The excitement over Swine (H1N1) Flu isn’t anywhere near ending. The slow release of vaccine 
and the steady growth in all types of flu’s, cold’s, and allergies with the Fall season has left many confused and worried.
In the Spring when the first cases were reported out of Mexico, there was a lot of concern from our fitness professionals scheduled to travel to resorts in that part of the world. With the swine flu now reaching most all areas of the world, the concern has changed to personal prevention and telling the difference between more common seasonal ailments and those produced through this new flu strain.
A quick Google search will provide you a great deal of information. Following I have included a nice side by side chart found on the FitSugar site, that displays differing symptoms in the flu vs cold.
| Symptom | Cold | Flu | Swine Flu |
| Stuffy nose | Common | Sometimes | Common |
| Sore throat | Common | Sometimes | Common |
| Sneezing | Common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Cough | Mild to moderate, hacking, productive | Common and unproductive, painful chest | Common |
| Headaches | Occasionally | Common, often severe | Common |
| Body aches | Slight | Common, often severe | Common |
| Fever | Rare | Common, lasting 3 to 4 days | Common, but sometimes absent |
| Fatigue | Mild | Common, can be severe | Common, can be severe |
| Chills | Uncommon | Fairly common | Common |
| Vomiting | No | No | Common |
| Diarrhea | No | No | Common |
| Time frame of symptoms | Gradually appear | Come on suddenly (3 to 6 hours) | Come on rapidly |
I’m not the Doctor nor producer of this chart, but it does appear very consistent with much of the related information I found in researching this topic. Do further educate your self on this topic and consult your physician if you have specific question.
For the Fitness Professional enjoying a working vacation or providing services in your own community, utilizing recommended precautions and knowing the differences in these illnesses can at the least reduce a bit of stress, which we know is good for all of us.
