Is It A Cold or The Flu?

Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Ellen Christian

Is it a cold or the flu?  All I hear is sniff, cough, sneeze and I’m REALLY hoping everyone isn’t sick. I have a feeling that I’ll be treating cold and flu symptoms sooner than I like, but I’m prepared!

Is it a Cold or the Flu?

It’s that time of year when everyone is sick. Coughs, sneezes, runny noses, low grade fevers, muscle aches. You’ve heard it all and chances are someone in your house has one or more of those symptoms right now. Is it a cold or is it the flu? Cold and flu symptoms can be similar but there are differences as well. So what are the differences?

What is a cold?

What is a cold? In basic terms, a cold is a common viral infection that affects the upper respiratory system, primarily your nose and throat.  Now is the time to prepare for cold and flu season.

What is the flu?

So, how is that different the flu? Like a cold, the flu is a viral infection. But, unlike the cold, instead of making you feel bad for a few days, it can knock you out for weeks and make even the busiest mom take to her bed for a few days.

Here are some tips to protect against the flu virus.

How to cure a cold or the flu

There is no cure for either the cold or the flu. The best that you can do is to treat the symptoms you’re experiencing, drink a lot of water and get extra rest. It’s difficult as a busy mom to take time for yourself.

I almost never take a sick day where I spend the day in bed. In the past five years or so, I remember only one time. I spent the day in bed with the flu that left me so exhausted that I just couldn’t manage sitting at my computer.

You may want to try my cold remedy drink for a boost of Vitamin C.

How to treat a cold or the flu

Because no one wants to run out to the store when they’re feeling sick to pick up supplies, I always keep a few things on hand to get me through cold and flu season. I always have a jar of my Paleo chicken soup in the freezer just in case. I have herbal tea for comfort and to help me rest and I have a few good books that I can curl up on the couch with.

There are times that rest and pampering just aren’t enough to help you feel better. I always try homemade remedies first but there are days when I need more. I don’t have time to let getting sick get in the way of what I need to get done.

When the cold or flu starts to stop my productivity, it’s time to try something else like Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil Severe. They provide the maximum symptom-fighting ingredients to relieve your worst cold and flu symptoms so you get done what needs to be done.

I appreciate that Vicks offers both a day and night time solution. DayQuil helps control my symptoms so I can be productive during the day and NyQuil helps me rest so I have a better day tomorrow. I love that it comes in both liquid and caplet. My husband prefers caplets but I prefer the ease of taking a liquid. Now we can both get relief with Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil Severe. They both temporarily relieve cold and flu symptoms.

Treating the symptoms of the cold and flu is important. Left untreated, these symptoms can turn into an infection which will slow you down a lot more than the cold or flu will. Make sure that you are prepared for illness. Walmart has everything you need to get through cold and flu season. In one stop, you can grab Vicks Severe, Puffs tissues, ingredients for chicken soup, and a warm blanket. Have you stocked up yet?

You may want to try these essential oils for cough and congestion.