Cold flu and sinus
You've got a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and a pounding headache, but how d...
You've got a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and a pounding headache, but how do you know if it's a cold or the flu?
![cold flu survival](https://cdn-img.health.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium_2x/public/styles/main/public/gettyimages-135559534_copy.jpg?itok=tof5YKu4 "Each year, the typical adult can expect to contract two or three colds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Skip the annual flu vaccine and you set yourself up for a bout of that as well. But it doesn't have to be this way! Aside from good hand washing (with soap, for at least 20 seconds), "there's a lot you can do to drastically cut your risk of getting sick," says Holly Phillips, MD, a general internist in New York City. "And even if you do catch a bug, you may be able to cut short the duration of your illness." Arm yourself with these tips from the experts, and make this cold and flu season your healthiest yet.
RELATED: 20 Surprising Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu")
![flushot](https://cdn-img.health.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium_2x/public/styles/main/public/gettyimages-155301667.jpg?itok=9Zzonk5w "No, you can't. Really. This longstanding rumor just won't die no matter how often experts debunk it. "The flu vaccine is made with dead viral particles, and since the virus is not living, it can't infect you," explains Holly Phillips, M.D., a New York City internist and WCBS News medical contributor. The nasal-spray version of the vaccine, called the FluMist, (which is FDA-approved for kids and adults between ages two and 49 who are healthy and not pregnant) does contain a crippled version of live flu virus. However, it still can't make you sick, says Dr. Phillips. This misconception may stem from the fact that it takes 2 weeks for your body to form antibodies to the vaccine and fully protect you. So if you pick up a cold or the flu before or just after rolling up your sleeve, don't blame your runny nose and sore throat on the shot.")
