Summary
Cold, flu and sinus issues can share many of the same symptoms, making it difficult to tell what’s behind the way you’re feeling. Looking at how quickly symptoms begin, where they occur, what they feel like, their intensity and how they progress over time can provide helpful clues and guide your next steps for relief.
Do you have a runny nose? Fatigue? Sore throat? When you’re feeling under the weather, one of the first things you may wonder is what your body is telling you through your symptoms — and what you can do to feel better.
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always obvious. Colds, flu and sinus issues can share symptoms, making it difficult to distinguish one from another based on how you feel alone. For instance, a stuffy nose is a symptom of common cold, and the frequent cause of sinus congestion, while fatigue and a cough can occur with both colds and flu. Even the way symptoms develop can vary from person to person.
Although symptoms alone can’t always provide a definite diagnosis, looking at the bigger picture can offer helpful clues. From how quickly symptoms appeared to how they evolved, here are five things to consider when you’re trying to make sense of your symptoms.
1. Location of symptoms
Consider where you feel your symptoms most. This can offer many clues when comparing a cold, flu and sinus issues.
Many common cold symptoms affect the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat, or even the windpipe.
Flu can involve respiratory symptoms as well, but it is also commonly associated with symptoms that affect the whole body, such as general achiness and fatigue.
Sinus symptoms tend to be concentrated around the nose and face. Your sinuses are air-filled cavities located around the nose, cheeks, eyes and forehead. When the mucous membrane lining these cavities swells from virus infection or allergic reaction, you may notice uncomfortable symptoms.
These areas are close to one another, communicating with each other, so location alone may not provide the answer. Think about where your symptoms are most noticeable and combine that information with your other clues.
2. Symptom speed
Were you fine yesterday and suddenly feel wiped out today, or have your symptoms slowly built over several days? Thinking back to when your symptoms started and evolved can provide you a clue.
Cold symptoms commonly develop gradually. You might first notice a scratchy or sore throat, followed by sneezing or cough. Instead of feeling sick all at once, you may notice new symptoms appearing or changing over the course of a few days.
Flu symptoms, on the other hand, tend to have a more sudden onset. You might feel relatively well one day and then experience several symptoms within a short period of time. Symptoms such as fever and chills can accompany the flu, although not everyone will experience every symptom.
Sinus symptoms can sometimes develop along with or following a cold or other respiratory illness because sinus pain occurs when the communication between the nasal and sinus cavities are blocked by swollen mucous membranes. Pressure and sometimes accumulation of phlegm in the closed sinus cavity leads to painful feeling of pressure. Allergies can also contribute to sinus symptoms.
Rather than using the speed of your symptoms as a definite answer, consider it one piece of the puzzle. A gradual onset may be more consistent with a cold, while a sudden onset is commonly associated with flu.
3. Type of symptoms
The specific combination of symptoms you experience can also help you better understand what might be making you feel unwell.
A common cold often brings a combination of sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough, watery eyes or headache. You won’t necessarily experience all of these symptoms at once, and they can change as your cold progresses.
Flu shares many symptoms with the common cold, but there is a major difference: a cold may still let you get through your day (although it’s better to stay isolated and not share the virus with co-workers when possible), while flu-like symptoms generally call for staying home and resting. The main differences are the presence of fever, body aches and intense fatigue.
Sinus pain and congestion are easily identified by localized pain in the sinus cavities: just above your eyebrows (frontal sinuses); just under your eyes on each side of the nose (maxillary sinuses); between your eyes, right behind the bridge of your nose (Ethmoid sinuses); and deep behind your eyes and nasal cavity, above your throat (Sphenoid sinuses). The frontal, maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are most often affected when sinus symptoms follow a common cold.
Instead of focusing on one symptom, take stock of everything you’re experiencing. For example, a runny nose by itself doesn’t tell you very much. A runny nose accompanied by sneezing and a sore throat presents a clearer picture.
4. Symptom intensity
How strongly your symptoms affect you can provide another clue.
Cold symptoms are often milder than flu symptoms. You may feel under the weather or find yourself slowing down, but your symptoms may have less impact on your overall energy level and daily routine.
Sinus symptoms can also range in intensity. Nasal congestion and pressure may be bothersome, and symptoms such as sinus pain or headache can make it harder to concentrate on your usual activities.
Flu is often associated with more pronounced fatigue, body aches, fever or chills. These symptoms may make it more difficult to keep up with your regular routine and leave you wanting extra rest.
However, intensity is highly individual and shouldn’t be used to determine what illness you have. One person’s experience with a cold or flu may be very different from another person’s. Your age, overall health and other factors can also influence how you feel. Rather than comparing your experience with someone else’s, pay attention to what is normal for you.
