2020 has been a year like no other. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) took center stage and now any cough or sneeze that happens makes us wonder, “Do we have it?” Although symptoms can vary from person to person, there are often tell-tale signs that differentiate COVID-19 from other common illnesses.
Common Colds
The average American gets 1 to 3 colds each year, resulting in more than 22 million days of missed school and even more absent days from work every year. This infection tends to be mild and can improve on its own without requiring treatment.
The common cold is also often called viral rhinitis and comes from the virus family called rhinovirus. Rhinoviruses cause around 40% of colds and contains about 100 different virus types.
Symptoms
Once this rhinovirus infects you, the first thing you may notice is your throat starting to hurt. Around 50% of people develop a sore throat in as soon as 10 hours after being infected.
From there, other symptoms that may pop up, include:
- Congestion in the nose and sinuses
- Running nose
- Sneezing
- Hoarseness and cough
One thing to note is that fevers are rare when it comes to common colds. A normal body temp usually ranges from 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. If it passes 100.4 degrees, chances are you’re not dealing with the common cold.
Duration
When the seasons change, so does your chance of getting infected by the common cold. Most colds get us in the early fall or spring, but that doesn’t mean you are safe in the summer or winter. People with a cold are most likely to pass it on during the first 24 hours of getting ill, but as long as the symptoms last, they remain infectious.
You can expect the common cold to reach the worst point on either the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th days, and linger around for about a week. About 25% of people may even have symptoms that continue longer, like a cough.
Prevention and Treatment
When it comes to prevention, you need to avoid close contact with anyone who is infected. The virus can be transmitted when germs from the nose, mouth, or cough/sneeze droplets from an infected person reach another. It’s even possible to get the virus by touching a surface that was recently touched by a person with the virus, and then rubbing your eyes or nose.
Some tips to remember, include:
- Washing your hands often
- Avoid rubbing your eyes and nose
- Avoid close and/or prolonged contact with someone who is infected
- Carefully dispose of used tissues
- Get plenty of sleep (at least 7 hours)
- Exercise regularly
When it comes to treatment, there are different therapies you can incorporate in your routine to improve the symptoms of a common cold but not cure it completely.
Some top therapies to try out, include:
- Gargling warm salt water to soothe a sore throat
- Inhaling steam to improve nasal congestion
- Using OTC cold remedies that can help to relieve congestion and/or cough
You can also support your immune system before you get a cold by supplementing with Natural Wellness’s Immune System Support, which contains standardized European echinacea, zinc, vitamin C, as well as other immune supporting vitamins and minerals. The combination of these 3 show a positive role when it comes to shortening the duration of common colds and reducing the severity of symptoms.
The review states:
- Vitamin C – 1 to 2 grams per day reduced duration and severity of the common cold by 8% in adults and 14% in children.
- Zinc – Potentially shortens the length of a cold by about 33%.
- Echinacea – A complementary treatment for respiratory tract infections (which the common cold is), and has been shown to enhance the immune response.
Flu
The flu, aka influenza, is a little more serious than the common cold, where it can range from mild to severe and potentially cause death. The CDC did a study that showed around 8% of the U.S. population gets sick from the flu each season.
Symptoms
Unlike the common cold where symptoms can gradually get worse, the flu tends to knock you off your feet right away.
When you’re dealing with the flu you may experience one or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
It is possible to have the flu and be asymptomatic, meaning you aren’t showing symptoms at all.
Duration
If you’re a healthy individual, the flu will be uncomfortable but also short-term. After around 1 to 4 days after exposure to the virus, symptoms will appear and will likely last around 5 to 7 days. The flu virus is spread the same way the cold virus is, through droplets from a cough or sneeze from a sick person. If you’ve had a flu shot, your symptoms may not last as long or may be less severe.
There are some people who are at greater risk for complication from the flu:
- Very young age
- People 65 or older
- Individuals with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes
- Pregnant women
- People with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
Prevention and Treatment
Preventing the flu can be tricky since it is highly contagious, but there are a few steps to take to limit your chanc