Normally a sneeze or a cough goes pretty much unnoticed. These days it is cause to for glaring eyeballs to be aimed your way.

While its normal to get dust or particles in your airway causing you to sneeze or cough occasionally, if you begin to feel run down as well its important to know the difference in symptoms so you don’t have to panic and run to your doctor. Not every sniffle needs to be tested for COVID.

Both the common cold and the flu are also viral in nature, as is the Coronavirus.

In fact, hundreds of viruses can cause similar illnesses. The rhinovirus (common cold) is also a respiratory infection. The only difference between a regular cold and a summer cold is the time of year its contracted.

A scratchy throat can be the first sign of a number of viruses this time of year. This along with a runny nose, sore throat, fever, nausea, vomiting, coughing, and headache are all crossover symptoms. COVID-19 is clinically indistinguishable from a regular cold with the exception of the unique loss of taste and sense of smell. A normal cold or flu will not cause loss of smell or taste, nor will allergies which are also often confused and tossed into the mix.

If you have a cold: stay home. Drink plenty of fluids, rest, take hot Epsom salt baths, meditate, sleep, eat nutritious foods, and just wait it out. There is no magic bullet to cure a cold, the flu, or COVID-19.

Those who are ill can be contagious for 2 days prior to symptoms and up to 10 days after symptom onset. This is sometimes longer for those with auto immune issues. Please if you are sick stay home and away from gatherings as you would for any cold or flu in the past.

COVID-19 for most of the population will seem like a mild to bad flu. It will not require anything other than home care and rest. If you feel sick enough that you believe you need to go to the ER of course, please then do so. Those who are elderly and immunodeficient are the highest risk of complications.

Prevention is always the best medicine. Wash your hands regularly, get sunshine a minimum of 15 minutes a day, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, keep stress to a minimum, and get body work done – chiropractic and massage therapy. The better shape you are in the more easily your body is able to fight off foreign invaders.

Keep your immune system in fighting shape. Visit us regularly at Kaster Chiropractic and Associates of Fort Myers, Florida. 239-332-2555. www.Kasterchiropractic.com.  We are following CDC guidelines here in our office!