Cold comfort or flu fix? Surviving the sniffles this winter

So you woke up feeling like death warmed up. You’ve got a runny nose, a sore throat and a headache. But is it a common cold which will go away after some comfort from painkillers and chicken soup or is it a flu needing a more serious fix?

The difference between cold and flu

Both the common cold (cold) and influenza (flu) are respiratory diseases but are caused by different viruses.  As a general rule, the flu is worse with more intense symptoms than the common cold.

If your body’s on fire and your muscles are aching, it’s a good indication you’ve got the flu. Runny or blocked noses, sneezing or sore throats on the other hand are more likely to indicate you’ve got a cold.

Whether you’ve got a cold or flu, you’re probably down in the dumps and wondering what to do about it.

Keeping your colds and flus to yourself

Start by keeping your snotty nose to yourself. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and give your hands a good scrub afterwards- just splashing them under the tap isn’t enough to remove cold and flu germs. Lather your hands with soap for at least 15 seconds and rinse with warm running water. Call in sick and spend a few relaxing days at home so you don’t share your germs at work.

When it comes to cold and flu sharing isn’t caring! Get your fellow householders to read how to prevent catching your cold or flu!

Cold and flu remedies

But you’ll probably want to get back to it as soon as possible and keep yourself as comfortable as possible in the meantime. That’s where cold and flu remedies can help. The best remedies depend on the symptoms you have and how serious they are.

Cold comforts when your nose is runny and throat sore

As unpleasant as runny noses and sore throats can be, common colds don’t need any serious treatment- a couple of days in bed and a few bowls of chicken soup should be enough to put you on the road to recovery. Yes, you heard correctly! It’s not just an old wives tale; scientific studies have shown that eating chicken soup can be beneficial when you’ve got a cold. While you’re resting, make sure you drink plenty of healthy fluids (like milk, juice and water), and avoid unhealthy ones (like caffeinated beverages and alcohol). Keep the air moist by using a humidifier to relieve your blocked nose.

Natural remedies like vitamin C and Echinacea are widely believed to help treat common colds, but their therapeutic effects are yet to be proven. Zinc, on the other hand, has been shown to reduce the duration of colds in adults (but not children) and can be taken in the form of lozenges or nasal sprays.

If these simple cold comforts are not enough and your cold symptoms are still getting you down, you’ll find further relief at the local pharmacy. Pain killers including paracetamol and ibuprofen can relieve pain and fever. Aspirin should never be given to children under 12 years old and you should not take aspirin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It may only be given to children between 12 and 16 years following the advice of your doctor. You may consume aspirin if you are over 16 years and not pregnant or breastfeeding, but you must still follow the instructions on the label and your doctor’s advice. Paracetamol is the safest option for children and babies. But remember, it is always best to seek the advice of a health care professional.

If a runny or blocked nose is bothering you, a nasal decongestant might be the answer.

You may also wish to use a cough medicine to control your cough, but bear in mind that a productive cough (a wet cough) is one way your immune system works to fight against a cold. So if you have a productive cough, it’s best to limit the use of cough medicine to bed time, or other times when you really need to prevent coughing.

On the other hand if your cough is dry and intense, you’ve likely got influenza. Dry coughs are non-productive; they do not help the body get rid of the viruses that cause flu. In this case, using cough medicine regularly is the best strategy.

Flu treatments available on prescription

There are also a number of treatments which can be prescribed by a doctor, when flu is severe. Antibiotics aren’t one of them! Antibiotics kill bacteria, but influenza is caused by viruses, meaning antibiotics don’t help when it comes to the flu. So steer clear of antibiotics when you’ve got the flu. If your symptoms persist or get worse, see a doctor. They may prescribe antivirals.

Antivirals

Antiviral medicines target flu viruses and can be prescribed for people with serious flu symptoms, or those with a high risk of developing complications.These medicines work by preventing the flu virus from spreading inside your body.

Antiviral medicines are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. If you have a high risk of developing complications, for example if you are elderly, pregnant or have another health condition, or if your young child has flu symptoms, don’t wait more than 48 hours after symptoms of the flu start to see a doctor.

Go see your doctor if you have one of these flu symptoms

• Your symptoms become severe
• Your symptoms last more than a week
• You start to feel unusually short of breath
• You feel a sharp pain in your chest every time you take a breath
• You have severe vomiting
• You have a fever for more three or more daysor it is above 39.5C
• You get a bad earache
• You cough up yellow, green or brown sputum or blood
• You start to feel light-headed or actually faint
• You have a serious chronic disease such as lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes or have a medical condition or take medicine which suppresses your immune system
• You have severe sinus pain
• You have swollen glands in your neck or jaw
• You get discharge from your eyes
• You have a runny nose for more than ten days
• Your snot becomes thick and yellow

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