{"id":14090,"date":"2023-01-05T06:03:39","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T06:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/docsmedicalgroup.com\/docsurgentcare\/?p=14090"},"modified":"2023-01-05T17:34:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T17:34:02","slug":"what-are-the-differences-between-common-cold-and-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/docsmedicalgroup.com\/docsurgentcare\/what-are-the-differences-between-common-cold-and-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Differences Between Common Cold and Flu?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tMany Branford, CT residents suffer from the common cold and flu, but they don\u2019t know how to differentiate one from the other. Both conditions have similar symptoms, so we understand how tricky it can be to know which virus you\u2019ve contracted. Is your cough a sign of a cold or flu? There\u2019s only one way to find out.<\/span><\/p> In this article, DOCS Urgent Care Branford<\/a><\/span> will discuss the common cold and flu and the critical differences between the two.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The common cold is a viral infection involving your upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat. Although it might not feel like it, a common cold is usually harmless. Healthy adults typically experience <\/span>two to three common cold occurrences annually<\/span><\/a><\/span>,<\/span> most of them experiencing the symptoms between <\/span>September and May<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p> Due to their immature immune system and their close contact with others their age, children are more susceptible to common colds. The common cold is usually why many parents visit urgent care in Branford, CT, to seek treatment. The average child is expected to experience between 6 to 10 colds annually, which is more than a typical adult would experience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Here are some of the typical symptoms of the common cold:<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul> Common cold symptoms often appear one to three days after exposure to the cold-causing virus. Remember that cold symptoms mimic those of other illnesses, so you should visit an\u00a0<\/span><\/span>urgent care center in Branford, CT<\/a><\/span>, to learn more about your current medical condition.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The risk factors below can increase the chances of you catching a common cold:<\/span><\/p> Weakened Immune System.<\/b> People with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems have an increased risk of catching a common cold.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Here are some things DOCS Urgent Care Branford<\/a><\/span> suggests you do to protect yourself and reduce your risk of getting the common cold:<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul> To protect yourself and others from catching cold-causing viruses, here are some precautionary methods you can employ:<\/span><\/p> Common cold symptoms usually linger a week before going away on their own, making it sometimes unnecessary to see the doctor. However, if the symptoms worsen or don\u2019t go away after the expected duration, contact your local urgent care in Branford, CT, to address the situation.<\/p> Your urgent care provider in Branford, CT, may diagnose your situation as a simple common cold, bacterial infection, or other medical condition. They may also conduct tests such as an X-ray to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Unfortunately, there is no direct cure for the common cold. But since it goes away on its own, the best thing you can do is to take care of yourself. This will help your body heal as fast as it can. Be sure to get rest and drink plenty of liquids. You can also clear your nasal passages using a saline rinse.<\/span><\/p> Some over-the-counter medications also ease your symptoms and make you feel less miserable. Before purchasing these medications, go to your urgent care provider in Branford, CT, and get a prescription first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Here are some medications you can get to ease your common cold symptoms:<\/span><\/p> DOCS Urgent Care Branford can get you up to speed on everything you need to do to recover from a common cold. Contact them today to get started.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Flu is an infection of the parts of the respiratory system, particularly the nose, throat, and lungs. The term flu comes from the word influenza, but people should be aware that it is not the same as other types of influenza, such as stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) which causes diarrhea and vomiting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> From October to December 2022 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been around <\/span>18 to 37 million flu illnesses<\/span><\/a><\/span> in the U.S. While the influenza virus is present all year round, flu activity occurring during the fall and winter, with its peak being in December and February. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Here are some of the common symptoms of the flu:<\/span><\/p> The following factors may heighten your risk of catching the flu or developing further complications:<\/span><\/p> Here are some ways to protect yourself from flu virus exposure:<\/span><\/p>What is the Common Cold?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Symptoms<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Risk Factors<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span><\/li><\/ul>Prevention<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tDiagnosis<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Treatment<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span><\/li><\/ul>What is a Flu?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Symptoms<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Many people attribute the flu to the common cold, and for good reasons. Flu symptoms and colds are standard, especially runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat. However, how fast these symptoms develop is where the two differ. The common cold tends to develop slowly, while the flu comes in an instant. And while it\u2019s common for people to feel miserable if they have a common cold, people with the flu tend to have it worse.
<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tRisk Factors<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Prevention<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t