Flu or colds - what are you suffering from?

Flu and colds in the body. Fall weather is very changeable. Rain, strong wind, cold mornings, warm afternoons, frosts - it is easy to get wet, cold, too warm or light clothes. All of this favors the development of viruses. That something often catches It is at this time of the year that we are not surprised. A slight cough, a scratchy throat, headache, fever, malaise and a great desire to spend all days in bed - everyone knows these symptoms. But do you know what you are ill with? You say you are at home with the flu, but are you sure it is not a cold? And above all - is it so important?

It is important to distinguish between these conditions, as if left untreated flu can lead to serious complications. So if we confuse it with a cold and do not cure it properly, because it's just a cold and I'll be fine, we can get in trouble. Of course, if you feel unwell, the best thing to do is see a doctor, but it's worth being aware of the differences between the flu and a cold.

Colds and flu - there is no difference?

Although viruses cause both conditions and many symptoms double, flu and a cold are not the same. The difference is there, and it is quite apparent once we become familiar with the symptoms. Certainly, you should not underestimate any disease and control your well-being.

 

Both colds and the flu are caused by viruses. In addition, they also share some symptoms: fever, joint pain, sore throat, cough and muscle pain.

Cold or Flu? Look at the symptoms

Despite the similarities, these diseases have a lot in common. It is worth remembering that:

1. Colds develop slowly, we usually feel that something takes us. We are cold and unable to warm up, we start to sneeze, our nose is twitching, our throat is scratchy, and although we are able to function, we are fully aware that we have caught something. The flu, on the other hand, comes out of the blue. It can literally knock us off our feet in no time. We can spend the whole day feeling great, and suddenly in the evening, within an hour, we fall on the bed and don't even have the strength to move a finger.

2. In both cases, there is often an elevated body temperature, but in the case of a cold, it usually fluctuates around 37 or 37.5 degrees Celsius, while flu is usually a high fever, even exceeding 39 degrees C.

 

Important! If the temperature rises to a maximum of 38.5 degrees C during the flu, the body is fighting the disease and producing antibodies to fight it. However, the temperature may rise above the aforementioned, then it is necessary to keep it down.

 

3. Flu symptoms usually last much longer, up to two weeks, while flu symptoms often disappear after a few days.

4. During the flu, there are severe chills and sweating. In a cold, such symptoms are much less severe or do not occur at all.

5. Usually we can function normally during a cold. Of course, we are disturbed by irritating symptoms, but getting out of bed is not a feat. During the flu, however, even the smallest activity is extremely tiring. Any effort is beyond strength - sometimes even lying down can be tiring. We lack the energy for literally everything.

6. A runny nose, sore throat or cough are symptoms that may or may not be associated with both conditions. We associate a cold - rightly so - with a tiring runny nose, which is often just a very irritating ailment, while flu is not always associated with it. A tiring cough appears more often during its duration, and in the case of a cold, we often only cough. A sore throat rarely occurs during the flu.

7. The flu can cause photophobia and pain in the eyes. Additionally, it is accompanied by a severe headache. A cold most often makes us feel like a "heavy head", but it is not necessarily associated with pain.

8. During the flu, nose bleeds can occur, which are unlikely to be symptoms of a cold.

Flu vs. Cold

Although we often say that the flu catches us, in the end, it is usually a cold that we first notice beforehand. Despite the fact that the flu is more dangerous, it is not worth ignoring any of these diseases and taking care of your health, because untreated ailments will certainly not be forgotten quickly.