In collaboration with La Torrada Fresca

As time goes on and the Omicron variant increases, it is more important than ever to know the difference between COVID-19, the common cold, and the flu.

Winter is here and so is the rise of the Omicron variant. Check your sweats for stress every time you blow.

There are many similarities between a cold, the flu, and COVID-19, such as chills, body aches, and cough. But there are also key differences among these conditions we should all learn to have some peace of mind.

Colds are the most common, especially when the weather starts to go down. While they can make us feel pretty terrible, they are usually milder than the flu and much milder than the COVID. They usually last between 7 and 10 days and are accompanied by symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, fatigue and physical pain. While some medications may be taken, most of the symptoms that appear are the way the body gets rid of the infection. Very often, what works best is giving your body time to fight the cold.

Although not an allergy season, these can be caused by items in your home, such as dust mites, animal dandruff, and mold. If you move to a new place and start noticing symptoms such as nasal congestion or itching, you are likely to be allergic.

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Right now, apart from COVID-19, the flu should be your main concern, as it produces some strong symptoms that can get complicated quickly and require medical attention. The flu can be easily prevented with a flu shot. The infection affects the nose, throat and lungs and can last for 5 to 7 days, with fever, cough, fatigue, pain, sore throat and more as symptoms.

Finally, COVID-19 is similar to all the conditions listed above. It can range from mild to severe, affecting the elderly and those struggling with underlying health conditions more severely. Symptoms include shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue and more. Nasal secretion or sinus congestion is very rare in cases of COVID and very common with the conditions mentioned above, making it one of the key distinctions between these diseases.

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There is a great deal of variability in people with COVID-19, with cases ranging from almost imperceptible to those requiring hospitalization. Among its most identifiable symptoms are loss of taste and smell, which usually appears suddenly. Finally, if your condition is too confusing, the clearest way to know what is affecting you is to take a COVID test.

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