Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Here is yet another Email with information about the H1N1 Swine Flu. This seems to have been lifted directly from a page on the website for the Flu drug, Tamiflu.

For more on the H1N1 Swine Flu,
please read this article!

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Here is a comparison of the symptoms between H1N1 Flu and the Common Cold. Know the difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms.


*Fever*
Fever is rare with a cold.
Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.

*Coughing*
A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold.
A non-productive (non-mucus-producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

*Aches*
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.

*Stuffy Nose*
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

*Chills*
Chills are uncommon with a cold.
60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.

*Tiredness*
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.

*Sneezing*
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.

*Sudden Symptoms*
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

*Headache*
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

*Sore Throat*
Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

*Chest Discomfort*
Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

The only way to stop the spread of the epidemic is to spread the awareness.
Please pass this on to family and friends. Especially people with children.
Thank you.

Health Articles

Looking for interesting and helpful articles on Health? Please visit LookingForClues Health Articles and learn about the H1N1 Swine Flu, Tick Bites, Insomnia, Weight Loss, Exercise and more! Check out LookingForClues - A website with articles and essays that are Free Bite size Nuggets of Insight and Entertainment.

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Here's another Email with advice on the H1N1 Swine Flu. But is it all Good Advice? KIDK CBS 3 in Idaho Falls did a news story about this Email. Read what they have to say about it.

For more on the H1N1 Swine Flu,
please read this article!

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Not paranoia - just some practical steps to help stay healthy.



Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice


Dr. Vinay Goyal [WHO??? is this him, maybe!] is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc.
Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (except to eat or bathe).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. * Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot to clean nasal cavities, but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). * If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. * Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it.

Health Articles

Looking for interesting and helpful articles on Health? Please visit LookingForClues Health Articles and learn about the H1N1 Swine Flu, Tick Bites, Insomnia, Weight Loss, Exercise and more! Check out LookingForClues - A website with articles and essays that are Free Bite size Nuggets of Insight and Entertainment.

Read all the way to the end!!!

Some good advice with a bit of humor at the end! Be well, everyone!

For more on the H1N1 Swine Flu,
please read this article!

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Please do not forget your flu shot!!!!
(The First Half of this makes sense, but I like the second half better)

Eat right!

Make sure you get your daily dose of fruits and veggies.

Take your vitamins and bump up your vitamin C.

Get plenty of exercise because exercise helps build your immune system.

Walk for at least an hour a day, go for a swim, take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc.

Wash your hands often. If you can't wash them, keep a bottle of antibacterial stuff around.

Get lots of fresh air. Open doors & windows whenever possible.

Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can.

Get plenty of rest.


OR Take the doctor's approach.
Think about it...
When you go for a shot, what do they do first?
They Clean your arm with alcohol...
Why?
Because Alcohol KILLS GERMS.
So.......

I walk to the liquor store. (exercise)
I put lime in my Corona ...(fruit)
Celery in my Bloody Mary (veggies)
Drink outdoors on the bar patio...(fresh air)
Tell jokes, laugh...(eliminate stress)
Then pass out. (rest)
The way I see it...

If you keep your alcohol levels up,
flu germs can't get you!

My mother always said,
"A shot in the glass is better than one in the ass!"

Live Well

Health Articles

Looking for interesting and helpful articles on Health? Please visit LookingForClues Health Articles and learn about the H1N1 Swine Flu, Tick Bites, Insomnia, Weight Loss, Exercise and more! Check out LookingForClues - A website with articles and essays that are Free Bite size Nuggets of Insight and Entertainment.

Swine Flu News

Studies: Swine flu lasts days after fever stops

When the coughing stops is probably a better sign of when a swine flu patient is no longer contagious, experts said after seeing new research that suggests the virus can spread many days after a fever goes away.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been telling people to stay home and avoid contact with others until a day after their fever breaks. The new research suggests they may need to be careful longer.

Swine flu also appears to be contagious longer than ordinary seasonal flu, several experts said.

“This study shows you're not contagious for a day or two. You're probably contagious for about a week,” said Gaston De Serres, a scientist at the Institute of Public Health in Quebec.

He presented one of the studies Monday at an American Society for Microbiology conference. It is the first big meeting of disease experts since last spring's emergence of swine flu, which now accounts for nearly all of the flu cases in the United States. More than 1 million Americans have been infected and nearly 600 have died from it, the CDC estimates.

It is unclear whether the new research will lead the CDC to rethink its advice on how long people with swine flu should hole up. Long breaks from school and work do not seem worth it for a virus that now seems to cause mostly mild illness, said the CDC's flu chief, Nancy Cox.