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Symptoms: Cold vs. Flu vs. Swine Flu

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:50:37 -0700

From my corner of the world, it feels like the flu season is striking early this year. The swine flu never really went away and other viruses are lurking out there too. When you start feeling symptomatic, you want to know what you dealing with: a common cold, the flu, or the swine flu. To help read your symptoms, I have made a chart comparing these three common illnesses. Check it out when you read more.

Symptom	Cold	Flu	Swine Flu
Stuffy nose	Common	Sometimes	Common
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Common	Uncommon	Uncommon
Cough	Mild to moderate, hacking, productive	Common and unproductive, painful chest	Common
Headaches	Occasionally	Common, often severe	Common
Body aches	Slight	Common, often severe	Common
Fever	Rare	Common, lasting 3 to 4 days	Common, but sometimes absent
Fatigue	Mild	Common, can be severe	Common, can be severe
Chills	Uncommon	Fairly common	Common
Vomiting	No	No	Common
Diarrhea	No	No	Common
Time frame of symptoms	Gradually appear	Come on suddenly (3 to 6 hours)	Come on rapidly

To clarify, influenza, aka the flu, is a respiratory illness. People often mistakenly call gastroentritis - "irritated and inflamed stomach and intestines" caused by bacteria, virus, or other irritant - the stomach flu. Common symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Cold and Flu Tip: See a Doctor When . . .

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:00:14 -0800

It may be March, but we're still not over cold and flu season yet. If you're feeling ill, you may want to call in sick to work, but if your symptoms are severe, what you really might need is a visit to your doctor. According to FamilyDoctor.org, adults should call their doctors when:

Your temperature is above 102°F for a few days
Symptoms last more than 10 days, or they seem to get worse instead of better
You have trouble breathing or shortness of breath
You experience chest pressure or pain
You feel like you're about to faint
Symptoms include confusion or disorientation
You experience severe or persistent vomiting
You have severe pain in the head or forehead
You have hoarseness, sore throat, or a cough that won't go away after 10 days

Your doctor may make some recommendations for things to do at home, or she may request you come in for an appointment. Most likely, your cold or flu will go away on its own, but if you're concerned, it's worth getting your doctor's advice just to be sure.

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Watch Out For: Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

So you've been out in the sun and you wore sunscreen, but unfortunately you forgot to reapply. You ended up with a nasty burn on your face and as you take a closer look, parts of your cheek appear kind of blistery and yellowish in color. What you've got is a case of sun poisoning (also called Photodermatitis, for those who want to impress their friends). Not only does it cause this painful rash, but symptoms also include fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, and headaches. The area may swell and will probably feel like it's on fire.

Sun poisoning is your skin's reaction to UV rays. It's possible to become more sensitive than normal if you use certain meds such as antibiotics, beauty products that are used for acne, or sunscreens that contain PABA. Just like an irritating sunburn, the rash usually results in itchy, peeling skin, but eventually goes away on its own within 10 days. That's good to hear, but there's bad news too. To hear it read more

The more extreme exposure your skin gets to UV rays, the bigger your risk for skin cancer. So you want to prevent sunburns and sun poisoning at all costs. Make sure to avoid long hours of sunlight, especially during 10 am and 3 pm. Of course, slather yourself with broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher. It must be applied 30 minutes before you head out in the sun, and must be reapplied every two hours.

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Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0700

Winter is slowly receding and in many places Spring has sprung (even though we have to wait a week for the official season change). With Spring weather comes blooming plants, trees and shrubs and with them pollen, the irritant that brings on hay fever. I for one live in denial of seasonal allergies and just like to pretend that I have a cold . . . a cold that goes on forever.

Since allergy season is upon us (or about to be depending on where you live), I thought it might be useful to compare the symptoms of the common cold with allergy symptoms.