5. How long symptoms stick around
Finally, look at the timeline. How long have you been feeling sick, and — perhaps more importantly — are your symptoms improving, staying the same, or getting worse?
Cold symptoms generally improve with time, although some symptoms, such as a cough or stuffy nose, may linger after you start feeling better overall. Flu-like symptoms can also take time to resolve, and fatigue or cough may continue after some of the more intense symptoms have improved.
Sinus symptoms have their own patterns. They usually follow episodes of nasal congestion, because sinus congestion occurs only when their opening with the nasal cavity is closed. However, symptoms that persist without improvement, become more severe or improve and then worsen again may be a reason to check in with a health care professional. Spiking fever or the occurrence of a rash are red flags.
Instead of relying on a specific number of days to determine what you have, look at the direction your symptoms are moving. Are you gradually feeling more like yourself? Have your symptoms stayed the same? Did you begin to improve only to feel worse again?
Finding relief for your symptoms
These five clues can help you take a closer look at how you’re feeling, but they aren’t a substitute for a diagnosis.
Once you’ve considered your symptoms and, when appropriate (see below), consulted a health care professional, you can look for relief targeted to the symptoms you’re experiencing.
For common cold symptoms, try Boiron ColdCalm® Tablets. Unlike conventional medications that merely mask symptoms, this homeopathic cold medicine targets specific symptoms at the onset, established and resolution stages of the common cold. The non-drowsy, meltaway tablets are easy to take at the first sign to relieve sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and minor sore throat pain.* This medicine is phenylephrine-free, has no known drug interactions and is recommended for adults and children ages 4 and up.
For flu-like symptoms, try Boiron Oscillococcinum®. Trusted as Nature’s #1 flu medicine, Oscillococcinum has been shown in clinical studies to reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue.* Easy to take, the meltaway pellets dissolve in the mouth and are recommended for everyone ages 2 and up. The pellets are non-habit forming, non-drowsy and free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors and preservatives.
For sinus symptoms, Boiron SinusCalm® Tablets relieve nasal congestion, sinus pressure and pain and sinus headache due to the common cold or allergies.* The non-drowsy meltaway tablets are phenylephrine-free and have no known interactions with other medications. For adults and children ages 6 and up, SinusCalm is gluten-free, needs no water, chewing or swallowing and has no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors or preservatives.
| Symptom Clue | Common Cold | Flu | Sinus Congestion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you feel symptoms | Nose and throat – upper respiratory tract, sometimes the windpipe | Whole body – respiratory symptoms plus general body aches and fatigue | Face and sinuses – around the nose, cheeks, eyes and forehead |
| How fast symptoms start | Gradually – often a scratchy throat first, then sneezing or cough over a few days | Suddenly – you may feel fine one day and have several symptoms within hours | Often during or after a cold, or with allergies, when swollen nasal passages block the sinus openings |
| Most telling symptoms | Sore throat, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose – may also include cough, watery eyes or headache | Fever, body aches, intense fatigue – often with chills and headache | Sinus pressure, facial pain, nasal congestion – often with a sinus headache |
| How severe symptoms feel | Usually mild – you may slow down but can often keep up your routine | Often severe – more likely to keep you home and resting | Varies – pressure and pain can make it hard to concentrate |
| How long symptoms last | Improves steadily – a cough or stuffy nose may linger | Improves slowly – fatigue or cough may continue after the worst symptoms pass | Watch the direction – no improvement, or improving then worsening, is a reason to see a health care professional |
| Homeopathic relief to consider | Boiron ColdCalm® Tablets Relieves sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and minor sore throat pain due to the common cold.* Non-drowsy meltaway tablets · Ages 4+ |
Boiron Oscillococcinum® Helps reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue.* Non-drowsy meltaway pellets · Ages 2+ |
Boiron SinusCalm® Tablets Relieves nasal congestion, sinus pressure and pain and sinus headache due to the common cold or allergies.* Non-drowsy meltaway tablets · Ages 6+ |
This chart is a general guide, not a diagnosis. Talk with a health care professional if symptoms are severe, worsening or persistent. *Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical advice. Not FDA evaluated. Always read and follow label directions.
Know the signs, find the right relief
When you’re not feeling your best, taking a closer look at your symptoms can help you decide what to do next. Pay attention to how quickly your symptoms began, where you feel them, which symptoms appear together, how intense they are and how they change over time. Together, these details can provide useful clues about what you’re experiencing.
Still, respiratory symptoms don’t always fit neatly into one category. Listen to your body, keep track of how you feel, and talk with a health care professional if you’re unsure or if your symptoms are severe, concerning, worsening or persistent.
No matter what’s keeping you from feeling like yourself, understanding your symptoms is a helpful first step toward choosing appropriate relief and getting back to your day.
*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical advice. Not FDA evaluated.