It’s that time of the year again, and doctors want to keep you and your family healthy during cold and flu season.

“The cold and the flu are two separate viruses,” said Brickley Biondi, a physician assistant with UCHealth Primary Care – Steamboat Springs. “Good, basic hygiene like washing your hands and wearing a mask if you are ill can help prevent the spread of these illnesses.”

But while colds can be trickier to prevent, the flu is easier to avoid, and health experts like Bondi recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older should get their annual flu shot to prevent serious illness. Flu vaccines are especially important for pregnant women, older people and those with compromised immune systems.

Vaccinations protect women during pregnancy and also allow them to pass along immunities to their newborns.

“The flu shot is safe and effective,” Biondi said. “I would encourage anyone and everyone to get it.”

Bondi answered frequently asked questions about colds and the flu. She also addressed confusion, misinformation and myths about the viruses that cause colds and the flu.

Do flu shots give you the flu? Why do I feel tired or have a sore arm after I get my shot?

No, flu shots do not give you the flu. That’s an old myth, and it’s not true.

If you feel a little tired or sick after getting a shot, your body is simply reacting to getting a vaccine. It’s a good sign that the vaccine is working. It means the immune system is beginning to make antibodies that will fight the flu if you get exposed to the virus later.

Vaccines contain an inactive virus, not a live one, Biondi said.

They cannot cause an illness.

Also, if you wait too late in the season to get a vaccine, and the flu is already circulating, it’s possible to get a case of the flu before your vaccine is fully protecting you. That’s because it takes two weeks after getting your vaccine for your immunities to fully protect you.

That’s why some people might mistakenly think that a vaccine has given them a case of the flu.

“We hear this all the time, and it’s just not true,” Biondi said.

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

As the flu season begins in late fall or early winter and persists through January and early February, Bondi recommended getting a shot in late October or early November for maximum effect.

“Now is the good time to get the flu shot – or sometime before early December. If people are traveling, get it sooner rather than later to protect yourself in airports, other busy, crowded public spaces and during the upcoming holidays,” Biondi said.

I’m healthy. Why should I get a flu shot?

There are many reasons to get a flu shot. They include staying healthy yourself, reducing the severity of the illness if you get it and keeping vulnerable people in your family and your community as safe and healthy as possible.

“Getting a flu shot helps not only you, but those in your community who haven’t gotten the vaccine, including the very young and older people, by create herding immunity. Flu shots reduce severity of the illness and prevent serious complications,” Biondi said.

Who is most at risk for getting the flu?

The people who are most at risk if they get the flu include older adults who are ages 65 and older, pregnant women and those who have just delivered their babies in the past two weeks, residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities and people with underlying medical conditions.

People who are at higher risk due to medical conditions include anyone with asthma, neurological conditions, chronic lung disease, heart disease, kidney and liver conditions, diabetes, blood disorders, weak immune systems due to cancer or HIV and patients who are taking medications that weaken their ability to fight infections. These include chemotherapy medications, steroids and immunosuppressants.

What are some differences between the flu and a cold?

The flu usually comes on faster and has more severe symptoms than a cold. Although both tend to run their course in roughly three to four days, a complete recovery might take 10 to 14 days, with persisting fatigue and weakness.

Both illnesses can sideline people with sore throats, upper respiratory congestion, and fatigue. People who have the flu often also get a fever, headache, nausea and muscle aches. Diarrhea and vomiting are not typical of the flu. These symptoms are more typical of stomach bugs like norovirus, but occasionally, children can have gastrointestinal symptoms if they have the flu.

Colds, on the other hand, usually include a runny nose and sneezing.

“Sometimes there can be a gray zone between the two. There is a home test you can take to see if you have the flu,” Biondi said.

It’s wise to figure out whether you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19 because there are medications that doctors can prescribe to shorten the severity and duration of the flu or a case of COVID-19.

Are COVID-19 and the flu the same?

No. COVID-19 and the flu are different illnesses.

“They are caused by different viruses, although symptoms can be similar,” Bondi said. “COVID tests are readily available, and you can take them at home so you will know definitively if you have it.”

