You wake up coughing, sneezing and congested and feel like you don’t even have enough energy to get out of bed. You’re sick!

But how sick are you? While many people are able to quickly recognize that something is going through their system, many people are unable to differentiate between a common cold and influenza. The common cold and flu are different types of viral infections of the respiratory system. Because they share similar symptoms and may feel the same, it can be hard to tell them apart.

Both cold and flu viruses spread from person to person. This means that getting either a cold or the flu may be prevented by washing your hands often and avoiding close contact with anyone with a cold or the flu. If you are infected with the cold or flu virus, get plenty of rest to help fight the infection. Drinking lots of fluids is also important to stay hydrated and loosen mucus.

FACT: Antibiotics treat bacteria, not viruses. Since both the common cold and influenza are viral infections, antibiotics will not help at all. Therefore, there is no point taking antibiotics for colds & flu. Instead consuming good probiotic strain that improves immune health and works against infection is logical. In fact a regular use of clinically proven probiotic keeps your immune system strong, making it less likely for you to suffer from infections including colds and flu.

Influenza (Flu) vs. Common Cold

This chart features some tips to help you differentiate between the symptoms of influenza and the common cold.

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