Sunny days of summer are soon to be replaced by cooler temperatures, rainy afternoons, and cozy weekends indoors. Unfortunately, the change in seasons also brings the return of cold and flu season.
The common cold and influenza, or the flu, are among the most common viral respiratory illnesses, affecting the nose, throat, and airways. These viruses can spread easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing respiratory droplets into the air. Those droplets can then be inhaled by others or land on frequently touched surfaces, allowing the viruses to spread even further.
The common cold causes more than a billion illnesses in the U.S. each year, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 9 and 51 million people experience the flu annually.
While the two illnesses share some similarities, a cold and the flu affect your body differently. Knowing what symptoms to watch for, when to seek medical care, and how to reduce your risk of illness can help you and your family stay healthier throughout the fall. And if you do start feeling sick, the medical team at AFC Urgent Care Tigard is here to evaluate your symptoms and recommend the appropriate treatment plan.
Cold or Flu? Understanding the Difference
The common cold is generally a mild viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat. It spreads easily through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. After touching a contaminated surface, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth allows the virus to enter your body.
Adults typically experience 2 to 3 colds each year, with most cases occurring between September and May. Children are more likely to catch colds and may experience 6 to 10 each year.
The flu, or influenza, is another contagious respiratory illness that can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu activity generally increases in the fall and remains common through the winter and early spring, particularly between October and March.
Unlike a cold, the flu can cause more intense symptoms and, in some cases, lead to serious complications or hospitalization. Young children and people with asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions may face a greater risk of complications.
Common Cold Symptoms
Cold symptoms usually develop gradually, often appearing 1 to 3 days after exposure to the virus. Common cold symptoms include:
- Sinus congestion
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Chest congestion and cough
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Sore throat
- No or very low fever, since colds are less likely to cause a fever
When Should You Seek Care for a Cold?
Most people recover from a cold without medical treatment in 7 to 10 days. Although symptoms may linger longer in children, older adults, and people with underlying health concerns. There is currently no cure or vaccine that prevents the common cold, so treatment focuses on relieving symptoms while your body fights the infection.
However, if your symptoms are persistent, worsening, or not improving as expected the providers at AFC Urgent Care Tigard can evaluate your condition and recommend the appropriate care. When necessary, our medical team may prescribe medication to help manage certain symptoms. Over-the-counter medications may also help relieve congestion, headaches, and fever when present.
How Flu Symptoms Can Feel Different
One major difference between a cold and the flu is how symptoms develop. Cold symptoms often come on gradually, while flu symptoms can appear suddenly and leave you feeling significantly ill in a short amount of time. According to the American Lung Association, you may also be able to spread the flu before you realize that you are sick.
Flu symptoms generally last about 5 to 7 days, though fatigue can continue for several weeks after other symptoms have improved. Common flu symptoms include:
- Diarrhea or vomiting, usually in children
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Cough
- Body aches
- Runny nose
- Fever
- Chills
When to Visit Urgent Care for Flu Symptoms
If you develop flu symptoms, stay home, get plenty of rest, and drink enough fluids to stay hydrated. Once your fever has gone down, avoid close contact with others for at least 24 hours, especially infants, older adults, and others who may be at a higher risk of becoming sick.
Your immune system also needs time to recover, so continue getting rest, eating healthy foods, staying hydrated, and avoiding strenuous activity until you begin feeling better.
Schedule an appointment or walk-in to AFC Urgent Care Tigard if you have a high fever that does not go down, cannot keep fluids down, or have symptoms that last longer than 3 days. Our medical providers can evaluate your condition, discuss a treatment plan, provide prescriptions when appropriate, and offer additional guidance to support your recovery.
Lower Your Risk of Getting Sick
You cannot completely avoid every cold or flu virus, but everyday habits can help lower your chances of getting sick. Keep these preventive habits in mind throughout cold and flu season:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick and limit time in large crowds when possible.
- Regularly disinfect commonly used surfaces and shared spaces.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing and dispose of used tissues immediately.
Add a Flu Vaccine to Your Prevention Plan
There is another important step you can take to protect yourself from the flu: get your annual flu vaccine.
The flu vaccine is updated each year to provide protection against the flu strains expected to circulate during the upcoming season. Studies show that vaccination can reduce the risk of flu infection by 40% to 60% and may also lower the risk of serious complications or hospitalization.
We recommend getting a flu vaccine each year if you are able. Because its protection lasts for approximately six months, September and October are ideal times to schedule your flu vaccine. It can also take up to two weeks for your immune system to develop the antibodies needed to help fight the flu, making it important to get vaccinated before flu activity begins to increase.
Get Cold and Flu Care in Tigard
Even when you take steps to protect yourself, getting sick can be unavoidable. If cold or flu symptoms begin to interfere with your daily routine and threaten to keep you from enjoying Tigard’s El Tigre Fest at Cook Family Park, AFC Urgent Care Tigard is here to help.
Our clinic is open 7 days a week and welcomes both walk-ins and scheduled appointments. Our medical team can evaluate your symptoms, help determine what may be causing them, and recommend the appropriate next steps for your care.