As summer comes to an end, we should welcome fall with festive hearts. With that said, we should also start preparing ourselves for the most common illnesses that occur during the colder months: cold and flu.
If you are like most people, you have battled a cold or flu at some point in your life, right? Maybe you got a cold in high school. Or maybe you caught the flu from someone at work. Both of these illnesses are extremely easy to catch if you’re not careful. That’s why we always recommend people implement great daily practices into their lives. People can start by washing their hands every day! You will be amazed the amount of cold and flu germs you can kill if you wash your hands regularly.
Do you know the difference between a cold and the flu? Although these two illnesses may look alike, they are not the same.
What does a cold look like to you? Maybe you envision lots of coughing and sneezing. Well, if you think about the flu, you’ll probably evoke images of coughing and sneezing as well.
We will give you a small hint: The flu is generally more intense than a cold. Yes, that’s right! A flu can possibly lead to death if you’re not careful. Can you guess why?
There are several reasons why this is the case, but it largely has to do with the genetic makeup of these two common illnesses. The good news is that the right treatment can control the common symptoms of a cold or flu. That’s why you may need to visit an urgent care center if things get too bad.
Do You Have the Cold or the Flu?
Here are the symptoms of a cold:
- Watery eyes
- A throbbing headache
- Itchy throat
- Runny nose
- Constant coughing and sneezing
Here are the symptoms of the flu:
- Extreme tiredness
- Body Aches
- Uncontrollable chills and shivers
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Runny nose
- A persistent cough and itchy throat
- A high fever
Must-Know Key Differences
There are many key differences between the cold and flu that you should know.
These two illnesses share many of the same symptoms, but the flu is typically much worse, especially when it’s combined with a high fever. When the flu is accompanied by a fever, it’s typically 100 degrees or more. The fever could last for several days.
As compared to the flu, colds are less likely to have severe complications that could possibly lead to death. These complications may include pneumonia and bacterial infections.
Many people who have the flu also suffer from severe tiredness. The flu could last for several weeks.
In general, a cold is only going to last for a week. The symptoms of a cold aren’t going to last as long as the flu, either.
Many people with the flu will experience severe vomiting. On the other hand, a cold is not typically associated with vomiting.
Cold And Flu Treatment
Whether you are battling a cold or the flu, you should take the appropriate steps to receive the right treatment.
Most colds and flu will go away without treatment, but there are things that you can do to expedite the process.
One of the most important things that you can do is drink a lot of fluids and consume healthy foods. These two practices will greatly strengthen your immune system.
Don’t forget to get plenty of rest. When your body is well-rested, your immune system will have the strength to heal properly.
If you have a severely dry nose, you may love saline drops.
Great Prevention Tips
Let’s face it: No one wants to catch a cold or flu.
The good news is that these two illnesses are preventable with daily health practices.
In order to ensure that you stay flu and cold-free throughout the year, most experts recommend that you regularly wash your hands, sneeze, and cough into your elbow, and avoid sick people.
If you want to protect yourself from the flu, you can always get a yearly vaccination. Flu vaccination has been shown to strengthen your immune system so that it will have the strength to combat this illness more effectively.
Don’t know where to get the flu vaccination? Most grocery store pharmacies and drug stores offer the flu vaccination for an extremely affordable cost. Not to mention, it’s extremely convenient to get the flu vaccination at these places.
Visit Integra Urgent Care
If your cold and flu symptoms just won’t go away, you should visit Integra Urgent Care as soon as possible.
As the premier urgent care center in the area, we know a thing or two about treating the cold and flu properly.
Whether you are 20 years old or 70 years old, we only focus on getting you well in a timely manner.
For your convenience, we proudly accept a wide range of insurance from Humana and Prudential to Blue Cross and Cigna. By accepting many different types of insurance, we are adhering to our promise to provide top-notch medical care to everyone in the area.
Just give us a call in advance to confirm the type of insurance that we can accept.
Our excellent urgent care center is available every day of the week to serve you, and we even offer convenient hours of operation. We know that you are busy, but we don’t want you to miss out on receiving great medical care.
Would you like to know more about our urgent care center? Please give us a call today to find out how we can help you treat the cold and flu. One of our friendly staff members will be happy to put a smile on your face.
Thank you so much for choosing Integra Urgent Care. We can’t wait to serve you and make you our top priority.
Walk in or schedule an appointment in any Integra Urgent Care center in Grand Prairie, Weatherford, and Las Colinas.