MedLink Health Connections Podcast

A Clinician’s Guide To Cold And Flu Season: Symptoms, Prevention, And When To See A Doctor

• MedLink Georgia • Season 1 • Episode 22

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 Cold and flu season is here, and we’re breaking it all down with Dr. Teresa Jacobs, Clinical Director at the Georgia Primary Care Association. In this episode, Dr. Jacobs explains the key differences between a cold and the flu, what symptoms matter most, and how to know when a fever or body aches signal something more serious. We also cover simple, effective ways to protect yourself—like handwashing, rest, hydration, healthy foods, and the best timing for your flu shot—plus home remedies that can actually help you feel better. She also shares the warning signs that mean it’s time to see a doctor and clears up how long you’re contagious, even before symptoms start. Tune in, learn practical tips for staying healthy this season, and keep your family protected all winter long. 💙💚 

SPEAKER_01:

Welcome to the Ment Lake Health Connections podcast. Today we're talking about cold and flu season with Dr. Teresa Jacobs, the clinical director at the Georgia Primary Care Association. We'll cover the basics, how to tell the difference between a cold and a flu, how to prevent getting sick, and what to do if you catch something. So let's get started. Dr. Jacobs, would you like to start off by telling us what is the difference between a cold and the flu?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, thank you so much for having me. So the cold or a typical cold is basically a virus. And um patients will generally have that congestion, that stuffy nose. Sometimes they will sneeze, have a sore throat, they may even cough. But the runny nose is something that is just one of the key factors of a cold. Now, the flu is a little different. It's a vi caused by a virus as well. But generally speaking, patients will have a fever of at least 100. Um, the thing that is really horrible for most of us when we get the flu is that achiness, the joint pains and the stiffness. And uh that can really, really be pretty uh tough on a patient. Um many will complain of a headache as well, um, may have a cough, might have a sore throat, but the achiness, the fever, and the um uh headache is something that is just seems to be uh really prominent when it comes to the flu.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. So you've kind of covered some of our most common symptoms, and how would you say someone could tell the difference between the flu or well, let me rephrase that. How could you tell if someone just has the flu or if it's a cold?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, the first thing I would do is uh take my temperature, so it's good to have a thermometer. Uh, with a cold, um, you generally don't have a fever, all right? So you usually have a regular normal temperature. The flu, you almost always will have a temperature of at least a hundred uh degrees or higher. So that's the first symptom. Uh, the first thing that you need to be aware of. That cold is the congestion, congestion, congestion. You don't usually have the aches and pain uh like you do in the flu. Uh, but the fever is the first thing that should tip you off. Uh, the congestion is the other thing, um, more so with a cold as opposed to the flu, fever uh or temperature when it comes to the flu. So those are the two biggie things, the two big things that I would say stands out. Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

So uh what are some of the best ways to avoid getting sick during this cold and flu season?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, that's a great question. I'm sure we're gonna talk about getting that flu vaccine. Uh, but besides that, we can also talk about just the typical things to do. Uh, hand washing is still also extremely important. Taking care of yourself. And by that I mean getting uh a proper amount of rest. Uh so sleep is still important, those seven to eight hours of sleep. Eating healthy, lots of fruits and veggies is always good to help keep your body nice and strong uh while we're going through this season. Um, and then make sure you stay well hydrated. There's no replacement for water. You'll hear me say that all the time. So water, water, water, lots of rest, get your sleep and eat extremely healthy. If um folks are around you that are coughing or sneezing, it's best that they cover their mouth um when they're coughing and when they're sneezing, and then make sure that uh that they're washing their hands as well when someone is coughing or when someone sneezes. And, you know, um if you have to be amongst a lot of people, wearing masks is still appropriate.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. You kind of mentioned the flu shot. So can you kind of walk us through why the flu shot is so important and when people should get it?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, the flu vaccine is one of the number one tools we have in a toolbox when it comes to combating or fighting uh flu or influenza. Um, this type the time of the year is usually early fall. Uh, I always get mine in the end of August, beginning of September. Uh takes a couple of weeks for it to kick in, and it will usually protect you through the entire flu season. So, right now is a good time to get that flu shot uh because flu season really starts uh in September and it lasts all the way through the fall, all the way through the winter. And so we're talking about the end of winter, early spring, uh, before the flu season is officially over with. Uh, so this is a good time to get that flu shot um uh to help protect you uh during the flu season. Okay, wow.

