How not to confuse the flu with a cold?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Sometimes, falling asleep in full health, the next morning we can wake up completely shattered, with a runny nose, a fever and a cough. Here they are the symptoms of the flu... Stop! Or maybe it's a cold?
It is very important to know the difference between the symptoms of flu and colds. Very often we call colds flu and vice versa, without even suspecting what the patients really are. These two diseases have a lot in common. Both are respiratory diseases, and their pathogens are viruses. Despite the fact that the symptoms are very similar, treat the ailments in different ways.
Symptoms of a cold
- Coryza;
- Cough;
- Stuffy nose;
- A sore throat;
- Low temperature (37 ° -38 ° C)
Symptoms of influenza
- Body aches;
- Weakness;
- Chills;
- High temperature (more than 38 ° C)
And maybe it's an allergy?
It also happens that a person has an allergy. At the same time, there is no temperature, the body does not break, but there is only a runny nose and itchy eyes. It really is an allergic reaction. However, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish allergy from colds, because allergy sufferers catch cold more often than others.
[How to treat colds?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to get an inoculation against a cold, because to develop a vaccine like this, scientists need to study 250 viruses that cause it. Symptoms of a cold can only be alleviated. Of course, to begin with, limit the consumption of coffee and carbonated drinks that dehydrate the body. Drink more water and try to refresh yourself, even if you do not feel like eating. Chicken soup to help you.
Is it necessary to bring down the temperature?
Temperature is the reaction of our body, which throws all the forces to protect against the disease, and if it is brought down, the weapon will be stacked. However, the exception is elderly people, small children, cores, and also people with sick lungs.
How to protect yourself during epidemics?
Vitamin C can be used as a preventative, which will shorten the duration of the cold, but it will not help to protect it from it. The best way is to strengthen the immune system. Perfect allies will be green vegetables, for example, spinach, which is rich in vitamin A and C, and the source of omega-3 fatty acids, so necessary to combat inflammation, is salmon. As a stimulant of the immune system, degreased yogurt appears.
Antibiotics and colds
Many, discovering the first symptoms of a cold, grab for antibiotics, in the hope of eradicating the disease instantly and irrevocably. However, antibiotics are effective only against bacteria. The doctor prescribes them if the cold causes an infection of the nasal sinuses, leading to sinusitis, sinusitis, or otitis.
Is the cold a consequence of hypothermia?
This is another common myth of the common cold. A cold is a virus, and hypothermia can only negatively affect the weakened immunity.