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Is it a Cold, the Flu, or Something Else?
Deciphering your winter illness
’Tis the season. Your coworkers are coughing, the person in line behind you at the grocery store is sneezing, and you get to spin the roulette wheel of “What illness do I have now?”
Before you Google your symptoms and let the Internet tell you that you have a deadly illness, take a moment to learn the signs of some common winter germs. While it can often be hard to tell for sure what you have, knowing what to look out for can help you determine what treatment you need, and when you can expect to feel better.
The Common Cold
Symptoms: comes on slowly, often over the course of a few days; with cough, runny nose or nasal congestion, and a sore throat. Fever is rare.
Treatment: Your best bet is going to be rest and fluids. Over the counter medications, like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, saline nasal sprays, or cold medicine, can help reduce your symptoms (but ask a doctor first if you’re not sure, especially if you have other medical conditions). Since the common cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t help.
When you’ll feel better: it can take 7–10 days for you to feel like your old self again.