SPEAKER_01:

Do you know if there are any home remedies that may actually help with your cold and your flus and all of the above?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I yeah, I'm still big on home remedies myself. Um, you know, they taught us uh hot tea and honey with lemon. Sure, that that helps. Uh honey, believe it or not, has some um uh beneficial uh health effects. So a little uh hot tea uh with honey and lemon, old-fashioned remedy that I still believe in. Uh and of course, if you have running a slight fever um or have some aches, uh things like Tylenolomotron is probably still good for those things. Um, and then uh it's always nice to have vaporizers, humidifiers in the home. Uh that helps uh combat those droplets uh that are out in the air. Um, things like antihistamines or decongestants are still good things that you can take. Uh, of course, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you want to be mindful of those things uh that you take over the counter, that they're good for you. Uh, make sure that um uh because there's some products out there that are specifically for diabetics, specifically for folks with high blood pressure when it comes to the decongest, uh, cough drops, uh, cold medications. You can still take those. And again, you're gonna stay well hydrated uh uh if you get the cold, have a cold, or if you um unfortunately uh develop the flu. So lots of over-the-counter remedies, but still remember there's no cure for the common cold. Uh so generally speaking, you're gonna have to go through it. Uh, but those cold remedies that are over-the-counters tend to help uh decrease the number of days that you actually experience symptoms.

SPEAKER_01:

Awesome. So when someone is experiencing all of these things, when is the best time that they should actually say, okay, I think it's time for me to go to the doctor? Like what are some of those signs instead of just staying at home?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, so if your symptoms are just are persisting days and weeks or uh they're getting worse, uh, if you have a fever that's not responding to Tylenol and Motrin, uh, if you're a high-risk individual, I'm 70 years old, they consider me high risk because I also have high blood pressure. Uh so I'm a high-risk patient. So if those symptoms are lingering, uh, you really should go uh and see a doctor. If you're having, you know, those symptoms like difficulties in breathing, shortness of breath, uh patients uh that are having uh pressure in the chest, uh confusion, uh really uh having uh some drowsiness, difficult to uh in staying awake, having issues with dehydration. Um, and even uh there's some patients who have some bluing uh when it comes to the nail beds as well as to their lips. Uh, those are really signs that you really, really ought to go see a doctor. Uh, you don't want to wait till things get really bad before you go see a uh a physician. Or if you don't feel well altogether and you just want to go, go ahead. It's better to be safe uh to go ahead and see a local provider about your symptoms.

SPEAKER_01:

And how long are people typically contagious when they have the cold or flu?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, that's a I love that question. Um, and because it's interesting, you know, uh you're actually contagious before the symptoms actually start. Um so so you don't know that you're contagious, unfortunately. That's why it's always good to just be safe with what we call those universal precautions with those hand washing techniques and covering your mouth, et cetera. But with the flu, one to four days, you know, before your symptoms actually start, you're actually contagious. And then while you have the symptoms, it could be up to two weeks that you're still contagious. And then after those um uh symptoms uh start to um uh uh uh get better, uh you could still be contagious even a week or so after that. That's with the the flu, and then with the common cold, it's basically the same thing. Uh and so you need to be mindful, uh practicing those universal precautions at all times, uh, because it's important, because you may have, you know, something that is contagious, and so you want to make sure that you are protecting yourself as well as others around you.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, and can you kind of just go through those universal or universal precautions just real quick for the audience to know?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh so uh you're gonna wash your hands always, you know. Uh it's just a good, good, good, good thing to do. Wash your hands. If you're not able to wash your hands, hand sanitizer is still really good. If you are coughing or sneezing, or if someone near you is coughing or sneezing, it's always advisable that they cover their mouth uh when they're coughing and when they're sneezing. And again, wash your hands and to or to use um uh some sort of septic spray, hand sanitizer on your hands. Uh, you also don't want to share eating things tools. You don't want someone else to eat behind you, you don't want someone else to drink behind you. Uh uh, so those are what I call those universal precautions. Uh kids, especially, you don't want to eat behind them and you so and you don't want them to eat behind you, uh uh especially uh during this cold and flu season. So universal precautions, be mindful of um uh what the droplets, respiratory droplets that are in the air, hand washing, covering the mouth um when you're coughing or sneezing, washing those countertops off um on a regular basis, whether you're at work or if you're at home.

SPEAKER_01:

Awesome, awesome. Is there anything else that you would like to add just before we wrap up the episode?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I think that um it is something that we deal with every single year. And um uh before I got vaccinated uh for flu, I would get the flu every single year. So I suggest to everyone, if you're not getting vaccinated, if you're not getting your children vaccinated, that you really seriously consider uh getting uh the flu vaccine. Uh I think it's a wonderful tool in our two kids. And for some of us, for kids and for those that are at high risk, those with comorbid conditions, those elderly patients, we're at risk for developing pneumonia uh uh from the flu. So that's why it's a great idea to get vaccinated for the flu so that you can hand off the possible complications when it comes to flu. So get vaccinated, get vaccinated. Uh, it is the number one thing that I tell patients to do. Um uh it is one of the greatest tools in our toolkit to fight or to combat flu and the complications of flu.

SPEAKER_01:

Awesome. Okay, well, thank you so much for doing this with me today. I think myself and as everyone, I'm sure who's listening, can find this episode very educational. So thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00:

And you're welcome. Uh, it's always my pleasure. Stay healthy.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you for tuning in to the Medlake Health Connections podcast. We hope you found today's episode informative and inspiring. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Remember, the information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always considering medical advice. Stay connected with us on social media and consideration for more resources and updates. Stay healthy and take care of