While colds and flu (influenza) are detected year round in the United States, the prevalence of both the common cold and flu viruses tends to increase in the fall and winter months. Add in COVID-19, and you’ll see a lot of overlap and similarities. William Brian Glenn, DO, family medicine physician at Hackensack Meridian Medical Group – Family Medicine Center in Little Egg Harbor Township, shares what you need to know to be ready for the season.
What is the difference between a cold, the flu and COVID-19?
The challenge with cold, flu and COVID-19 is that the symptoms for each are very similar. A cold can present with cough, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and fatigue. The flu can present with all of those symptoms plus headache, fever, chills, body aches and fatigue. COVID-19 can present with cold and flu symptoms, plus new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, or shortness of breath. Cold symptoms tend to come on gradually, while flu symptoms come on suddenly – usually all at the same time where a person feels ‘wiped out.’ COVID symptoms start gradually between two and 14 days after exposure and can progress to more severe symptoms in some people – although not everyone has symptoms.
Are some people more at risk of developing colds, flu and COVID-19 than others?
The elderly, as well as children and adults with chronic conditions including diabetes, lung or kidney disease, metabolic disorders, heart disease and cancer are more susceptible to developing and fighting a cold, flu or COVID-19. Even taking certain medicines that weaken the immune system can put people at a higher risk of developing and fighting these illnesses.
What are the biggest misconceptions about cold, flu and COVID?
One of the biggest myths is that we should be on heightened alert for these illnesses during the fall and winter. While all three ailments are more prevalent during these times in the U.S. due in part to many people remaining inside and in close quarters, we should be mindful all year long to protect against all three. Also, if you’re traveling – keep in mind that cold and flu season in your destination site may be different from what we experience in the U.S. Especially if you’re susceptible to any of these conditions, you may want to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to see what vaccines are required for your destination country and with the U.S. State Department to see if any travel advisories mentioning health risks are issued for your destination. You can then discuss with your healthcare provider what kind of health protections are available to you.
Another myth claims that vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza cause these illnesses and possibly others. In the case of COVID-19, this is not true as the live virus is not used in any of the COVID vaccines developed for use in the U.S. For influenza, this is also false, as an inactive virus, proteins from a flu virus (instead of the virus itself), or a very weakened virus (in the case of nasal sprays) are used for vaccines instead of a fully activated virus. What people generally feel is minor side effects from the shot itself, which are similar to flu or COVID symptoms. Also, it can take a few weeks for immunity to these viruses to ramp up, so it is possible for people to get sick in between that time.
What can I do to protect myself from cold, influenza or COVID, and do any of these conditions require seeing a specialist?
If you’re at average risk, follow vaccine guidelines for influenza and COVID based on age. If you’re at higher risk because of co-existing health conditions and/or other concerns, you should discuss with your health care provider what prevention approach is right for you. And to protect from all of these viruses, it helps to frequently wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze into your shoulder, wear a mask as appropriate, regularly clean highly touched surfaces (counters, doorknobs, toilet handles), keep hydrated and rest when needed.
Do NOT follow vaccine “guidelines”.
COVID MRNA shots are not vaccines. Rather, they are an experimental gene “therapy”.
COVID MRNA shots are not safe.
COVID MRNA shots are effective at causing: autoimmune disorders, blood clots leading to strokes, cardiac arrest, myocarditis, fertility issues, and death.
To quote a world renowned expert:
“The world today has about 6.8 billion people. That’s headed up to about 9 billion. Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, healthcare, reproductive health services, we could lower that by, perhaps, 10 or 15 percent.”
– Bill Gates 2010
The actually good advice is to not be part of that particular 10 or 15 percent.
I saw a video where he said this on THREE difference occasions and each time with a smile on his face when he said it….
yes, a sinister smile, and sinister self-confidence, and waves his hands like a clown and talks as if he has marbles in his mouth. Everyone who hears about what he says asks why he doesn’t practice what he preaches and commit suicide. Then there’d already be one less person in the world. But of course, he needs to be around to do the great kindness!!!
I find it amusing that you repeat what you see online about it being an “experimental gene therapy” without knowing the first thing about genes or how the mRNA vaccine works (or what mRNA is).
But continue spouting conspiracy theories about Bill Gates as long as you stop at the point where they usually claim that “its the Jews fault”.
And you do know about genes/mRNA (or whatever it is?!?!)
And as FYI said – and I have too – he says this publicly in videos. One video that brings it is Plandemic Movie (which if you haven’t wacthed, you know virtually nothing).
Actually yes. I do know what they are. I think if more people also knew, they wouldn’t believe everything they see in movies made by random people with no knowledge of science.
The people who believe movies like those are more gullible than the people who will be taking boosters for the rest of their lives.
Have you taken the shot?
And do you – or anyone you know – take any legal liability for the shots – Covid or any?
