| It's that time again...either the kids or the parents start | | | | plenty of water and rest. If your body is telling you it is |
| to feel under the weather. It isn't hard to know that an | | | | tired or thirsty, you cannot ignore it. When you cough |
| illness is coming on. You know it's either the cold or the | | | | and sneeze, your body releases fluids and your body |
| flu and know full well that the next week is going to be | | | | becomes dry. Drinking plenty of fluids rebuilds your |
| a living nightmare. But, how can you tell the difference | | | | body and helps thin down the mucous. Taking too |
| between the cold and flu? And, what do you do when | | | | much medicine can actually do the opposite effect you |
| you figure it out? | | | | want. Your body can actually get used to the medicine |
| Both the cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses, but | | | | and build up a tolerance. But, even if you have a |
| they are caused by different viruses. The cold lasts a | | | | tolerance to the medicine, taking more than the |
| little bit longer, usually one week. The flu is much more | | | | recommended dosage can have serious side effects. |
| intense, but only lasts about 4 - 5 days. Yet, the flu is | | | | The best thing you can do is just to drink plenty of |
| more serious. | | | | water, get sleep, and eat some chicken noodle soup. |
| The cold always begins with the inhalation through the | | | | For the flu, you should always just be prepared and |
| nostrils of a tiny strand of the cold virus floating around | | | | take the flu shot about every October. But, if you still |
| somewhere, or an object. The virus starts in the | | | | do come down with the flu, taking antiviral medicine is |
| nostrils. Your body then tries fighting it off by sending | | | | best. And, just like the cold, getting plenty of rest and |
| out mucous and making you sneeze and cough a lot. | | | | fluids are a necessity. Make sure when you have the |
| The symptoms get worse in the next 48 hours, then | | | | flu to NOT take aspirin. Taking aspirin with the flu can |
| finally start to mellow out. However, it is contagious | | | | cause Reye syndrome, and in some cases, can be |
| about 2 days before you get the common symptoms | | | | fatal. Instead, take Tylenol. Tylenol contains no aspirin |
| up to a few days after the symptoms go away. So, it | | | | and instead uses a more safe form of pain relief. If |
| is contagious for almost 2 weeks. | | | | problems persist for more than a week or a fever |
| The flu, on the other hand, comes on much more | | | | reaches above 103 degrees, see your doctor. And, |
| sudden. The flu contains more body aches, fever, | | | | when in doubt, see a doctor anyways! |
| tiredness, dry cough (verses a wet and mucous | | | | So, the old traditions your Grandma tells you when you |
| cough), headaches and chills. It is contagious for about | | | | are sick still work the best. Modern medicine only |
| 5 days to a week, depending on the health of the | | | | temporarily relieves the pain, and eventually may |
| infected person. The flu is often times confused with | | | | cause more harm than good, aside from some special |
| the stomach flu, which is totally different. The stomach | | | | flu medication. Just make sure you get all the sleep |
| flu has symptoms of stomach problems and is quick | | | | your body tells you to, drink water, and get chicken |
| and goes away swiftly, whereas the actual flu | | | | noodle soup made for you. If you can, let your loved |
| (influenza) is more serious. | | | | ones spoil you! You will need it and deserve it! |
| To help your cold, the best thing you can do is get | | | | |