Berger Health | Connections | Fall 2016

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Achoo!
Is it a cold or the flu? Sniffle, sneeze, cough. Something
seasonal is bugging you. But what exactly is it that’s got
you under the weather?
“The flu and cold are both considered respiratory
illnesses but are caused by different viruses,” says Sanju
Mahato, MD, Family Medicine Physician at Berger
Primary Care. “These viruses have similar symptoms,
making it difficult to tell the difference based on
symptoms alone.”
One general clue is how bad your symptoms are—
flu symptoms tend to be more severe. But that’s not
the only difference. Here are some more clues to help
you uncover what’s causing your illness.
Sneezing
Cover your sneeze, please! Sneezing is a common cold
symptom, although it can sometimes accompany the flu.
A stuffy or runny nose is also more common to a cold.
Complications
The flu is more likely than a cold to lead to
complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. If
you think you have the flu, you may want to check
in with your doctor. Prescription flu drugs called
antivirals may shorten the time you are ill.
Temperature
Feeling overheated? You’ve probably caught the flu.
Fevers occur only rarely with a cold. Running a temp
is common, however, with the flu. Temperatures often
reach 100 to 102 degrees and last three to four days.
Aches and pains
When everything hurts,
chalk it up to a likely case
of the flu. Headaches and
body aches abound when
the flu virus invades, and
those pains can be quite
severe. Acetaminophen
or ibuprofen can help
provide relief. Colds can
be accompanied by aches
and pains, but they tend to
be milder.
Exhaustion
If you’re dealing with
extreme fatigue, it’s
often a result of the flu.
Exhaustion is common
with the flu but rarely
results from a cold. Flu-
induced fatigue can affect you for an extended time,
sometimes as long as two or three weeks.
Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it
can be difficult and sometimes impossible to tell the
difference based on symptoms alone. Special tests that
usually must be done with the onset of illness can tell if
a person has the flu.
“Getting the flu vaccine is still your best defense and
can help the flu illness be less severe and last a shorter
amount of time,” Dr. Mahato says.
Sanju Mahato, MD
Dr. Mahato
is accepting
new patients. For
more information
or to schedule an
appointment,
please call Berger
Primary Care at
740-420-8422.
Thank you, Berger Health System
T he American Red Cross relies on strong community
partners to maintain a successful blood program.
Support of the Red Cross blood program is the
bridge that connects those who desire to help with those
who need lifesaving blood products.
The American Red Cross must collect more than
650 pints of blood each day from volunteer donors in
central Ohio alone to support 40-plus area hospitals.
By hosting blood drives, you help meet this need by
creating opportunities for the community to donate
blood. Your partnership literally touches countless lives
right here in Ohio. Due to the generosity of Berger
Hospital staff and the community, blood drives held at
Berger Hospital in 2016 yielded 124 units of blood—
an increase of 46 percent compared to 2015, which
yielded 58 units total. We ask for your continued
support in 2017.
Your partnership truly makes a difference in our
community. On behalf of the many patients we serve,
thank you.
We can change lives together!
Christina Warbington
Account Manager II
American Red Cross Central Ohio Region
Serving Fayette/Highland/Pickaway/Ross County
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Take your best shot at
staying well
For more information on finding
a primary care provider,
call 740-420-8078 .
FLU SEASON ALERT
Influenza can be MISERABLE & DEADLY. Nearly
EVERYONE 6 months or older should get a
yearly flu vaccine.
Vaccinate!
Don’t wait.
Don’t hesitate.
It takes 2 WEEKS
for the flu vaccine
to be fully effective.