{"id":86435,"date":"2026-10-26T08:19:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=86435"},"modified":"2026-11-02T16:21:38","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T23:21:38","slug":"stay-healthy-cold-and-flu-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/stay-healthy-cold-and-flu-season\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stay healthy during cold and flu season"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><figure id=\"attachment_86465\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-86465\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-86465\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/24122716\/GettyImages-2169901016-mom-hugging-sick-kid-web.webp\" alt=\"mom hugging her sick daughter who may have a cold or the flu. Photo: Getty Images.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-86465\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two separate viruses cause colds and the flu. Neither is fun, and you can take steps to protect yourself and your family as cold and flu season ramps up. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s that time of year again, and doctors want to keep you and your family healthy as cold and flu season ramps up.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/flu-season-colorado-cases\/\">Flu arrived unusually early in Colorado<\/a> for the 2026-27 season, with positive tests climbing rapidly at UCHealth hospitals and clinics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood, basic hygiene like washing your hands and wearing a mask if you are ill can help prevent the spread of these illnesses,\u201d said Brickley Biondi, a physician assistant at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/locations\/uchealth-primary-care-steamboat-springs\/\">UCHealth Primary Care \u2013 Steamboat Springs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Vaccination also can help protect against serious illness from the flu. For the latest recommendations, learn more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/\">about the 2026-27 flu and COVID-19 vaccines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With help from Bondi and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/michelle-barron-md\/\">Dr. Michell Barron<\/a>, senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, we answer frequently asked questions about colds and the flu. These experts also address confusion, misinformation and myths about the viruses that cause colds and the flu.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What are some differences between the flu and a cold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The flu usually comes on faster and has more severe symptoms than a cold. It also can cause symptoms that last longer than a cold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cold and the flu are two separate viruses,\u201d Bondi said.<\/p>\n<p>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 children can occasionally have gastrointestinal symptoms with the flu.<\/p>\n<p>If you aren\u2019t sure whether you have the flu, COVID-19 or another illness, you can take a test or visit your medical provider or an urgent care clinic to get help.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s wise to find out whether you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19 because doctors can prescribe medications to reduce the severity and duration of the flu or COVID-19.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_60699\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60699\" style=\"width: 461px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-60699 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/26140840\/flugraphic.webp\" alt=\"graphic showing cold, flu and COVID symptoms and how they are different and similar. Graphic by Clare Kavanagh, for UCHealth.\" width=\"461\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/26140840\/flugraphic.webp 461w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/26140840\/flugraphic-300x263.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/26140840\/flugraphic-150x131.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/26140840\/flugraphic-200x175.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-60699\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graphic by Clare Kavanagh, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Are COVID-19 and the flu the same?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. COVID-19 and the flu are different illnesses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey are caused by different viruses, although symptoms can be similar,\u201d Barron said. \u201cCOVID tests are readily available, and you can take them at home so you will know definitively if you have it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Notify your medical provider quickly if you test positive for the flu or COVID-19.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Isn\u2019t the flu just a bad cold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No, the flu is far more than a bad cold, and it can be deadly for vulnerable people.<\/p>\n<p>While viruses cause both colds and the flu, the common cold can be caused by 30-plus viruses, while influenza A and B are the two main flu viruses that drive annual flu epidemics worldwide.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How do flu and cold viruses spread?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Both viruses spread through upper-respiratory secretions. For instance, if you come into close contact with someone who coughs or sneezes, and you inhale those droplets or touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes or mouth, you can become infected.<\/p>\n<p>A person is contagious for 24 hours to three to four days before they develop cold or flu symptoms. That\u2019s 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 for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks, without medication, so you don\u2019t infect others.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How can I protect myself and my family from getting colds and the flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/why-soap-and-water-work-better-than-hand-sanitizer-to-remove-remove-viruses-and-germs\/\">Wash your hands<\/a> often.<\/li>\n<li>Stay at home if you are sick.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t send sick children to school.<\/li>\n<li>If possible, self-isolate in your home, and use separate towels for sick family members.<\/li>\n<li>If you are sick, wear a mask if you need to be in public.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>What should you do if you\u2019re feeling sick and you think you might have the flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you are experiencing flu symptoms, check with your medical provider right away. You can get tested to learn exactly what you have, whether it\u2019s flu, COVID-19 or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-long-is-rsv-contagious-get-facts-about-this-virus\/\">RSV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For both flu and COVID-19, antiviral medications can reduce illness severity and duration, but you need to start them soon after you get sick.<\/p>\n<p>The antiviral medication for the flu <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/lets-talk-about-tamiflu\/\">is called Tamiflu<\/a>. You need to start taking it within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptom.<\/p>\n<p>The antiviral 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.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to stay hydrated. You can use home remedies to feel better.\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/medicine-cabinet-must-haves-for-illnesses-and-minor-medical-emergencies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keep essential medications <\/a><\/span><a class=\"gtm_today_article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/medicine-cabinet-must-haves-for-illnesses-and-minor-medical-emergencies\/\">at home<\/a> so you don\u2019t have to venture out when you feel lousy.<\/p>\n<p>And you can comfort yourself or others who are feeling sick by making soothing soups. <a class=\"gtm_today_article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/comfort-soups-for-flu-season\/\">Check out some soup ideas to make during flu season<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What should I do if someone in my house has the flu?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Barron has a friend who called her for advice. His young child got sick with the flu at day care. The parents had been too busy to get flu vaccines for their child or themselves. The parents are immunocompromised and wondered how they should protect themselves. Should they consider taking Tamiflu \u2014 the medication that people can take early in the course of a flu infection to reduce the severity of the flu or to shorten the course of the illness?