You have a headache, it nearly seems like someone is physically hitting your head and trying to open your skull, you are sneezing constantly, you are fatigued, and all of your energy is gone. You feel disoriented as if the world is collapsing around you. All of these strange changes might drive one insane and leave them wondering if they have the flu or a cold, and many of us mistake the flu for a cold.

Because the influenza virus is so ubiquitous, the number of persons affected each season can only be guessed.

Children are the most susceptible to influenza, while individuals 65 and older are the least susceptible. Adults have two to four colds every year on average, typically between September and May. Young children have six to eight colds each year on average. Colds are extremely infectious. They are most commonly distributed when droplets of fluid containing a cold virus are touched. These droplets can be inhaled as well.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMON COLD AND FLU

The common cold and influenza (flu) are both infectious respiratory infections caused by distinct viruses. Only influenza viruses cause flu, although the common cold can be caused by a variety of viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses. Because flu and common cold symptoms are so similar, it can be difficult to distinguish between them based on symptoms alone. Flu is often more severe than a regular cold, with symptoms that are more acute and come more quickly. Colds are frequently less severe than flu. Persons with colds are more prone than people with flu to have a runny or stuffy nose. While colds seldom cause major health concerns, flu can cause serious consequences.

A cold and influenza (the flu) are two distinct diseases. A cold is very innocuous and normally goes away on its own, however, it can occasionally develop into a subsequent infection, such as an ear infection. The flu, on the other hand, can cause complications such as pneumonia and even death. What appears to be a cold might be the flu.

Now that we know flu and cold are separate things, we will discuss them individually in detail below

What is a cold?

Often also referred to as a common cold. The common cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat (upper respiratory tract). It’s normally innocuous, even if it doesn’t feel that way. A common cold can be caused by a variety of viruses.

WHAT CAUSES A COLD?

A virus clings to the lining of your nose or throat and causes a cold. Your immune system, the body’s defense against pathogens, releases white blood cells to combat the invasion. If you haven’t encountered that particular form of the virus, the initial onslaught may fail and your body may send in reinforcements. Your nose and throat become irritated, producing a lot of mucus. You’re fatigued and unhappy because you’re expending so much energy battling the cold virus.

Cold weather or being chilled, as opposed to common perception, does not trigger a cold. Nonetheless, more colds occur during the winter months (early fall to late winter). This is most likely due to a combination of circumstances, including Schools are ongoing, raising the danger of viral infection, and People spending more time indoors and living in closer quarters Low humidity results in dry nasal passages that are more vulnerable

Who is in danger of catching a cold?

Everyone is susceptible to the common cold. Children catch more colds than adults each year, owing to their underdeveloped immune systems and frequent human touch with other children at school or daycare.

SYMPTOMS OF A COLD

Common cold symptoms normally occur one to three days after being exposed to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms that may differ from person to person include:

a stuffy or runny nose

Throat discomfort

Cough

Congestion

Mild body discomfort or a headache

Sneezing

Fever of low intensity

Feeling generally ill

As a normal cold progresses, the discharge from your nose may become clear and thicken, turning yellow or green. This may not always indicate a bacterial illness.

How is a common cold diagnosed?

The majority of common colds are identified based on the symptoms described. Cold symptoms, on the other hand, might mimic those of bacterial infections, allergies, and other medical disorders. If your symptoms are severe, always visit your healthcare practitioner for a diagnosis.

TREATMENT AND HOME REMEDY

The common cold has no treatment. Most instances of the common cold improve without therapy within a week to ten days. However, a cough may remain for a few days longer. The most important thing you can do is look for yourself while your body heals. Drink lots of fluids, humidify the air, utilize saline nasal rinses, and get enough rest,

Antibiotics are useless against cold viruses and should only be administered if a bacterial infection is present.

