Seasonal Flu or Just a Cold?
At Pure Research Products, our focus is on providing immediate immune system support to minimize problems with seasonal germs. Whether it’s a cold or the flu, when we get sick, we generally aren’t interested in why our immune system failed to protect us. We simply want the chills, aches, lingering cough and fever to go away. Missing work and other activities is always an inconvenience and sometimes it’s also expensive and debilitating.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks the flu each year and provides regular reports posted on the Internet (www.cdc.gov). Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the flu and a cold, but the CDC provides useful guidelines to help determine what ails us.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control
Q: What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
A: The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these illnesses often have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.
In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense.
Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations.
Special tests can be done to identify the influenza virus, but they usually must be done within the first few days of illness to return the most accurate results. Since most of us are unlikely to request such a test, or even see a doctor, when we first become ill, it can be helpful to understand the differences between these two illnesses.
Symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache, often severe
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
Symptoms of the common cold include:
- Usually no fever
- Possible mild headache
- Stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Possible mild body aches
The primary differences involve fever (not usually present with a cold) and severity of symptoms such as fatigue and achiness. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea also can occur with the flu but are more common in children than adults.
Is there any protection against the myriad of viruses responsible for seasonal infections, whether it’s a cold or the flu? Yes! Start with hand washing, plenty of sleep, adequate fluid intake (the immune system works best when hydrated), good nutrition, and covering a sneeze with a tissue or the crook of an elbow.
At Pure Research Products, we suggest that one or two del-IMMUNE V® capsules per day generally help support the body’s immune system as it works to protect the body against germs and help you fight influenza.
