As they are both respiratory illnesses, the cold and the flu often get confused with each other. If you find yourself feeling under the weather, the best way to find out what you are suffering from is to visit your direct primary care physician in Dallas, who can run tests that can tell you exactly what type of virus you are suffering from. However, there are some key differences between the cold and the flu that can help you self-identify the problem.
Generally speaking, the common cold is much milder than the flu, and often features a stuffed or runny nose. While annoying and uncomfortable, a cold will usually not result in serious health problems, and can be treated on its own with rest and liquids. In some cases, it may be recommended to take over-the-counter medications to help treat the symptoms of a cold.
On the other hand, the flu is generally more serious, both in symptoms and in potential health complications. Common symptoms including feeling feverish while having the chills, developing a cough, headache, and muscle or body aches. Like a cold, it can often include a runny nose, sore throat, and fatigue, but often on a more serious level, often to the point where the only thing you can do is lay around in bed feeling bad.
The flu also tends to have a much more rapidly developing onset than the cold, which you can feel coming on more gradually. Symptoms such as a fever, chills, and body aches are also much more commonly associated with the flu and can be a sign that you are dealing with something that is more serious than a common cold. Those types of symptoms are much rarer if you are only experiencing the cold virus.
If you are starting to feel these symptoms coming on, it’s vital to go see your concierge doctor in Dallas as soon as possible. Not only can the flu lead to more serious health complications such as pneumonia, but it is also most easily treated if caught as soon as possible after the onset of the virus. So not only will a quick catch of the virus help shorten the time you are suffering, it can also save you from more serious complications that often arise from the flu.
Diamond Physicians are concierge doctors who work to develop a relationship with all of our patients, helping provide the highest level of individual care possible. Our patients love the access they have to a physician, whether it’s in person, through phone, text, or video chat. We focus on health care without insurance getting in the way, so our incentives are fully aligned with our patients.
If you are sick or looking for a more efficient form of healthcare, contact us today to learn more. We partner with all of our patients to develop a health plan that works.