The differences between the flu and the common cold

Two illnesses that occur commonly throughout the world are influenza and the common cold. Few people know the differences between these two illnesses, and in this article, we’ll do our best when it comes to showing you how the afflictions are both alike and different.
Both the common cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses that are caused by a virus. They spread in much the same way, with the affected individuals blowing their nose or sneezing and releasing more of the virus particles into the air for others to fall victim to. The viruses that cause the illnesses are very different, but they do result in many of the same symptoms. For that reason, many people have trouble telling the two apart by symptoms alone. When it comes to telling the two apart purely based off symptoms, you should remember that the flu has many of the same effects as the cold, but often is much more intense. Also, the flu tends to cause one to have more symptoms of fever, aching of the body, and dry coughing than the common cold. Those with colds are more likely to have a runny nose amongst the list of their symptoms. Colds present a much less serious threat to ones health, as the flu can lead to other problems such as pneumonia and sinus infections, while those with the cold rarely have to make a trip to the hospital. Colds primarily cause problems in the head alone, and many call them ‘head colds’ as most of the symptoms exist purely from the neck-up. Influenza, on the other hand, affects the whole body and can be quite threatening to ones health, especially those who are very young or very old.
One thing that the two illnesses have in common is the fact that we do not yet have a cure for them. However, there are vaccines that are available that can make you immune to the new strains of the flu that come around from year to year. For that reason, it is much more preventable than the common cold. While instances of the common cold may appear at random, the flu tends to strike seasonally, with most becoming affected in the middle of winter. The flu is highly contagious and within two to three weeks, it will have traveled amongst the peoples that you surround yourself with, with schools and the workplace being particularly troublesome when it comes to catching the illness. The flu also tends to last a little longer than the common cold, with people often getting over the cold within a week whereas the flu can stick around for up to two weeks.
When it comes to keeping the illnesses at bay, your best bet is to exercise caution when it comes to being sanitary. When flu season strikes or someone around you has a cold, be sure to wash your hands often. Also, if you are a smoker, you may want to avoid the habit for a few days as it can prove to have a negative effect on your body’s ability to prevent respiratory illnesses.

About the Author:
Mike Serovey is the owner and webmaster for http://www.mikeserovey.net where you can submit your articles for free.