How to Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

When people get sick, all they want is to feel better as quickly as possible. For a common cold, there is typically nothing one can do but rest, drink fluids, and eat healthy until the symptoms pass. However, when someone comes down with influenza, also referred to as the flu, then it may be necessary to make a trip to the doctor as the flu can sometimes lead to further complications such as pneumonia. Unfortunately, the symptoms of these two illnesses, particularly in the early stages, can be very similar.

Some indicators that someone is suffering from the flu instead of a cold include:

• A high fever – It is possible to develop a fever with a cold, but it is rare and usually mild. A fever of 100 degrees or higher that lasts more than two days is a common symptom of the flu.

• Aches and pains – A cold might result in mild aches, but the flu is typically accompanied by severely aching joints and bad headaches.

• Fatigue and weakness – A cold will typically make people feel a little more tired, but the flu causes extreme fatigue that typically comes on early in the sickness and can last two to three weeks.

If you have any doubt whether you or a loved one are suffering from a cold or a flu, see a doctor to confirm the proper course of treatment. Fortunately, your relaxing and luxurious PepperTree apartment by The Villages, FL, makes for a great place to rest up and recover from an illness.

If you are not yet a resident of the PepperTree Apartment Homes but are interested in becoming one, contact us today, or come by the leasing office for a guided tour.