Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

ACHOO!  Cold or Flu?

Sneezing? Coughing? Achy? Fever?  When you wake up with that can’t move a muscle feeling, how do you know if it’s a cold or the flu? It’s important to know the difference — pneumonia is a common complication of the flu, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with heart problems. 

• Cold Symptoms — Typically begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away in a couple of days.  Runny nose and congestion come next, followed by a cough in the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Symptoms usually last for about a week; during the first three days you are contagious.  Take this opportunity to stay home and get some much-needed rest. Persistent cold symptoms that don’t improve and last more than a week may indicate a bacterial infection.  That means you may need antibiotics and should see your doctor.
  
  
• Flu Symptoms — Usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Flu symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion and cough. The flu is caused by a variety of influenza viruses. Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. If you notice shortness of breath, let your doctor know — pneumonia may be the culprit.  A common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says to
“Take 3” steps to fight the flu:

• Take time to get a flu vaccine.  CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first line of prevention, especially for those at high risk for complications, such as young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and people 65 and older.
  
  
• Take everyday preventative actions.  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after use. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaners. Avoid close contact with sick people and stay home when you are sick to keep from infecting others.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth (germs spread this way).
  
  
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.  While not a substitute for vaccination, if you do get the flu, antiviral drugs can keep flu viruses from reproducing in your body.  They can also make your illness milder and may prevent serious complications — especially important for those at high risk.  Go to your doctor early when symptoms appear — antiviral drugs work best if started within 2 days of symptoms.

Flu is a serious and contagious disease.  Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and more than 36,000 people die from the flu.  Take action to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu or call 800-CDC-INFO.

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