COVID vs. a Cold (3 Surefire Tips to Know the Difference)
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 26, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
You feel that scratch or tickle in the back of your throat… and you try your best to ignore it.
But when the chills start, you get out the thermometer and confirm whether or not you have a slight temperature.
With all of this and the achiness and fatigue, you begin to wonder what’s really going on with your body…
In years past, these signs would cause you to check the cupboard for chicken soup and search for a good movie to watch.
Nowadays, your thoughts turn darker.
Is it COVID-19?
Before your mind takes you too far, here are three surefire ways to determine whether those aches and chills are just a common cold or possibly COVID.
Figuring out if you have COVID-19 or the common cold can be EXTREMELY difficult.
Both of these infections share a lot of symptoms: fatigue, fever, chills, headache, sore throat…
This is because the virus that causes the common cold and COVID-19 are very similar. In fact, there are some scientists that suggest COVID-19 “borrowed” pieces of genetic material (called snippets) from the common cold virus – so it’s not surprising that they would have similar symptoms.
Having said that, there are three distinct symptoms of COVID-19 that the common cold usually does not show.
- The loss of sense of smell and taste.
- Headaches can occur with the common cold, but they are much worse in COVID-19.
- The fever in a common cold is usually lower than in cases of COVID, running below 101 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not always the case, however, so make sure to always reach out to your doctor if you’re running a fever.
All of this is good to know because it appears that even vaccinated people can have “breakthrough” infections from the omicron variant.
Let me stress, however, that you should ALWAYS see your doctor and get tested if you’re unsure whether you have a cold or a COVID-19 infection.
And you should always head to your doctor if you lose your sense of smell or have a headache and high temperature.
Stay safe by doing the things we all know to do by now: wear a mask, avoid crowds, wash your hands repeatedly throughout the day.
P.S. As the race to find COVID treatments stretches into a marathon, it’s worth taking a look at other options. Some researchers think this amino acid may do the trick.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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