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This is how to know if your cold is actually the flu

flu-symptoms-prevention-Women's Health UK
Signs that your cold is actually the fluWestend61 - Getty Images

An intensely bunged up nose, a throat as rough as sandpaper and a general feeling of 'cannot adult today.' Being struck with a nasty cold is zero fun. But how do you know when yours has slid beyond the common virus – and into the realms of the flu?

For expert intel, scroll on.


9 symptoms of the flu

Symptoms of influenza are often similar to those of a common cold, but appear suddenly and are more severe. This can include some or all of the following:

  • Fever or feeling feverish

  • Achy muscles, especially in your back, arms, and legs

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Sore throat

  • Cough

  • Chills and sweats

  • Weakness and fatigue

  • Headaches

  • Vomiting or diarrhoea (more common in children)


What are the differences between a cold and the flu?

Despite similar symptoms, a cold is milder than the flu and comes on more gradually. 'If you don’t feel horrible, you probably don’t have flu,' Dr. Joseph Ladapo, professor of medicine at UCLA, says.

Most cold symptoms primarily show up above your neck (like swollen glands and a runny nose), while flu symptoms can impact your body above and below the neck.

Ask yourself these questions:

How severe does this feel?

Cold: You feel a bit icky and things get worse slowly. The first signs to watch for include slight aches, a scratchy throat, headaches, and/or low-grade fever.

Flu: The flu hits you hard. You may first feel feverish at first, and quickly become too fatigued to do daily activities. Every inch of your body aches.

Can I get out of bed?

Cold: Yes, you can walk around. While you may not feel like going to work or getting your kids ready for school, you can still go about your day.

Flu: Absolutely not—you’re flat on your back and staying there. Extreme fatigue is going to incapacitate you for at least a few days.

What are the 5 stages of a cold?

Sometimes a cold can feel like it lasts an eternity. And while everyone is different when it comes to symptoms, there is a general idea of the life cycle of cold.

  1. Days one to two and you don’t even think to Google ‘Common Cold stages’, as you feel absolutely fine.

  2. Come days two and three, you’ll start to feel a bit tired and sneezy, your body may ache and you’ll likely have an odd tickle or soreness in your throat that you just can’t shift.

  3. Days three to four are the part where you’re bunged up and your nose is running like a tap – it’s not nice as the colour changes from clear to thick greenish yellow.

  4. Due to inflammation around the airways, the cough may persist after your other symptoms are long gone.

  5. Day seven and it might just be time to call off that doctor's appointment. Common colds usually last around 7-10 days with most cold sufferers getting better with rest and over-the-counter remedies


What causes the flu?

When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets carrying the virus enter the air. You can catch the flu if you inhale these droplets through your nose or mouth, or if you touch objects such as doorknobs or keyboards that are contaminated with the virus and then touch your nose, eyes, or mouth.

If you have the flu, you can spread the virus a day before your symptoms develop and up to seven days after you become sick. People with the flu are most contagious during the first three to four days of their illness.

If it is flu season and you are generally healthy and experience symptoms, you don’t need to see a doctor right away, says Dr. Ladapo. Simply treat your symptoms with rest and over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

However, anyone who is at high risk—that is, a child, older adult, pregnant woman, or someone with a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, or stroke—see your doctor. '

He or she can follow up with you to confirm that things are going in the right direction,' Dr. Ladapo says, or advise on seeking more care if they feel it’s necessary.


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