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Have a stuffy nose?
A sore throat?
Sneezing a lot?
Most people dismiss anything ‘under the weather as having a cold that will go away in just a few days. A few bowls of hot soup will make everything better, right?
Well, not always. In fact, there are plenty of cases where symptoms persist for days, even weeks, and only get worse. Those people did not have a common cold, but actually the Influenza virus, more commonly known as the flu.
The two have similar symptoms so it is easy to mistake one for the other. However, while colds are nothing serious, the flu is responsible for a lot of deaths each year. Knowing the difference can help you protect the ones around you.
How to Tell the Difference: Cold vs Flu
The best way to tell the difference between a cold and the flu is to know the symptoms.
It is very rare to have a fever when you have a cold.
On the other hand, a high fever that lasts for several days is common with the flu.
A sore throat, sneezing and a stuffy nose are typical cold symptoms, but they do not occur that often in people with the flu.
The influenza virus can affect the whole body. It’s most dangerous to children, but adults are not completely safe from complications. The virus leads to frequent headaches and other kinds of aches and pains. While these symptoms are also associated with colds, they are quite rare.
The flu has an exhausting effect on the body. People with the flu suffer from extreme weakness and fatigue. They feel drained of energy as soon as the symptoms start to show. This can last for weeks at a time.
This level of tiredness is almost never found in people with colds. If it is present, it is only a mild condition that usually doesn’t prevent people from doing their daily routines.
Coughing is a quick-and-dirty way to tell if you have a cold or the flu. While this symptom is present in both illnesses, colds often yield a moderate, productive cough. On the other hand, the flu often presents a severe cough that is usually dry and unproductive.
Did you know that about 7% of kids and teenagers in the U.S., aged 6 to 19, deal with high cholesterol levels?
Crazy, right? But before you start picturing little ones sipping on green smoothies, let’s break this down in everyday lingo.
So, cholesterol—it’s like this fatty stuff in our bodies. We need it to build cell walls and make a few hormones. It’s essential for our health, but here’s the kicker: having too much of it is a big no-no. It’s like that stuff can stick to the inside of your arteries, clogging them up over time. Think of it as slow traffic on the highway, but in your blood vessels.
Usually, this whole high cholesterol thing is more of an adult problem. It takes years to build up. But here’s the twist: it’s becoming a concern for kids too. Studies say that as many as 1 in 5 kids already have high cholesterol. And guess what? If we don’t tackle it early, it can stick around into adulthood, causing even more trouble.
So, why do kids get high cholesterol? Well, there are three big reasons: genes, grub, and that four-letter word—fat.
Genes: Sometimes, it’s in the family genes. If a parent has it, their kids might get it too. Not their fault, though! But knowing this early helps parents keep an eye on it.
Diet: What’s on the menu matters. Foods dripping with fat are usually loaded with cholesterol. So, maybe swap out the chips for some fruits, veggies, fish, and lighter dairy stuff.
Obesity: Yup, that ‘O’ word. It’s like a tag-along with a bad diet, but some kids just have a knack for putting on weight. Encouraging them to get moving can help.
Now, why does high cholesterol matter for kids? Well, it messes with your arteries, making them narrow and hard. That’s like setting the stage for some serious stuff: heart issues, strokes, high blood pressure, and more. Yep, even kids can face these health hurdles.
In 2017-2020, almost 20% of kids and teens were dealing with obesity, affecting about 14.7 million of them. It’s a thing that doesn’t play favorites and can be more common in certain groups.
So, yeah, high cholesterol in kids is no small deal. But the good news is that knowing about it early and making some changes can help kids grow up healthier. Let’s keep those arteries flowing free and clear!
Studies have shown that laughter is capable of relieving pain, bringing happiness, and can even help strengthen your immune system. Laughter has more positive effects than anyone would think of, so why not let loose and laugh?
For example, laughter reduces the level of certain stress hormones such as cortisol. It also raises levels of other health-enhancing hormones in the body. As well, laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and makes the body’s T cells more effective. Essentially, laughter strengthens the immune system and lowers the number of physical effects of stress.
Furthermore, laughter acts as an internal workout. Having a good laugh will contract your abs, exercise the diaphragm, and even work the shoulders. It also helps prevent heart disease, leaves muscles feeling relaxed, and is a great emotional release. It is also a fantastic way to ease anxiety.
In addition, there are many social benefits to laughter. Laughter is a great way to connect ourselves with others and build relationships. By smiling and laughing, others will do the same. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress, and also reduce your own!
Laughing has so many benefits to our health and our social life, it’s almost a crime not to laugh; some people just don’t know how! There are plenty of ways to get yourself laughing, even if you aren’t with others.
T.V and movies are a great way to do this. There is certainly no shortage of comedic movies, so why not turn one on and have a good time? Being around others is another great way to get yourself laughing because when others laugh, you want to laugh too. So remember, laughter has too many positive effects to ignore, so get out there and start laughing!
Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis. It is a common condition with symptoms similar to a cold. For many people, it may be hard to tell if symptoms are caused by the common cold or allergic rhinitis.
What are the Causes of Hay Fever?
Hay fever is caused by an allergic response to airborne substances, such as pollen and dust, whereas a cold is caused by a virus.
When you are exposed to an allergen, the body mistakes it as a threat and produces an antibody to attack it. Chemicals called histamine are also released. It’s histamine that actually causes the symptoms. If you suffer from hay fever, the time of year in which it occurs depends on what substance you may be allergic to.
During the spring, tree pollen is prominent. Grass pollens are present during the spring and early summer. Weed pollen is common during the autumn season. Fungi and mold spores are present in warm and moist climates.
What are the Symptoms of Hay Fever?
The symptoms may differ throughout the year, depending on what substance you are allergic to. Common symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Itchy throat
- Itchy nose
- Blocked or runny nose
Severe symptoms are sweats, headaches, loss of smell and taste, facial pain caused by blocked sinuses, and itchiness that spreads from the throat to the nose and ears.
Hay Fever Treatment
There are a variety of medications. Some people have found that a combination of several medications achieves the best results:
Antihistamine sprays or tablets are commonly available without a prescription. The medication stops the release of histamine and effectively relieves the symptoms of runny nose, itching, and sneezing. Examples of antihistamines include Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra (not available on DoctorSolve.com due to pseudoephedrine abuse), and Astelin.
Eye drops reduce itching and swelling in the eyes that may be present with hay fever.
Nasal corticosteroids are nasal sprays that treat inflammation caused by hay fever. Examples of nasal corticosteroids include Flonase, Veramyst, Nasonex, and Beconase. Saline mist nasal sprays or drops may also be effective in relieving hay fever symptoms.
Oral corticosteroids are prescribed for severe hay fever symptoms and should not be used as a long-term treatment.
Immunotherapy can also work, which is called desensitization treatment. This is a process in which the person with hay fever receives doses (usually in the form of injections) of the substances he/she is allergic to in order to modify or stop the allergic response. This treatment is very effective in treating a wide variety of allergens such as pollen, mites, animal dander, and stinging insects.
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