SIGNS IT’S A COLD SIGNS IT’S THE FLUGettyImages.Oh no!
You’re sick!
Things typically start with a
scratchy throat or runny nose
and gradually get worse.
Symptoms tend to be mild and
include sneezing, nasal
congestion, a sore throat, slightly
swollen glands and coughing.
Treatment
Ta k e it easy, rest up and stay
hydrated. Pain relievers like
ibuprofen and acetaminophen
can provide temporary relief.
A cold may last 10 days, but
you’re less contagious as soon as
you start to feel better.It hits you fast: Yo u may feel
feverish in the afternoon, but
have full-body aches by dinner-
time. Yo u have all the joy of cold
symptoms plus a fever over 100°F,
headache, fatigue, chills and fun
stuff like vomiting and diarrhea.
Treatment
You’ll probably need to stay put
for three to seven days. Ask your
doctor if she recommends
Tamiflu, an antiviral prescription.
Although you may be tired, you
can start to resume your routine
when the fever disappears.1. It’s hard to breathe or keep
fluids down — get help right away.- Your headache is extreme and
your neck stiff, or you’re
sensitive to bright light — signs
of meningitis, says Nipunie
Rajapakse, M.D., infectious
disease specialist at Mayo Clinic. - Your fever is higher than
100 .4°F and won’t break. - Vomiting is severe.
- Yo u have upper-respiratory
symptoms that drag on for more
than 10 to 14 days.
It’s not fun, but the more you know, the faster you can find
relief and get back to the land of the living. Use this chart
to figure out what’s got you down and what to do next.WHEN TO SEE A DOC200 +
The number of viruses
that can cause the so-
called “common cold.”24 + hours
How long some cold and
flu viruses can last on
hard surfaces.4 3%
How much you can reduce
the number of days you
feel sick with cold symp-
toms if you stay active
(five or more days of aero-
bic exercise a week) as
opposed to being largely
sedentary (one day of
exercise weekly, or less).2.94 times
How much more likely
you are to get a cold if you
sleep fewer than seven
hours per night, compared
with people who get eight
or more hours of zzz’s.20
The number of seconds
for which you should wash
your hands, using warm
or cold water and soap, to
avoid spreading germs.6 feet
The radius within which
a person with the flu can
spread it to others through
talking or sneezing.100 %
The percentage of
people over 6 months old
that should get the flu
shot. If you are not
feeling well, have ever
had Guillain-Barré
syndrome or have
allergies to ingredients
in the vaccine, talk to
your doctor first.
—Deborah SkolnikColds
and Flu
by the
Numbers
Health we
32 GH NOVEMBER^2019