### Understanding the Flu vs. the Common Cold: A Guide to Symptoms
Feeling lousy with aches, pains, and fatigue? When you’re sick, it can be tough to figure out if you have a cold or the flu, which might lead you to treat it incorrectly. Instead of guessing, here’s how you can tell the difference.
#### Fever
A fever is a clear sign of the flu; colds usually stick to the nasal area and don’t affect your body temperature much. So, if you’ve got a higher-than-normal body temperature, it’s likely the flu.
#### Stuffy Nose
A stuffy nose is a hallmark of a regular cold. People with colds typically have nasal congestion and pain, which aren’t common for those with the flu.
#### Exhaustion
Both colds and flu can make you tired, but the flu brings on extreme fatigue. If you’re so exhausted that you can’t keep your eyes open and find yourself sleeping all day, it’s probably the flu. If you can still function, but feel tired, it might just be a cold.
#### Aches and Pains
Illness often comes with body aches, but if the pain is severe and constant, it’s likely the flu. Cold-related aches are usually milder. If you’re uncomfortable no matter how you sit or lie down, you could have the flu.
#### Headache
Headaches happen with both the flu and colds, but there’s a difference. A sinus headache, which causes pain between the eyes, is typically from a cold due to nasal congestion. If the headache is higher up on your forehead or on the sides of your head, it might be the flu.
#### Vomiting/Diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea are flu symptoms, especially with stomach flu or swine flu. If you have these symptoms, treat it as the flu rather than a cold.
Both the flu and the common cold take several days to about a week to pass. Over-the-counter medications and plenty of rest can help relieve some symptoms. However, if you have the flu, consider seeing a doctor for stronger medication.
By learning these symptoms, you can better identify what you’re dealing with and choose the right treatment to get back to feeling yourself again.