As we move into the colder winter months the incidence of the cold and flu will increase. For many this will mean a few days of bed rest but for the elderly and those with other medical conditions it can have much more serious consequences.

So, how do you know if you have a cold or the flu?

The symptoms of a cold are similar to that of the flu, although anyone suffering from the flu will find that these symptoms are more severe. Many people can go about their day-to-day activities if they just have a cold. Those who have the flu will be bedridden and won’t be able to leave the house; such is the impact that the flu has on the body.

What symptoms will you notice with a cold or the flu?

As mentioned, the symptoms of a cold and the flu are similar and include:

• Chesty (productive) or dry (tickly) cough
• Stuffy, congested nose
• Aches and pains
• Lethargy

How can you avoid a cold or the flu?

Vitamins and minerals can have some benefit in speeding up your recovery from a cold or the flu. Vitamin C and zinc have been shown to slightly reduce the severity of a cold but will not cure it.

Flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is recommended for anyone over 65 years of age, those with other medical conditions and pregnant women. The reason the flu vaccine is effective is because it introduces a small amount of an inactivated virus into your body, which then allows your body to recognize and fight the flu virus if you become infected again. The flu vaccine doesn’t cause the flu but you may experience a slight increase in temperature and have a few aches after having the vaccine but these are only very short term.

What if you do get a cold?

If you still manage to get a cold there are a number of things you can do to treat the symptoms. Some of these include:

Chesty cough – try an expectorant cough bottle e.g. something containing guaifenesin

Dry cough – a cough suppressant e.g. pholcodine, is usually effective

Stuffy, congested nose – try a decongestant tablet containing pseudoephedrine or a nasal spray containing xylometazoline

Aches and pains – paracetamol is effective for treating aches and pains and reducing temperature. Ibuprofen is good for any inflammatory or muscular pain.

Many of the over-the-counter pharmacy medicines used to treat cold and flu symptoms are not suitable for those people with medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure so always ask your pharmacist for advice if you are taking other medications.