You know when you’re sick, but do you know what it is? Colds and the flu can have very similar symptoms but different outcomes. While a cold is relatively harmless in the long run, untreated the flu can lead to serious complications including death.

Determining which you have, a cold or the flu, is difficult but there are some things you can look for. If you feel as though you were suddenly hit by the illness there is a good chance it’s the flu. A cold tends to come on more slowly and you can feel yourself progressively getting worse.

Don’t assume because you’ve had a flu shot that you’ve only got a cold. Flu vaccines only work on a few specific strains of the flu. There are more strains out there and although you’re less likely to get them, it is still possible.

Colds and flus share many of the same symptoms, one of them is a sore throat, but the big difference is that a sore throat is often the beginning of a cold where as it comes along later in the case of a flu.

While there are ways to diagnose your own condition, its recommended that you see a doctor. It is recommended that flu treatments begin within 48 hours for the best results. A simply culture performed at the doctor’s office will definitively tell you whether you have a cold or the flu.