How You Can Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Common Flu

The average cold and the Normal Flu are both respiratory sicknesses, but they are caused by uncommon types of viruses. Flu ailments normally come on extremely quick (within 3-6 hours) and involve a high body temp, body soreness, dry cough, and extreme tiredness. A cold ailments are not nearly as severe and people have a congested and runny nose, productive cough, not as much lethargy, and limited body aches.

Can A Warm Liquid Honestly Help Treat The Symptoms?

Like ice cold water for a sunburn or cough drops for a cough, a cup of hot tea with lemon and honey is an age-old balm for runny noses, sneezing and a cough.

Hot soups, it is said, help loosen congestion in the chest and sinuses, making them easier to expel and ultimately clearing up chest congestion. The liquids are also

meant to rehydrate as well.

Although only recently have researchers examined if the effect is real.

In December, scientists at the

Common Cold Center at Cardiff University in Britain studied whether hot liquids relieved the ailments of 30 persons suffering from the

average flu or a normal cold any better than beverages at room temperature. They found that the contrast was emphasized.

The hot drinks provided instantaneous and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, a bad cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and sluggishness, they stated, and the exact drinks at room temperature only provided relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough and sneezing.

While this was the first research to look specifically at the effects of hot

liquids on cold and flu symptoms, other scientists have looked at hot foods like chicken soup and had similar results.

Chicken soup also contains cold-fighting characteristics that help destroy mucus in the lungs and suppress inflammation.

The End Results

Study confirms that hot fluids can reduce an irritating cough and other cold and flu symptoms.

Does Vitamin C Really Help a cold?

For many years, believers in vitamin C have said using this

vitamin supplement can end a cold. The belief is

partially triggered by scientific studies that find vitamin C affects resistance to virus in animal research.

But in human beings? Scientists disagree on this slightly but lean toward the negative. Some say vitamin C has not been proven to decrease the length of an average cold. One 2007 scientific study showed that if vitamin C is taken after a cold begins, it doesn't reduce the cold or make it less severe. But when it is taken daily as a preventive treatment, not just after that first sniffle, it can very slightly

decrease cold duration, by about 8% in adults and by about 14% in children.

Preventing the Common Flu with Antivirals

Not only can antivirals help treat the normal flu,

they can also help keep you from getting it. For example, if your child is diagnosed with the flu, an antiviral can help to protect you from getting this virus. Be sure to speak to your doctor about prevention so when that time comes that your child has the flu, you can protect yourself.