Published on December 01, 2020

Is It a Cold or the Flu?

woman blowing her nose

You feel lousy. Your head is stuffed up. Your nose is running.

Everyone at work is talking about the flu...but you're not sure what you have. This chart might help:

Symptoms	It Could be Flu	It's a Cold
Chest Hurts	Common	Mild/Moderate
Cough	Dry, can be severe	Hacking, mild
Exhaustion	Extreme, early onset	Never
Fever	Common, lasts 3-4 days	Rare
Headache	Yes	Rare
Onset	Sudden	Gradual, usually starts with sniffles
Muscle Aches and Pains	Usual, often severe	Slight
Sneezing	Sometimes	Usually
Sore Throat	Sometimes	Usually
Stuffy Nose	Sometimes	Usually
Tired, Weak	Can last two weeks	Mild

If your symptoms get worse:

See your physician; if you do not have a physician, find one here
If your physician isn't available, visit an EvergreenHealth Urgent Care center
If your symptoms are severe, go to the Emergency Room

Remember, colds are just as contagious as the flu. Protect your family by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands often.

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Is It a Cold or the Flu?

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