COVID-19, flu or cold: How to tell the difference?

According to the American Lung Association, the average adult gets two to four colds per year, especially between September and May, with peak flu activity between December and February.

Amid public health congestion and increasing cases of respiratory illness, Lanier Pharmaceuticals recommends taking effective precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, cold or flu

Fatigue, headache, nasal congestion, sneezing or other symptoms are the most typical symptoms of this season. When we all suffer from these illnesses, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s a common cold, the flu, or the more serious coronavirus. As the public health sector becomes overcrowded and cases of respiratory illness continue to increase, it is important to differentiate between what we must know and how to act.

The flu has the same symptoms as the common cold, but its onset is more sudden and intense. Key factors in the disease include high fever, general muscle and joint pain, extreme fatigue and general malaise. In contrast, the common cold shares symptoms with the flu but originates from a different family of viruses, with rhinovirus being the most common.

If you have these symptoms, you do not need to visit a health center (as long as the fever does not last more than five days). All you have to do is rest and drink plenty of fluids. For headaches or fevers, there are medications you can take. It is important to remember that antibiotics cannot improve symptoms or speed healing because they have no effect on viruses.

For its part, the coronavirus caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus exhibits characteristic symptoms also found in the flu or common cold, such as fever, cough, and fatigue. However, in some cases, extreme difficulty breathing and loss of taste and smell can also occur. It is known that COVID-19 disproportionately affects high-risk groups, such as the elderly, people with cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, or those with weakened immune systems.

As with the flu or cold, it is not necessary to go to a health center, rest and drinking plenty of fluids are enough. If you feel short of breath or have a fever above 38 degrees for more than three days, you must contact your Primary Care Health Center who will tell us what to do.

To avoid getting infected and having some bad days, it’s best to prevent these respiratory illnesses. To this end, Lanier Pharmaceuticals offers some suggestions:

– Eat a nutritious diet. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and leafy greens (spinach, beets) are great for boosting your defenses because they contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Pair it with legumes and seeds, such as soybeans, cocoa or lentils, which promote adequate digestion in addition to providing adequate support to the immune system.

– Add vitamin C and beta-glucan to your daily routine. Many of us know the importance of vitamin C for our defenses, however, we don’t know how to add it to our daily routine. Fruits like oranges, lemons or kiwis are perfect for achieving this, whether for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. If you want to enhance its effects, Vitamin C has a perfect synergy with beta-glucan, an excellent immune modulator that we find in cereals or mushrooms. Numerous scientific studies, especially in food supplements, have demonstrated the ability of beta glucans with chemical bonds (1,3) and (1,6) to activate the immune system. Lanier Pharma offers Immunizat based on beta-glucan, tannins, zinc, selenium, vitamins C and D, which strengthens the body’s defenses by inducing trained immunity against any possible infection.

– The most important thing is hygiene and prevention.

Frequent hand washing and the use of hydroalcoholic gel should become a habit to consider, not just during a wave of infections or with COVID-19, but at any time. The virus can survive from hours to days on different types of surfaces, whether on public transport or in your own home. Likewise, in line with the latest health regulations, it is recommended to wear masks in public places and enclosed spaces, which can help prevent further spread of the virus.

– Avoid sudden changes in temperature. In cold climates, you should use appropriate clothing to regulate temperature and avoid exposure to sudden changes in temperature.