Itchy nose: Although allergies and colds both produce a runny nose and congestion, allergies create the dreaded itchy nose. The itch generally occurs in the back of the nose and is difficult to "scratch." Folks suffering from "nasal pruritus" (the fanciest way in the world to say itchy nose) often scrunch up their faces, like a bunny, to try to alleviate the itch.
The sneeze: Sneezing frequently, and sometimes quietly, is common with allergies. Sneezes from colds tend to be loud, deep and infrequent, attempting to clear the bronchial congestion down in the lungs. Allergy sneezes, on the other hand, are an attempt to remove allergens from the nose.
Runny Eyes: While eyes might occasionally water with a cold, they will run profusely with allergies.

Unfortunately, the list of symptoms is a bit longer, so read more.

Mucus color: Mucus (yep, snot) is generally clear with allergies, where as with a cold it tends to have a color – yellow to green.
Dark Circles under the eyes: This symptom is sometimes referred to poetically as the "allergy shiner". These "shiners" are caused by the inability of veins in the area to drain due to chronic nasal congestion. It is like a traffic jam in your infraorbital area. Common colds do not cause these.

So if you too are in allergy denial hopefully this list will help you figure out that you might indeed have hay fever and need to leave the weeding and lawn mowing to someone else for now.

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Cold Hard Facts: The Flu

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:15:00 -0800

The flu bug is flying around and the doctors at Harvard Medical School know that we all have some questions on the subject. Fortunately for us they have the answers for five commonly asked questions about colds and the flu. Here are highlights:

Why do colds and the flu increase in the Winter?
The reason has nothing to do with the temperature, at least not directly. Cold weather itself does not cause these illnesses, but people are more likely to stay indoors and spread germs to one another when it’s cold outside.
When should I stay home from work or keep my child home from school?
It is important to stay home when you are most contagious. For colds, you are contagious the entire time you have symptoms, but you are most contagious right after you contract the cold, before you even have symptoms. For the flu, adults are most infectious from the day before symptoms start until about the fifth day of symptoms.
When should I see my doctor?
If you experience complications such as high fever, shaking chills, chest pain with each breath, coughing that produces thick, yellow-green mucus, or if your symptoms do not go away as quickly as you would expect them to, see your doctor.

To find out how to keep your contagions to yourself, just read more
How can I avoid passing my cold or flu on to my family?
There are many steps you can take to try to avoid spreading germs to the people around you. Always cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Throw used tissues away immediately. Wash your hands often, especially after you sneeze, cough, or touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Keep your distance from others - don’t kiss, hug, or stand so close to someone that saliva might get on them when you talk. Make sure someone is disinfecting household surfaces and items frequently, including children’s toys.
Is it OK to get a flu shot when I have a cold?
Yes, you can get vaccinated when you have a cold as long as you are not feeling very sick and do not have a fever.

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Ovarian Cancer: Are You Aware of the Symptoms?

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:45:00 -0700

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and I am wondering if you are aware of the symptoms. I don't mean to be a bummer, but in this case knowledge is power! The earlier this "silent killer" is detected the greater the chance of survival.

Take the quiz

Ovarian Cancer: 4 Symptoms to Watch Out For

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

The New York Times is reporting that cancer experts have identified a set of health problems that may be symptoms of ovarian cancer. They are:

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Women are strongly encouraged to see their doctor, preferably their gynecologist if they have been experiencing these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks. These symptoms and signs have been identified in hopes that patients and doctors will become more aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival.

However, it is too soon to know if this new screening method will improve rates of early detection or lead to a flood of diagnostic tests or, in a worst case scenario, unnecessary operations. Yet, cancer experts believe a more aggressive approach might prove fruitful to detecting ovarian cancer early. If the disease, one of the deadlier types of cancer due to late diagnosis, is detected early (Stage I) it is considered 90% curable.

The purpose of these findings is not to frighten women, but to make them and their physicians more alert to these symptoms if they arise suddenly and with intense frequency.

