In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we would like to talk about a common myth that the flu is just a bad cold.

MYTH: The flu is just a really bad cold.

FACT: False! In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly.

While the flu and the common cold are both contagious respiratory illnesses, they are caused by different viruses. And because flu and the common cold have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.

Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Flu can have serious associated complications, such as pneumonia or inflammation of the heart. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience a worsening of this condition triggered by flu.

Anyone can get sick with the flu, even healthy people and serious complications related to the flu can happen to anyone at any age, but some people are at higher risk. This includes individuals 65 years and older, people with certain chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women and children younger than 5 years old.

As your local health department, we recommend vaccination against the flu for both adults and children. If you still need to get your seasonal flu shot - we’ve got you covered! Our Public Health Clinic at 165 Miller Street offers both the adult and child flu shot. Call our Public Health Clinic at (203) 630-4234 to make your appointment.