11/23/11 - COLD or FLU

How to tell the difference between cold and flu? Flu is a viral illness that comes on suddenly, causing fever, shaking chills, body aches, and other symptoms. The flu is not the same as the common cold. When you have the flu, you will feel bad enough to miss work and often feels like the worst illnesses you have had. See your doctor immediately if;
How to tell if you have a cold or if it is indeed flu?

#1 You have difficulty breathing or have chest pain: Aside from the stuffy nose and some general muscle aches, a cold or the flu should NOT make you short of breath or cause pain in your chest. These could be symptoms of a more serious problem such as heart disease, asthma, pneumonia, or others. Contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.
#2 Persistent Fever: This can be a sign of a secondary infection in your body that should be treated.
#3 Vomiting or Inability to Keep Fluids Down: Your body needs fluids to stay hydrated. Vomiting will dehydrate you very quickly especially if it is continuous – this is typically food poisoning type issues but sometimes comes with flu. If you can't keep fluids down your doctor will consider replacing fluids intravenously.
#4 Painful Swallowing: This is not normal. Although minor discomfort when you swallow can come from a sore throat, severe pain can be a sign of an infection or injury that needs to be treated by a doctor.
#5 Persistent Coughing: A cough that won't go away is usually postnasal drip - can be treated with antihistamines. However, it could also be related to asthma or GERD, both of which need to be treated by your doctor. In recent years, doctors have found an increase in a former childhood infection called pertussis (whooping cough in children). So if you have an unexplained cough for more than 2 to 3 weeks, your doctor may want to try an antibiotic to treat this type of infection.
#6 Persistent Congestion and Headaches: Colds and allergies that cause congestion and blockage of the sinus passages can lead to a sinus infection. If your symptoms don't go away with usual medication you may need to be treated with antibiotics. See your doctor if these symptoms persist. Once the virus is defeated (clear mucus is a good sign that it is clear -- even if you are still coughing) LSD rides are the order of the day until you have stopped coughing and any chest tightness is gone. During this period you are allowing the results of the infection to heal. Your lungs are still inflamed so allow time for healing.
Once healing is complete you can START to ride harder (close to or above your AT). If there are any signs of tightness or shortness of breath you have to immediately back off to previous level effort.
Note; Cycling is a very stressful anaerobic sport and ANY anaerobic effort while your lungs are infected (causing gas exchange problems) can be LIFE THREATENING. Please take this seriously i.e. treat it with the same determination you treat your training program.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/health/nutrition/25best.html?_r=1