The Symptoms of Common Cold and Covid-19 & How to Help Protect Yourself
The common cold is perhaps the most common infection affecting the respiratory tract. However, the symptoms of common cold being very similar to that of COVID-19 has become a cause of concern.
Hence, we need to understand the differences between the common cold and COVID-19 so that we can take necessary precautions to protect ourselves against both these respiratory infections.
What is the Difference Between a Common Cold and COVID-19?
These viruses spread from an infected person to others while sneezing and coughing, and may also spread through infected droplets that land on surfaces like doorknobs.
The common cold occurs due to viruses, which are also referred to as cold rhinoviruses. These viruses spread from an infected person to others while sneezing and coughing.
Common cold may also spread through infected droplets that land on surfaces like doorknobs or tabletops. When another person touches these contaminated surfaces, the virus may get onto their hands from where they can gain entry into the patient’s body when the person touches the hand to the nose, mouth, and eyes.
The spread of COVID-19 occurs in a similar manner.
COVID-19 occurs due to a virus called SARS-CoV-2 that spreads from the infected person to others via air droplets while sneezing and coughing or contaminated surfaces and objects.
There is a striking similarity between the symptoms of common cold and COVID-19. The common symptoms of these infections include:
- Sneezing
- Running nose
- Nose block or congestion
- Postnasal discharge in the back of the throat
- Headaches
- Fever
Patients with COVID-19 may develop more intense symptoms including loss of smell and taste, and swollen lymph nodes. Also, COVID-19 has been linked to more serious complications.
Though common cold and COVID-19 have differences in the viruses that cause them or their symptoms and potential complications, the preventive strategies are similar for both. Strengthening your immunity is the key to protecting yourself against both these infections.
Here is a brief discussion about how to help avoid respiratory infections and boost your immune system.
- Maintain optimum hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating or having come in contact with an infected person and contaminated surfaces. Be sure to sneeze into your elbow.
- Eat a nutritious diet containing essential vitamins and minerals to improve your general health and boost immunity. Consuming foods rich in vitamin C is being studied as helping to reduce the duration of common cold and COVID-19. Vitamin C helps to strengthen your immunity and enhance the body’s response against infection-causing germs.
- Get plenty of exercise and fresh air. Maintaining a healthy weight and getting out into the fresh air are important steps in avoiding becoming ill.
- Stay home if you feel sick. Symptoms are usually a sign for you to rest and recover, so take these cues from your body and take time out. Focus on hydration, nutrition and rest.
- Use supplements when necessary. Regular use of immunity-modulating supplements such as BioPro-Plus could help to strengthen your immunity and enable your body to fight infections more efficiently. It is advisable to use these supplements on a regular basis to help protect yourself against a wide range of infections caused due to viruses and bacteria.
It is not surprising to find people getting confused between the common cold and COVID-19. The similarities between the signs of these 2 infections make it difficult to differentiate the conditions.
Though common cold and COVID-19 have differences in the viruses that cause them or their symptoms and potential complications, the preventive strategies are similar for both.
However, irrespective of the specific cause or type of the infection, it is advisable to take precautions to minimize your exposure to these viruses.
Frequent handwashing, eating a nutritious diet, and following healthy lifestyle habits are the keys to avoiding common cold and COVID-19.
You may also consider including supplements like BioPro-Plus in your arsenal of tools to fight infection-causing germs.
This supplement is formulated to help support the response of immune cells against microorganisms. This would help to allow your body to attack and destroy pathogens more effectively thus clearing the infection.
A comprehensive plan to minimize your exposure to viruses and boost your immunity is what could protect you against the common cold and other respiratory infections.
Interested in Learning More About the Common Cold? Keep Reading:
Faster Cold Recovery: Immune Tips to Get Over a Seasonal Cold