So in the big scheme of things, common colds and flus are simply nature’s way of keeping you healthy over the long term. Use the time that you’re sick to allow yourself to rest and recover, both physically and mentally.
If you become too uncomfortable, you can take some over-the-counter pain medicine, but try to avoid solutions that are intended to reduce your fever or suppress coughing or a runny nose.
All of these symptoms are actually your body’s way of getting rid of infected cells.
Do You Need to Get Sick?
Even though it is normal and healthy for your body to fight through an attack from a virus, that doesn’t mean that you should worry if you rarely get sick.
If you maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating right, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep, your body may not develop the weak and damaged cells that are prone to being infected by a virus.
What’s the Difference?
Although colds and flus are both caused by a similar virus attack, your body reacts in different ways.
If you have a cold, you’ll most likely be dealing primarily with typical cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, coughing, and sneezing.
Any fever will only be slightly higher than your normal temperature. Your symptoms will appear slowly over the course of several days. On the other hand, the flu will most likely come on suddenly.
In addition to having a high fever, you will feel achy and suffer from chills, a sore throat, and a headache.
What are your best tips for dealing with the common cold or the flu? Join the discussion in the comments section!