All of my own personal doctors who were at the forefront of pushing the vaccine are not taking the boosters etc themselves.
What we understood years ago, they have come to understand as well. You have to be a fool to follow CDC advice on this.
Be aware of walking pneumonia that is contagious and spreading now. The only symptoms are coughing and sometimes fatigue. No fever or anything else. Not heard in the chest either. Only blood work and xray can detect it. We just had a scary episode and was told there are many cases in Brooklyn and lakewood and can present with other weird seemingly unrelated symptoms as well.
Correct. As per the local doctors, Pneumonia is extremely prevalent since the summer. It helps to test for covid, flu and strep to rule them out, but ultimately you should be on the lookout for pneumonia these days.
How about eating healthfully, stopping junk food (and many seeming healthy foods are terrible junk food – as franks and French Freis and ketchup and soda – absolute abuse to children), and having fermented foods to boost immune system?! Anyone ever thought of that?
I know, I know, it’s extra credit to the vaccines. But what many don’t know (but is becoming more known), is that it is not only the terrible destruction that vaccines cause, but they were never necessary.
See the book Dissolving Illusions – and site by that name dot come slash critiques.
Also, see book How to End the Autism Epidemic by JB Handley – that most autism from vaccines.
What difference does it make if it is Cold, flu, or Covid? If you eat healthfully and get good sleep etc, you’ll easily fight either one naturally. And if you take vaccines, you’re committing suicide!
I noticed that the tens of thousands of people in lakewood who have taken the vaccine are still alive.
Yes and others also died suddenly R”L and others got cancer and other autoimmune diseases. BH it didnt affect everyone the same way and some people will hopefully be okay. There were different batches.
P.S. There is data about people dying around the world from this vaccine. The world is larger than just Lakewood.
Oh I thought you said that by taking it you are committing suicide, something that most people don’t survive…
And if you look at actual science, the spike protein in Covid causes immune responses which can be bad for the body. This is what happens when someone gets infected with Covid. Covid itself causes myocarditis because the body confuses some of the heart tissue with the virus and can destroy them. It also causes the bodies inflammation response that can affect the heart and the virus itself can bind to heart cells causing inflammation.
The vaccine can cause myocarditis also but in a significantly lower percentage than the virus does. This is because the vaccine has mRNA which tells the body to produce the same spike protein that Covid uses to trick the body into letting it in. This causes the body to start an immune response at a much lower level than the immune response would be for the actual virus. The body then learns to recognize this spike protein in the future to help it fight the virus if the person is infected.
This immune response can also confuse the spike protein with heart tissue which can cause myocarditis. However, this is the only mechanism that causes myocarditis as opposed to Covid which has the 3 factors mentioned above.
This is just one example of something that people observed in the vaccine but instead of trusting doctors who still recommend it because the risks of myocarditis from the vaccine are lower than the risks of myocarditis from the virus, they decide that the doctors are trying to make everyone sick and die. Pretty much all claims that I’ve seen can be answered by anyone with a little medical proficiency and the knowledge how to do research.
If Covid was such a concern why did Fauci, yemach shemo, virtually outlaw HCQ which really worked? Didn’t he want to save people?
The sheep have woken up. We are no longer falling for the covid booster and masking hysteria. Fauci should be rotting in a jail cell instead of enjoying his ill gotten gains. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but frankly, I lost my trust in doctors and never take anything they say at face value any more. Every time I go to the doctor when I feel under the weather, the doctor tries to get me to take a covid test. Why?? Follow the $$$$! The same AMA that gave us the “truth” about covid, are currently advocating for gender changing surgeries for mentally ill children!!
Flu, covid or cold, the treatment is pretty much the same. Tylenol, ibuprofen, fluids, rest. There are lots of options for covid treatment as well that the evil democrats in charge wouldn’t allow the masses to take. Please think very carefully before taking any vaccine or
booster.
I’m amazed they actually give/suggest fluids! But for a lady who went to the hospital with measles, five years ago, they refused fluids! They kept saying how sick she is and that needs more meds! Finally her family just took her home! (Then, they still let people in! With Covid, they did actual Nazi experiments, as no one was there to report. See the book Undercover Epicenter Nurse. And one who has not seen this book is ignorant – including every doctor and nurse.)
“Children and elderly with other serious illnesses”:
This is one of the biggest disproofs on the need for a vaccine: NOT ONE CHILD IN THE WORLD died of Covid – except if they “also” had life-threatening illnesses! So, it is total abuse to subject them to pure risk with the shot! (And millions – of all ages – have been injured and died from it!)
“Cannot catch Covid from vaccine, as it is not live strain”:
Yeah, can “only” catch paralyses, severe pains, serious men’s and lady’s issues, infertility, many other terrible things, and above all, death!
Oh, and did I forget to mention that no doctor or vaccine manufacturer has any legal lability for any of these issues?!
