severe impact as it usually keeps bothering someone for a few days. Many viruses can lead to a common cold, with the rhinovirus being the most commonly identified. People often recover in about one to two weeks, though in some cases bacterial infections may make the symptoms last longer. One noticeable characteristic that distinguishes the infection from flu is the slow worsening of cold symptoms over time.
What is Considered Influenza?
Influenza or simply the flu is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system and is caused specifically by the influenza viruses. These viruses spread predominantly during winter times and tend to affect many people in a short time. The flu is pretty much worse than just a cold and may have severe complications, especially in very young or old people and people with some health issues. Some people may need treatment if they are suffering from severe respiratory complications or other drastic effects.
Common Cold Symptoms
Common symptoms of the cold include a running or congested nose, cough, sneeze, pain in the throat, and dry mild cough. Fever also occurs, but this usually happens less often in adults. Symptoms progress in a sequence where one may get a sore throat or experience feeling a bit tired before the actual symptoms show. It is nevertheless bearable, because of a cold and other complications, a person’s body only requires enough rest and fluids to recover.
Symptoms of Influenza
Flu could be said to have cough, runny nose, and even a sore throat like a cold but these appear to come on rapidly in the case of an flu. Chills, high temp, generalized body aches, and extreme tiredness can all be caused by the flu’s acute phase. A flu does have a cough and sore throat and funny nose as well but these are a notch higher in severity. Some people may even develop headaches or gut issues, predominantly children, with flu’s napkin stomach being the main reason. Flu is always supposed to be much stronger which helps complement the difference a person has between flu and cold.
Differences Between the Common Cold and Flu
Even though one could consider the flu and the common cold as something that is caused by a virus, the two are quite different in several aspects. Colds are slowly building feature requiring one to sneeze a lot due to congested nose, however such would not last past seven days. However, in the case of common flu, this illness appears rather suddenly, able to spread very quickly and include muscle weakness. Gradually the flu will likely take a long time to recover from and even run the risk of causing further complications. Knowing the above allows a person to understand what to do next, or rather how they should feel after falling unwell.
Remaining Vigilant in the Cold and Flu Season
It is essential to distinguish a cold from flu as this will help you make better decisions regarding your health. Though symptoms may differ, discerning similarities in an illness may be helpful in ascertaining what disease is you likely have. Both illnesses will be uncomfortable to some degree, but it is important to know when the symptoms of the flu warrant seeking assistance. In such cases where a person feels confused, seeing a physician can provide peace of mind and useful advice.
