Is It A Cold Or The Flu? And Which Remedies Really Work?

But the combination of wind, rain, cold and warmth can play havoc with your internal thermostat, and that’s why this year you may be more susceptible to a cold than in other seasons past.

Some doctors have already seen it.

“I’m seeing three to five people a day with colds,” warns family physician Dr. Robert Kingstone. “We’re going to get hit with a good flu later than we’re used to.”

Gail Rizzi never gets influenza. Or so she thought. She came down with it this season. 

“I said to everyone I’m not going to get sick,” she recalls, while blowing her nose. “I’m never going to get sick, I’ve been taking care of everybody else and I got it this year.”

She’s committing the ultimate sin of going to work even though she’s ill. “Responsibilities,” she shrugs. “I love being at work.”

But her co-workers may not feel the same way.

Most of us know about suffering through the sniffles and many of us have our own remedies for getting rid of the bug sooner than later. But do any of them really work? And how can you tell if you have just a bad cold or a case of the flu?

Here’s a primer on telling the very different infections apart.

The flu season starts in November and lasts until April, and while getting a flu shot is a definite help, it still doesn’t completely guarantee you won’t get the illness.

By now you know that feeling – aches and pains, sore all over, running nose, a cough, a fever – and that’s just for those lucky enough not to land the strain that affects your stomach.

So what’s the difference between influenza and the common cold? Here’s a comparison:

Fever
Flu: Common, can sometimes range into the upper 30s Celsius. Can last as long as 3-4 days.
Cold: Rare.

Headache
Flu: Common, and usually quite intense. It’s often the kind in which you feel an aspirin won’t even make a dent.
Cold: Rare.

Aches and Pains
Flu: Common and can be severe
Cold: Discomfort is likely, but the sluggish feeling won’t be anything you can’t live with.

Fatigue/Weakness
Flu: Prominent, can last 2-3 weeks, and continue for a time even after you’re feeling better.
Cold: Rarely happens, although you may feel that a bad cold saps your strength.

Exhaustion
Flu: Comes early and stays for the duration of the disease. It can linger even after most of the symptoms disappear.
Cold: Almost never.

Stuffy nose
Flu: Sometimes accompanies the disease, but isn’t always present.
Cold: Also part of the ailment, and can be bad depending on how serious the infection is.

Sneezing
Flu: Rarely occurs
Cold: A prominent feature of the illness. Keep plenty of tissue handy.

Sore Throat
Flu: Occurs sometimes during the course of the ailment.
Cold: Very common. Hot liquids, aspirin, and rest can help ease it.

Chest Discomfort
Flu: Can be mild to moderate, as you become congested.
Cold: Can reach severe proportions, depending on how badly the cold bug bites.

Cough
Flu: A common symptom that can become more serious as the disease works its way through your system.
Cold: Usually the hacking kind.
 
If you’re unsure about your diagnosis, see your doctor. Chances are you won’t be the only one in the waiting room with the same symptoms.

Water/hydration

You’ve heard about feeding a cold and starving a fever? The expression really should be about drowning the infection. Liquids won’t cure it, of course, but staying well hydrated can help you get rid of it faster.

Saline nose drops

As long as you don’t overuse them, they can open up those clogged nasal passages and turn you from a mouth breather into a more normal respirator. It’s important they’re the saline kind though – they don’t lead to the infamous rebound effect, where the symptoms come back worse than ever when they wear off.

Chicken soup

Don’t laugh. It turns out mom was right, although maybe for the wrong reasons. It seems to prevent the movement of cells in your body that trigger an inflammatory response. And it helps relieve congestion by speeding up the movement of mucous through your nasal passages, letting you breathe easier.

Over the counter help

They can be effective, but they’re of limited value over the long run and shouldn’t be overused. Aspirins and acetaminophen can reduce symptoms like headaches, but there’s always a temptation to take them too often or too soon before the previous dose and that can lead to new problems.

Humidity

When it’s cold, it’s often dry and the bugs that cause your stuffy nose love that. Keeping your home properly humidified can go a long way towards keeping you healthy. But keeping your humidifier clean is a must, or you may wind up with mold and other bacteria getting a chance to grow.

Vitamin C

The jury is out on whether the citrus ingredient actually does anything to stop you from getting a cold, but it may help shorten its duration.

For everything that might be effective, there are lots of things that don’t work. Among them:

Antibiotics

Doctors won’t prescribe pills for your cold because they won’t help and they could just make other bugs stronger.

Antihistamines

They’re great for your allergies, but seem to make cold symptoms worse by drying out your mucous membranes. Avoid them.

Cough medicines

Some doctors don’t recommend them because they hide the underlying cause of your illness without actually helping you in the long run. And they could be dangerous for your kids.

Starving the Cold

Don’t do it, despite the old cliché noted above. You need your strength and not eating won’t help you get it back.

When to see your doctor:

If you have:

• A cold that lasts more than 10 days.
• Earache or fluid draining from your ear.
• Severe pain in your face or forehead.
• A temperature above 39 degrees Celsius (102F).
• Shortness of breath.
• Hoarseness, sore throat, or a cough that won’t go away.
• Wheezing.

Courtesy The Mayo Clinic, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

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