Not only is it flu season, but it’s also cold season and many people don’t know the difference. Do you know the difference between the two? Knowing makes a big difference in treatment.

• Fever – Cold (rarely); Flu (high fever)
• Headache – Cold (rarely); Flu (Intense)
• Aches & Pains – Cold (slight); Flu (often severe)
• Fatigue & Weakness – Cold (mild); Flu (intense – 2-3 weeks)
• Extreme Exhaustion – Cold (never); Flu (usually starts early)
• Stuffy Nose – Cold (common); Flu (occasionally)
• Sneezing – Cold (usual); Flu (sometimes)
• Sore Throat – Cold (common); Flu (common)
• Cough – Cold (mild to moderate); Flu (can be intense)
• Chills – Cold (uncommon); Flu (often)

If you’re not sure which you might have, see your doctor. If you have a cold, quite frequently, the doctor will advise over-the-counter cold medicine that helps to manage the symptoms and makes the cold more manageable. I’ve talked to several doctors and asked them about the old wives’ tale of feed a cold starve a fever, and they all confirmed that’s actually wise to follow. They advise lots of fluids, cold meds and if possible, eat like you normally do.

If you have the flu, a test will usually confirm it, and the doctor should start you on an anti-viral medication. Since high fevers kill off many of the beneficial bacteria in the gut that play an important role in food digestion, eating normally often results in vomiting, since the gut cannot process the food. It’s best to stay on liquids, broths (chicken broth or soup does have beneficial factors). Thee important thing is to stay hydrated.

No one wants to spread the flu or a cold. Sneezing is common to both and both can readily be spread to others with a sneeze. So, what do you do when you feel a sneeze coming on and you don’t want to infect anyone else?

Many people try their best to stifle a sneeze, mainly to prevent getting anyone else sick. There are two dangers to stifling a sneeze, one of which is fairly common and another that is not heard of that much but nevertheless, is a real danger.

When someone stifles a sneeze, it causes a sudden burst of pressure on the ear drum and more than one person has ruptured an eardrum by stifling a sneeze. A ruptured or perforated eardrum can be quite painful and they may not have any pain. The real danger is that they can lead to an inner ear infection which generally is quite painful and they can also result with permanent hearing loss.

Most of us have been warned about not rupturing an eardrum by stifling a sneeze, but doing so can also result in a ruptured throat as what happened to one man:

“Before you try to stifle your sniffle to avoid a loud, snotty sneeze, heed some advice from a 34-year-old man in England who ruptured his throat while trying that trick: Don’t do it.”

“The man ended up hospitalized and barely able to speak or swallow after he tried to stop a sneeze by holding his nose and shutting his mouth, according to a new report of his case.”

“Performing the maneuver caused a ‘popping’ sensation in his neck, so the man went to the emergency room, the report said. He was in considerable pain, and his neck was swollen.”

“When doctors examined him, they noted a crackling sound when they pressed down on the skin on both sides of his neck, and this sound extended down to his rib cage. This symptom, known as crepitus, can happen when air bubbles get into the tissue layer under the skin.”

“Indeed, when doctors performed a CT scan, they saw air bubbles trapped beneath the man’s skin, mostly in the neck region, the report said. The scan also showed air bubbles in the chest compartment between the lungs — a condition known as pneumomediastinum.”

“The doctors determined that the man’s stifled sneeze had torn a hole in the bottom part of his pharynx, or throat, where it connects to the esophagus.”

The man was treated with antibiotics to help prevent an infection. He was also fed through a tube for nearly a week, also to prevent an infection. Eventually, he was allowed to eat soft foods and was finally released from the hospital.

Had he developed an infection due to the tear in his throat, it could easily have been life threatening. No one likes to sneeze on everyone, but if you have been sneezing, carry a handkerchief or something to sneeze into, but DON’T try to stifle the sneeze, it could cost you your hearing or worse.