FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/12/2012 3:00:00 AM
EASTERN
Updated:
1/12/2012 4:45:40 PM
EASTERN
Is it a cold, flu or something else?
ASHTABULA, OHIO – The change from warm home or office to the wintery chill outside is often blamed for the colds and flu we get this time of year.
In reality, it’s a virus making the rounds. When the sniffles turn to congestion, sneezing, and coughing with a side of sore throat – how do you know if it is a cold or the flu? Colds can be annoying, and at times miserable, but influenza symptoms can be much more severe, and can be life-threatening in some cases.
The family physicians at Ashtabula County Medical Center offer the following tips for colds or flu:
One of the key indicators of the flu is a high fever (100 degrees or higher) that lasts three days or more. A fever rarely accompanies a cold.
Fatigue is another strong indicator that you have the flu rather than just a cold. Fatigue can come on suddenly. You may remain weary and tired for as long as three weeks.
While coughing can be a sign of cold or flu, if it continues to worsen, it probably is the flu. Severe coughing should not be treated lightly, especially for people with breathing difficulties (COPD or asthma). A severe cough can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.
If your body or head aches a lot, it is probably the flu. While body aches can be associated with a common cold, they are usually mild.
Another warning sign for the flu is when you feel chilled and start shaking. This isn’t the normal chill due to cold weather. It can be felt at normal room temperature, and can affect your entire body.
If you have a sore throat, don’t automatically assume it is the flu. A sore throat is common to a cold, but uncommon to the flu. It can happen, but is usually an indicator of a cold.
The same thing can be said for a stuffy nose and sneezing, which usually occur during a cold. With the flu, a stuffy nose may not be a primary symptom. Usually it is chest congestion over nasal congestion – though both can sometimes occur with either virus.
While most people don’t think they need to go to the doctor for a cold, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment if the symptoms persist. If a cold persists for a long period, it can turn into further sinus problems, or cause earaches. As for treatment, there are plenty of folk remedies and old wives tales, but physicians alter their treatment based on the virus causing the symptoms.
Visiting a physician can mean the difference between a cold or flu running its course, or suffering through weeks of worsening symptoms. The key to fighting any virus is to get plenty of rest and let your body do what it was designed to do – fight off the virus. Stay home, eat lightly (heavy meals tend to slow down our digestive system, taking energy away from our immune system), and drink plenty of fluids.
While the old adage says “feed a cold, starve a fever,” restricting calories is not the best way to go. It’s true that your body needs to stay focused on fighting the flu, but going without fuel for the immune system isn’t healthy. ACMC Dietitian Barbara Vennetti said the body runs at its best when it is getting a nutritional and well-balanced diet.
She said foods high in antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins C and E are good nutritional boosters – that’s why they end up in cold-fighting medicines.
“Antioxidants help protect your body against life’s stressors. They may also play a part in protecting the cells, and they neutralize free radicals,” Vennetti said.
By including more raw fruits and vegetables in your diet, you will automatically get more antioxidants. Include such fruits as apricots, cantaloupe, nectarines, peaches, pink grapefruit, tangerines, tomatoes, strawberries, papaya, or kiwi. Vegetables such as asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, cauliflower or kale are also beneficial. Other food items high in antioxidants include beef liver, almonds, corn oil, hazelnuts, lobster, peanut butter salmon steak or sunflower oil.
For those who want a daily cold-fighting boost, eating a cup of yogurt a day may reduce the risk of getting a cold by as much as 25 percent. The beneficial bacteria stimulate your immune system to ward off the virus. Finally, the old standby – chicken soup – is actually a great fighter of a cold. It helps clear nasal congestion and thins mucus so it is easier to cough up.
A cup of hot tea will also do the trick, and you will be getting antioxidants, flavanoids and hydrating the body at the same time. Consult with a physician if you have symptoms of a cold or flu.
The Family Medicine physicians at The Ashtabula Clinic are available for appointments by phoning 440-992-4422 in Ashtabula; 440-576-8933 in Jefferson; and 440-224-2255 in North Kingsville.