‘Wear a mask as appropriate”:
Fauci, yemach shemo (may God erase his name and his memory), openly admitted already, numerous times that he has NOT ONE scientific source for masks! Does the writer of this article not know that?!
(We say that prayer/curse on the likes of Nazis, and Fauci is a Democratic Hitler. Is the writer a Democratic Eichman?!?! (Fauci admitted after the billionaires made their money off Covid.)
The main time he admitted it was at his deposition – wen two states are suing the federal government for Covid atrocities, and Fauci, as a star witness for the gov, had to agree to be interviewed by lawyers for the opposition. The seven-hour interview/deposition is documented word for words. Besides for infamously saying ‘I don’t recall’ about 130 times, and saying a ‘white lie’ about not posting anything on social media – when he had a fireside chat with the head of Facebook to promote Covid atrocities/”vaccines”, he also openly admitted he had not one study showing the effectiveness of mask and preventing contagion of Covid.
He has admitted it since as well.
This article is not only sad but downright dangerous and irresponsible. There is so much data and research now that points to how the covid vaccine is causing sudden death (especially cardiac arrests – even in people who’s cardiologist say are in perfect heart health), cancers, etc. that it is appalling that a few years after covid this doctor is talking like he is living under a rock an encouraging this vaccine.
It doesn’t matter if its a cold, flu or covid. Zelenko protocol (and zstack) still works to help prevent and treat these viruses as well as other interventions listed on the FLCCC website.
SHAME ON THIS DOCTOR!
Yes, Dr. Ryan Cole – a pathologist – much higher level than oncologists, and most certainly much higher than the writer says that. The reason he was able to speak up is because he runs his own lab, and was not afraid of being fired, which is the reason so many doctors were afraid of speaking up. (And they are double-trapped into their profession for life, as they have already taken out hundreds of thousands of dollars of student loans for medical school.)
But 17,000 doctors DID sign the Great Barrington Declaration decrying the Covid atrocities, yet, many hardly know about it, as the pharma-funded “mainstream” news would barely mention it.
We did a very improptu poll on a community chat and within minutes many people stated that they have seen a direct correlation between taking the flu vaccine and getting flu-like symptoms and have since stopped taking it. This propaganda that you can’t get the flu or covid symptoms from the vaccine is simply untrue. Its something that the CDC keeps trying to brainwash people about because too many people are saying it — because they keep seeing it happen!!
And anyone who thinks the covid vaccine actually works to prevent covid has a very short-term memory. It was clear when the vaccine came out that it didn’t work (aside from being a dangerous vaccine).
This idea that you get a “lighter case” is baloney (I know covid vaxxed people who died).
I got my Covid shot and I did get a pain in my arm and i hate having allergies
@Lakewood Yid – Listen to your own advice and go get some good sleep.
I was waiting for someone to say that, but I happened to be up then and felt this info was too important to wait – even though I knew I might get it over the head!
But TY – I’ll work more on you mussar/constructive criticism!
I’ve had five COVID vaccines and the funeral costs are killing me!!!
Seriously, I can’t believe how many of us are falling for this anti-vax nonsense. If it were true, the population of the US would have dropped by millions by now.
What’s happened to the am chacham venavon???
As an am chacham, the people against this vax did more research than you apparently. For one example, please See Florida updated guidance for covid-19 boosters for the fall and winter. There you will see a whole list of warnings about the covid vaccine with documented research. Your lack or research and ignorance does not give you a right to call other people names and call their opinions “nonsense”.
And the mountains of injury and death listed in VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System). And everyone agrees that VAERS is only a small fraction of reality, and in general has more holes than Swiss Cheese. (Didn’t list reports as they came in – only weeks after, so more people shod get vax before realizing how bad it is, and then gov can say ‘so many millions have gotten’ and influence more to get it and many more issues.) And with all that, VARS has a mountain of death and destruction for the Covid vax.
(Covid vax had more adverse events with months than all the adverse events for all other vaccines put together FOR THE PAST THIRTY YEARS!!!)
And the army’s DMED database was EDITED to remove the mountain of new cancers – many more than usual in the months after Covid vax came out, and common denominator was that all those extra cases got vax (can see from list – which is requires to be public by law – both DMED and VAERS). DMED went offline for three days, and when came back, had been SCRUBBED of the info, but thank Havens, it had been saved by others. (They erased the info once those who noticed it sounded the alarm.) DMED was always considered the best source for info on adverse reactions – and general medical statistics, as the army keeps tight records. Now we cannot believe a word!
To add to ‘do your research’, the burden of proof is on anyone who wants to make statement. No vaccine has ever been proven necessary safe or effective, and there is mountains of info to the opposite. You must read Turtles All the Way Down about vaccines.
Also Dissolving Illusions – and critiques page on site by that name.
Also How to End the Autism Epidemic by JB Handley which proves that most autism comes from vaccines.