Symptom-relief drugs

Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat aches and pains have been proven in studies to aggravate asthma and/or peptic ulcers. Asthmatics should not use these drugs unless their doctor has prescribed them. All medicine should be discussed with a pregnant woman’s healthcare practitioner. Aspirin should not be administered to children under the age of 18 since it may contribute to the development of Reye’s Syndrome, an uncommon but serious liver and central nervous system disorder. Make careful to discuss all prescription options with your doctor.

Decongestants, antihistamines, or a combination of the two can be used to alleviate congestion, cough, and nasal discharge. Some persons, particularly those with thyroid illness or high blood pressure, should avoid using decongestants —

REMEDIES

VITAMIN C

When you’re ill, adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may help minimize mucus. Having hot or cold lemonade may also be beneficial.

While these beverages may not completely cure your cold, they can help you acquire the vitamin C your immune system requires. Getting enough vitamin C can help you recover from upper respiratory infections and other ailments.

GARLIC

Allicin, a chemical found in garlic, may have antibacterial qualities. Including garlic supplements in your diet may help to lessen the intensity of cold symptoms. Some study suggests that it may even assist you to prevent becoming ill in the first place.

Including extra garlic in your diet is unlikely to be harmful.

GINGER

Ginger’s healing qualities have been scientifically proven. A few slices of raw ginger root in hot water will help relieve a cough or sore throat. According to research, it can also help with nausea that commonly comes with influenza. Ginger can “relieve clinical nausea for a variety of reasons.”

PREVENTION OF THE SPREAD OF  COLD

Cough and sneeze into a tissue and discard it, or cough and sneeze into the top sleeve of your shirt, totally covering your mouth and nose.

After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose, wash your hands.

Surfaces and things that are regularly handled, such as toys, doorknobs, and mobile devices, should be disinfected.

Stay at home if you are sick, and keep your children away from school or daycare if they are sick.

Avoid making direct physical contact with others, such as embracing, kissing, or shaking hands.

Before coughing or sneezing, get away from people.

CAUSES OF FLU

The flu is a viral infection that affects your respiratory system, including your nose, throat, and lungs. The flu is a common term for influenza.

When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, the virus spreads through the air in droplets. You can either directly inhale the droplets or pick up the germs from an item, such as a telephone or computer keyboard, and then transmit them to your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Influenza viruses are continually evolving, with new strains emerging regularly. If you’ve had influenza before, your body has already produced antibodies to combat that particular strain of the virus. If future influenza viruses are identical to ones you’ve met previously, whether, through sickness or vaccination, those antibodies may prevent or decrease infection. However, antibody levels may decrease with time.

Furthermore, antibodies against previous influenza viruses may not protect you from new influenza strains, which may be entirely different viruses from those you had previously.

CLASSIFICATION OF INFLUENZA

Seasonal influenza viruses are classified into four types: A, B, C, and D. The influenza A and B viruses spread and produce seasonal outbreaks of sickness.

Influenza A viruses are further categorized into subtypes based on the combinations of the proteins on the virus’s surface, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Subtypes A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) influenza viruses are currently circulating in humans. Only influenza A viruses have been linked to pandemics.

influenza B viruses have no types, however, they can be divided into lineages. The influenza type B viruses that are currently circulating are either B/Yamagata or B/Victoria.

The influenza C virus is identified less frequently and typically produces minor illnesses, therefore it is of minimal public health concern.

Influenza D viruses typically affect cattle and are not known to infect or afflict humans.

SYMPTOMS OF FLU

Flu frequently strikes without warning. People who have the flu frequently experience any or all of the following symptoms:

fever* or a feverish feeling/chills

Cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscular or joint pain

headaches

fatigue (tiredness)

Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, which is more prevalent in children than in adults.

Diagnosis of Flu

The vast majority of human influenza cases are clinically diagnosed. However, during low influenza activity and outside of epidemics, infection with other respiratory viruses such as rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus can also present as influenza-like illness, making clinical differentiation of influenza from other pathogens difficult.

Complications of the Flu

As a result of the flu, some people can develop complications (such as pneumonia), some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.

