Flu vs. Cold, and Why You Need to Know the Difference

Why You Need to Know

For healthy young adults, the flu is usually no more than an uncomfortable inconvenience. However, for other age groups or anyone with health concerns, the flu is nothing to sneeze at. Flu complications can result in hospitalization and even death if not treated immediately. Common complications include bronchitis, pneumonia, and worsening of chronic diseases and health issues. For these reasons, it’s important to be aware of what the flu looks like, especially if you:

• Are pregnant
• Are over the age of 65
• Are of Native American or Alaskan Native descent
• Have asthma or other chronic lung problems
• Have heart disease or a blood disorder
• Have a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, or a medication that you’re taking
• Have neurological health concerns, including epilepsy, a history of stroke, or a neurodevelopmental disorder
• Have an endocrine, liver, kidney, or metabolic disorder

These groups are either more likely to have a flu-related complication, or have a condition that can be worsened by the flu.

When to Call a Doctor

If you have flu-like symptoms and are at risk for complication, don’t write it off as “just a cold” – talk to your doctor to make sure that you’re not putting your health on the line. However, if you’re not at risk and have mild symptoms, you’ll probably want to avoid the doctor’s office, since there’s a chance you could pick up the flu while trying to avoid it.

That said, there are a couple of symptoms to watch for, even if you’re not in a high-risk group. If you experience persistent fever, painful swallowing, or a cough or congestion that won’t go away, you’ll want to give your doctor a call. And of course, if you have severe chest pain, severe headache, dizziness or confusion, or shortness of breath, you should contact an emergency health provider immediately, as these may be signs of a life-threatening complication.

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