The cold and the flu are the two common conditions found during winter. Both these have common symptoms – such as fatigue, persistent coughing, persistent sneezing, fever, sore throat and muscle pain – that make it hard to distinguish between the two. So, without identifying what type of illness they are suffering from, they resort to over the counter drugs that claim to treat both cold and flu. These drugs are rarely effective and often come with a great deal of side effects.
As a result, people need to visit their doctors in order to find whether they are suffering from the flu or the cold. Moreover, the doctor will prescribe drugs that are suitable for their particular conditions.
Even then, other precautions much be taken to avoid getting sick. The most important – and often overlooked – precaution is wearing appropriate clothes in the winter (the “flu” season). This means people – and especially young people, who are the biggest victims of flu – must wear warm clothes that will help them withstand the changes in temperature. Otherwise, the rapid cold temperature weakens the body’s immune system, making it more vulnerable to viruses.
In addition, many people use herbal medicines and Vitamin C tablets that claim to prevent flu; however, their claim has not been verified by research.
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