<\/p>\n<p>Barron\u2019s advice to her friend was simple and clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. You have diabetes. So, you\u2019re at higher risk if you get the flu. You can take Tamiflu.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said people who have the flu in their home or who were otherwise exposed and are at high risk for severe illness if they get the flu can take Tamiflu prophylactically to prevent flu cases.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re feeling sick, or a member of your household is sick, it\u2019s wise to get tested for flu, COVID-19 or RSV and check with your medical provider about medications you can take.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTamiflu can help. You still want to do everything to try and avoid contact with the person who is sick while they\u2019re infectious, like wearing a mask in your home,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>She also advised her friend to have the whole family get flu shots once their child recovered.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who is at higher risk of getting very sick from the flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The people who are most at risk of getting sick from 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Misinformation has reduced vaccination rates during pregnancy over the past decade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome people think, \u2018I\u2019m young. I\u2019m healthy. Why would I need a vaccine?\u2019 But they\u2019re not thinking about the fact that when you\u2019re pregnant, your immune system is not as strong,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>She strongly advises pregnant women to get all of the recommended vaccines.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can you get the flu twice in the same flu season?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Barron said you can get two different flu strains in the same season. The best way to avoid getting the flu \u2014 or to avoid getting severely ill and needing to be. hospitalized \u2014 is to get your vaccine.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is the old saying &#8216;starve a fever and feed a cold&#8217; true?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. \u201cWhile we might not feel like eating when we\u2019re sick, especially when we have a fever, it\u2019s important to fuel our bodies the best we can with good, nutritious food. And the most important thing to give ourselves when we\u2019re sick is plenty of hydration,\u201d Biondi said.<\/p>\n<p>Hydration is critical if you are vomiting or have diarrhea, especially in children. Contact your medical provider immediately if an infant or very young child can&#8217;t keep any liquids down. Babies can become severely dehydrated in a very short period of time. And dehydration can be deadly.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Should I ever see the doctor for the flu or cold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, you should contact your doctor if symptoms persist or if your child is very ill. Coughs can persist for several days. If your symptoms haven&#8217;t improved or have worsened after seven to 10 days, call your doctor for advice.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Seek help immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Difficulty breathing.<\/li>\n<li>Chest pain.<\/li>\n<li>Coughing up blood.<\/li>\n<li>Confusion, severe vomiting, fever with a rash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d Biondi said.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What should I do if I need to see a doctor after business hours or on a weekend?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/services\/urgent-care\/\">Find an urgent care clinic near you<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Or schedule a visit with an expert in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/services\/virtual-urgent-care\/\">Virtual Urgent Care<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Walk-in patients are welcome, or you can reserve your spot online.<\/li>\n<li>Urgent care providers help with minor injuries and illnesses that can\u2019t wait for a doctor\u2019s appointment but don\u2019t require an ER visit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>What happens when people need to be hospitalized with the flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some children and adults need hospitalization when they have trouble breathing or become severely dehydrated.<\/p>\n<p>If you or your child is ill, do not delay. Call for help right away.<\/p>\n<p>Barron said some people can develop bacterial pneumonia on top of a flu infection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd what gets people in trouble (and can be deadly) is breathing issues,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can I take antibiotics if I have a cold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. Viruses cause colds, not bacteria. So antibiotics don\u2019t help with a common cold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAntibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, and most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/diseases-conditions\/upper-respiratory-infections\/\">upper respiratory illnesses<\/a> are caused by viruses,\u201d Bondi said.\u00a0 \u201cThere can be complications from colds, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/diseases-conditions\/sinus-infections\/\">sinus infections<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/diseases-conditions\/pneumonia\/\">pneumonia<\/a> that require antibiotics, but you don\u2019t always know that right away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Instead of asking your primary care provider for antibiotics, Biondi encourages her patients to use \u201csupportive treatments\u201d such as decongestants, cough medicines and plenty of liquids. And get lots of rest.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Which over-the-counter medications can help reduce the lifespan of a cold?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cOur bodies need to fight the virus, so we can\u2019t reduce the life span of a cold. But we can treat symptoms with cough medicines, decongestants (check with your provider), and other symptomatic medications,\u201d Biondi said.<\/p>\n<p>You can treat a cold with a cough with over-the-counter products containing \u201cDM,\u201d or dextromethorphan.<\/p>\n<p>To help with fever and relieve headaches, use acetaminophen. You can also alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen doses. For muscle and body aches, ibuprofen or naproxen typically work best. A humidifier and cough drops can also provide comfort.<\/p>\n<p>Mucinex and Flonase can help with sinus inflammation.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can you exercise with a cold or flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You can exercise with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing, but don\u2019t go to the gym when you are contagious. If you are recovering from an illness, feeling well enough to work out, and you don\u2019t have a fever, you can reduce the intensity or modify your exercise regimen, Biondi said.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t exercise when you have chest pain, trouble breathing, a fever or severe fatigue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUse your symptoms as a guide. If you feel OK, do an easy workout, but don\u2019t overexert yourself \u2013 the whole idea is you want to get better and back to doing the things you love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s that time of year again, and doctors want to keep you and your family healthy as cold and flu season ramps up. Flu arrived unusually early in Colorado for the 2026-27 season, with positive tests climbing rapidly at UCHealth hospitals and clinics. \u201cGood, basic hygiene like washing your hands and wearing a mask if [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2357,"featured_media":86465,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[4860,3357,351,4797,9038],"class_list":["post-86435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","tag-covid-19","tag-lung-and-respiratory-care-pulmonology","tag-primary-care","tag-seasonal-flu-treatment-and-flu-shots","tag-vaccines"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.7 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - 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