You should notify your doctor quickly if you test positive for the flu or for COVID-19. Anti-viral medications need to be taken soon after the onset of either illness.

The anti-viral medication you can take for the flu is called Tamiflu. You need to start taking that within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms.

The anti-viral medication you can take to reduce the severity of COVID-19 is called Paxlovid. You need to start taking it within five days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.

Isn’t the flu just a bad cold?

No, the flu is far more than a bad cold, and it can be deadly for vulnerable people.

While it’s true that viruses cause both colds and the flu, the common cold can be traced to one of 30-plus viruses, while Influenzas A and B are the two main flu viruses that cause annual flu epidemics around the world.

What are some good ways to protect myself and my family from getting colds and the flu?

• Wash your hands often.
• Stay at home if you are sick.
• Don’t send sick children to school.
• If possible, self-isolate in your home, and use separate towels for sick family members.
• If you are sick, wear a mask if you need to be in public.

How do the viruses that cause the flu and colds spread?

Both viruses spread through upper-respiratory secretions. For instance, if you come into close contact with someone who coughs or sneezes, inhale those droplets, or touch a surface that has them, then touch your eyes or mouth, you can become infected.

A person is contagious as long as 24 hours to three to four days before they begin to have cold or flu symptoms. That’s why flu, colds and other respiratory illnesses can spread so widely during flu and cold seasons. After you have been sick, doctors advise you to stay home at least 24 hours after you stop having a fever, without medication, so you won’t infect other people.

Is the old saying ‘starve a fever and feed a cold’ true?

No. “While we might not feel like eating when we’re sick, especially when we have a fever, it’s important to fuel our bodies the best we can with good, nutritious food. And the most important thing to give ourselves when we’re sick is plenty of hydration.”

Hydration is critical if you are vomiting or have diarrhea, especially in children. Contact your medical provider immediately if an infant or very you child is not able to hold down any liquids. Babies can become severely dehydrated in a very short period of time. And dehydration can be deadly.

Are there any antibiotics I can take if I have a cold?

No. Viruses cause colds, not bacteria. So, antibiotics don’t help if you get a common cold.

“Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, and most upper respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses,” Bondi said.  “There can be complications from colds, such as sinus infections and pneumonia that require antibiotics, but you don’t always know that right away.”

Instead of asking your primary care provider for antibiotics, Biondi encourages her patients to use “supportive treatments” such as decongestants, cough medicines and plenty of liquids. And get lots of rest.

Which over-the-counter medications can help reduce the lifespan of a cold?

“Our bodies need to fight the virus, so we can’t reduce the life span of a cold. But we can treat symptoms with cough medicines, decongestants (check with your provider), and other symptomatic medications,” Biondi said.

A cold with a cough can be treated with over-the-counter products containing “DM” or dextromethorphan.

To help with fever and relieve headaches, use acetaminophen. You can also alternate doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. For muscle and body aches, ibuprofen or naproxen typically work best. A humidifier and cough drops can offer some comfort as well.

Mucinex and Flonase can help with sinus inflammation.

Should I ever see the doctor for the flu or cold?

Yes, you should contact your doctor for symptoms that persist or for children who are very ill. Coughs can persist for several days. If your symptoms have not improved or have gotten worse after seven to 10 days, you might want to call your doctor to get advice about how you are doing.

Seek help immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Chest pain.
• Coughing up blood.
• Confusion, severe vomiting, fever with a rash.

“It’s important for higher risk individuals or children to come in and be seen so we can check vital signs and blood pressure and make sure nothing more serious is going on,” Biondi said.

Can you exercise with a cold or flu?

It is possible to exercise with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing, but don’t head to the gym when you are contagious. If you are recovering from an illness, feeling well enough to work out, and you don’t have a fever, you can reduce the intensity or modify your exercise regimen, Biondi said.

Don’t exercise when you have chest pain, trouble breathing, a fever or severe fatigue.

“Use your symptoms as a guide. If you feel OK, do an easy workout, but don’t overexert yourself – the whole idea is you want to get better and back to doing the things you love.”