Cold & flu explained
Cough
A cough can also be a symptom of a cold or the flu, so you may also suffer from a mucus, chest, dry or tickly cough.
Blocked nose
A blocked nose is caused when the membranes lining the nose become swollen as a result of inflamed blood vessels.
Headaches
It’s common to have headaches when you come down with flu, largely because of a high temperature and dehydration.
Sore throat
Sore throats are normally caused by bacterial or viral infections can be among the first signs of coming down with a cold or flu.
Fever
A fever is a common symptom of the flu and if your body temperature is above 100.4 F (38C) you should take steps to bring it down.
Bodily aches and pains
One of the sure signs that you might have flu instead of a cold is the onset of general aches and pains.
Cold or flu?
A lot of people refer to their cold as flu – more often than not they simply have a bad cold. Flu is a virus which can lead to a wide range of more aggravated symptoms than the common cold.
Even symptoms such as a sore throat, runny or blocked nose and headaches are unlikely by themselves to mean that you have flu – you may just have a nasty cold and should rest if possible. However, if you are running a temperature, or are suffering from more headaches or are experiencing bodily aches and pains, you may well have flu and should rest, at least until the fever has passed.
By using a BENYLIN® product that relieves some of your symptoms, you can help your body to rest and recover. That’s why we provide a range of cold and flu remedies to help you to feel better.
Most of us get at least one cold a year and just occasionally we fall ill with flu. Both are viruses and cannot be treated with antibiotics. But we can ease the symptoms of colds and flu – and that’s how BENYLIN® can be of help.
If you have a cold – and especially if you have flu – it’s important to do your best to avoid sneezing near other people. Use fresh tissues each time you blow your nose and regularly wash your hands, so you don’t spread the virus.
Did you know?
- There are over 200 common cold viruses and just three types of flu virus with many different strains.
- The average UK adult can expect to catch between 2 and 5 colds each year, children usually catch more.
- A healthy nose can detect up to 10,000 different smells.
- You can catch a cold through your eyes!
- The flu virus can survive for up to 24 hours outside of the body.
- You don't sneeze when you sleep.
- In the animal kingdom, iguanas sneeze more than any other animal.