Sinus and ear infections are examples of mild flu consequences, but pneumonia is a major flu complication that can arise from flu virus infection alone or the flu virus and bacterium co-infection. Other dangerous flu consequences include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis), or muscular tissues (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), as well as multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). A flu virus infection of the respiratory tract can cause a severe inflammatory reaction in the body, leading to sepsis, the body’s potentially fatal response to infection.

Flu can potentially exacerbate existing medical conditions. Persons with asthma, for example, may have asthma episodes when sick with the flu, and individuals who have ongoing heart disease may have their condition worsened as a result of the flu.

TREATMENT AND HOME REMEDY FOR FLU

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat the flu if you have a severe illness or are at high risk of complications. These medications may include oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which is taken orally, and zanamivir (Relenza), which is inhaled through a device similar to an asthma inhaler and should not be used by anyone with certain chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma or lung disease, peramivir (Rapivab), or baloxavir (Xofluza). These medications may help to shorten your sickness by a day or two and prevent dangerous consequences.

Rest

When you have the flu, it is critical to rest and sleeps more. Sleeping can help your immune system function better. This aids your body’s defense against the flu virus. Consider sleeping a priority to assist you in getting back on your feet.

REMEDIES

Humidity

In dry situations, influenza flourishes and spreads more readily. Making your environment more humid may limit your exposure to this flu-causing virus. Humidity increases may also lessen nasal irritation, making it easier to breathe while you’re ill. Adding a cold mist humidifier to your bedroom temporarily may make you feel more at ease. This is especially important throughout the winter when dry interior heat might aggravate your symptoms. A few drops of eucalyptus oil may also help to accelerate your breathing.

Use essential oils.

certain essential oils may help protect you against viruses and germs. According to one research, tea tree oil aids in the battle against the flu virus by reducing or preventing the virus’s replication. The study found that tea tree oil works best when applied within two hours of infection. This suggests that it may aid in preventing the flu virus from replicating.

Drinking broth

Warm chicken or beef bone broth is an excellent method to remain hydrated. It aids in the loosening and breaking up of nasal and sinus congestion.

Bone broth is also abundant in protein and minerals such as salt and potassium. While you have the flu, drinking soup is a fantastic approach to replace these minerals. Furthermore, protein is necessary for immune cell regeneration. This might cause neutrophils in your body to move more slowly. Neutrophils are a kind of white blood cell that is rather frequent. They aid in the defense of your body against illness. They remain more concentrated in the places of your body that require the most repair when they move slowly.

PREVENTION OF FLU

Stay away from huge crowds.

Avoiding huge crowds might be challenging at times. In a typical year, limiting your contact with individuals during flu season can minimize your chance of infection. In cramped places, the flu may spread swiftly. Schools, businesses, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities are all included. If your immune system is compromised, use a face mask whenever you go out in public during flu season.

Get a flu shot every year.

Ensure that you get a flu shot every year. Because the major circulating flu virus varies from year to year, you must refresh your immunization every year.

Keep in mind that the vaccination takes around 2 weeks to become effective. If you acquire the flu after getting vaccinated, the vaccine may lessen the intensity and length of your illness.

Boost your immune system.

Another strategy to protect yourself from the flu is to strengthen your immune system. A healthy immune system aids your body in fighting illnesses. If you do get sick, a robust immune system can help lessen the intensity of your symptoms. Get adequate sleep to boost your immunity. Maintain a regular physical exercise schedule of at least 30 minutes three times a week.

Maintain a healthy, nutrient-dense diet as well. Limit your intake of sweets, junk food, and fatty meals. To support healthy health, consume a variety of fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins and antioxidants. Consider taking a multivitamin to help your immune system.

GENERAL ADVICE

Even though the common cold and flu are fairly popular across all populations, they should not be underestimated. Everyone will contract at least once in their lifetime. As a result. Take precautions to avoid further spread. Consult a skilled caregiver before taking any drugs to prevent jeopardizing other chronic health concerns. Home remedies work best, but they are lethargic, so you should consider utilizing some of them as suggested by the experts.