Is it a cold or the flu? How to tell - and what to do

With flu activity now high in New Jersey and other states, it's important to know the differences between flu and the common cold. Cynthia Benson, DO, assistant medical director of the emergency department at Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center, in Summit, NJ, helps break down the differences, and gives some advice on how to treat them:

- One of the biggest hallmarks of the flu is speed – it usually hits pretty fast. You can start your work day fine and halfway through, you feel like you’ve been hit by a ton of bricks. Whereas a cold usually moves in stages, starting with a sore throat and runny nose and gradually feeling worse over the course of a day or two.

- Keep in mind, some of the symptoms do overlap, like the nasal congestion and sore throat, but in general, a cold will tend to be concentrated in the upper respiratory system. The flu will more likely cause muscle aches, chills, and depending upon the strain, also an upset stomach and diarrhea.

- One of the other biggest indicators of the flu is a high fever. Your body will spike in temperature, where a cold might cause a low-grade fever.

- Flu and colds DO share treatments – hydration, over-the-counter medications and rest. The latter is the most important, especially for flu; unlike colds, you can’t “push through,” because not only will you not get better, but you will also expose others.

- The best treatment is prevention: proper hand-washing is key, and for those who are sick or have a sick member of the household, be mindful of washing hand towels, changing toothbrushes and the like, and don’t share cups and utensils.

- Most importantly, get the flu shot.