Is This a Cold, the Flu, or Allergies?

By Linda Shiue

It's cold and flu season, and right on time, you are sneezing and coughing away.  In this post, I am going to help you sort out your symptoms, which could be from allergies, the common cold, or influenza (which this year is mainly H1N1, or "swine flu").  I'll talk about prevention, over-the-counter and home treatments that can help you feel better, and advise when you might need to visit your doctor.  In a companion post, I will talk about what it might mean when your cough seems to be lasting too long.  Please note, this guide is geared towards adults.

Prevention

While many people are keeping busy trying to hound down the hard to obtain seasonal influenza vaccine and even harder to obtain H1N1 vaccine, there is more you can do besides being vaccinated to keep yourself healthy.

-get adequate rest, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly; all of these measures strengthen your immune system

-wash your hands! hand sanitizer is a good substitute when soap and water are unavailable

-hygiene cannot be emphasized enough; besides hand washing, don't forget to cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue (and then discard it), or your elbow if there is nothing available.

-be mindful of not touching your eyes, nose or mouth; cold and flu viruses can enter easily through these areas, and we all unconsciously touch these areas more than we realize

-while studies have not proven it, alternative treatments such as vitamin C, the herb Echinacea and others have been embraced by many as effective ways to ward off colds and the flu.

Better yet, you can't go wrong by incorporating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.   These foods are particularly rich in vitamin C (mg per serving):

-Papaya (1 papaya = 190 mg)

-Bell pepper, red or yellow (1 pepper = 280mg)

-Bell pepper, green (1 pepper = 120 mg)

-Grapefruit (1 grapefruit = 90 mg)

-Orange (1 orange = 70 mg)

-Strawberries (1 cup strawberries = 90 mg)

-Broccoli (1 cup raw broccoli = 80 mg)  

Symptoms of Allergies, Colds and Flu

Common to all: sneezing, cough

More common with allergies: sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, dark circles under the eyes, clear nasal discharge, no fever

More common with the flu: fever, body aches, sore throat, fatigue

More common with colds and the flu: discolored nasal discharge

Treatment of Colds and the Flu:

-rest! besides decreasing the transmission to your colleagues, staying home and taking it easy will allow your body's defenses to attack your cold head on, rather than prolonging your illness

-fluids (to prevent dehydration)

-unclogging sinuses with steam inhalation and nasal rinses

-over-the-counter (OTC) remedies?

I am not a fan of combination cold or flu remedies.  They too often contain more than what you need or want, which make them unnecessarily expensive both in terms of cost and potential side effects.  Also, remember that these don't cure colds or the flu, they merely support you through your symptoms until your immune system combats your illness.  My recommendation is to tailor your OTC treatment to your specific symptom(s):

-acetaminophen for fever; ibuprofen for fever, body aches

-antihistamines and decongestants such as pseudoephedrine can help with your stuffy nose if steam or saline nasal rinses or sprays are ineffective

-throat lozenges for sore throats or a scratchy cough.  I prefer Ricola sugar-free throat lozenges

-Natural remedies

-chicken soup! More than an old wives' tale, a scientific study demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect.

-drinking hot liquids 

The suggestions below have neither been proven effective, nor dangerous:

-fresh ginger boiled into a tea or added to your soup is an excellent natural decongestant

-a few drops of eucalyptus aromatherapy oil in your bathwater may help with your congestion

-the jury is out on zinc and the homeopathic treatment Oscillococcinum

When Should You See Your Doctor?

With most of the symptoms above, you can safely wait 3-4 days and follow the treatment suggestions I have listed.  Be on the lookout for these possible warning signs below and consider visiting your doctor if

•                Your temperature is above 101.5°F for a few days

•                Symptoms last more than 14 days, or they are getting worse rather than better

•                You have trouble breathing or shortness of breath

•                You experience chest pressure. chest pain, or wheezing

•                You feel like you might faint

•                You experience severe or persistent vomiting

•                You have severe pain in the head or forehead (could be a sinus infection, which sometimes requires antibiotic treatment)

•                You have hoarseness, sore throat, or a cough that won't go away after 14 days

•                You have a sore throat and fever, without other cold symptoms (this could be strep throat, which is treated with antibiotics)