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Heat Exhaustion - Know the Symptoms

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

If you live in a warm climate, or a place where the summer gets pretty hot and humid, you could be at risk for heat exhaustion if you're not careful. Heat exhaustion can happen after exposure to high temps, which can make you sweat profusely and cause your body to overheat. You're at risk if you are working out in the sun, or in a poorly ventilated hot and humid room.

Here are the symptoms of heat exhaustion:

cold, clammy skin
dilated pupils
excessive sweating
dizziness, blurred vision, headache, or fainting
muscle cramps
weakness or fatigue
nausea or vomiting
signs of shock: rapid pulse, shallow breathing, unconsciousness

What should you do if you or someone you know is suffering from heat exhaustion? To find out read more

Get out of the sun and heat immediately.
Drink lots of water.
Remove excess clothing and loosen anything that is too tight around the neck or waist.
Take a cool shower or bath, or find some air-conditioning.
Lie on your back with your feet elevated.
If the person you are with becomes unconscious, seek medical attention ASAP!

Fit's Tips: To prevent heat exhaustion in the first place, avoid staying outside in extreme temperatures for long periods of time. If you find yourself in the heat, drink tons of cool water and go swimming to keep your body temperature from getting too high. If you love exercising outside in the summer, try working out early in the morning or later in the evening when the air is cooler.

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Anemia: Know the Signs

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:00:00 -0700

We all get "bone" tired every now and again, but have you ever been "blood" tired? Tired blood is an expression used to explain anemia - a condition in which there isn't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues - can make you feel tired. Women are more prone to suffer from anemia from men due to menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

While there are many types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of the problem in the U.S. affecting 1 in 5 women. Being deficient in folate and vitamin B12 can also interfere with the production of red blood cells and create anemia.

Fatigue is the primary symptom along with pale skin, irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. If you think you might be anemic check the insides of your lower eyelids - they should be a healthy pink. If they are not, try upping your intake of iron or you can ask your doctor to give you a blood test.

Simple ways to combat anemia are eating foods rich in iron, like: red meat, fish, chicken, green leafy veggies, dried fruits (like apricots, prunes, and raisins) and lentils or beans. Up your iron intake by cooking tomato based sauces in a cast iron skillet, since acidic foods absorb the mineral from the pan. You can always try an iron supplement; just make sure it bears the United States Pharmacopeia Seal (USP).

Fit's Tip: Veteran mid-distance runner Ceci St. Geme had her last kid over 8 years ago and she still takes pre-natal vitamins because they contain iron. So keep your friends and loved ones guessing and start taking prenatal vitamins if you tend towards anemia.

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Avoid Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:30:00 -0700

When you're out in the sun, which is bound to happen with all this gorgeous warm weather we're having, you've got to be careful not to get sun poisoning, or Photodermatitis, as it is scientifically called. Sun poisoning is a condition that develops when your skin over reacts to UV rays from the sun.

What causes it? Sometimes certain medications like antibiotics, certain skin products such as soap, sunscreens containing PABA, or certain fragrances may cause photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to UV rays). You should also be aware that just plain ol' overexposure to the sun is one of the main causes, so avoid staying out in the sun all day.

Symptoms of sun poisoning are fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, headache, swelling, a burning sensation, a red itchy rash, small blisters, or peeling of the skin. When you're out in the sun for a long time, keep an eye out for these symptoms.

To avoid a skin reaction, stay out of the sun during the brightest sun hours, from noon to 3pm. Remember that just because it's cloudy, doesn't mean you are protected - so always wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when you are outdoors. Apply it to cool, dry skin 20-30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every 2 hours.

If you can stand being hot, you could also wear lightweight long sleeves, pants, and a hat to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Definitely avoid any chemicals that may trigger your reaction.

Fit's Tips: If you think you may have sun poisoning, definitely consult your doctor. If you know you have it, a cool shower or bath can help relieve symptoms. When you get out, lube yourself up with some aloe (I like to keep mine in the fridge for more of a cooling effect). Taking an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin may also reduce swelling, and help with nausea or headache.

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