No one wants to get sick, especially with the flu or COVID-19. They can both cause serious illness, but these respiratory conditions are very different and come with different risks. Determining whether you have the flu or COVID-19 can help protect you and those around you, even if your symptoms seem mild.

 

At The Doctor’s House in Edina, Minnesota, Dr. Adepero Okulaja provides exceptional and convenient internal medicine services, including diagnosing and treating the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19.

 

If you feel unwell, here’s how to tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19, the coronavirus that appeared in 2019 and quickly turned into a pandemic.

 

It’s more than symptoms alone

 

The tricky thing with COVID-19 and the flu is that they share numerous symptoms, including:

  • Cough
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle and body aches
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Chills and fever
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

However, one of their shared symptoms happens far more frequently with COVID-19: changes in or a lost sense of smell or taste.

 

Also, while COVID-19 and the flu share many symptoms, they usually don’t strike at the same time. A person who has the flu typically develops symptoms within 1-4 days of exposure to an influenza virus; when exposed to the coronavirus, it can take anywhere from 2-14 days for symptoms to occur.

 

Unfortunately, you can spread both of these viruses for at least one day before you have any symptoms. And, if you have COVID-19, you can be contagious for far longer than with the flu.

 

The differences between COVID-19 and the flu

 

Because COVID-19 and the flu share so many symptoms, it’s usually difficult to determine which illness you have without testing. And one of the main reasons to do that is because of the differences in these viruses that you can’t see.

 

Both COVID-19 and the flu can cause serious illness, including pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, heart attacks, and organ failure. However, the difference with COVID-19 is that these viruses spread far faster than the flu and cause severe illness more frequently than influenza.

 

Sadly, the mortality rates seen with COVID-19 are also much higher than with the flu. To provide perspective, in March 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 70 million Americans had COVID-19, and over 940,000 had died. In comparison, approximately 38 million people had influenza during the 2019-2020 flu season, and around 22,000 lost their lives.

 

Because COVID-19 and the flu can seem so similar on the surface, it’s important to be vigilant to protect yourself and others from the spread of these illnesses. If you feel under the weather, take extra precautions, such as:

  • Stay home and call your health care provider
  • Get tested for COVID-19
  • Think about who you’ve been in close contact with and whether they had a COVID-19 diagnosis
  • Monitor your health closely, and don’t ignore fevers or respiratory symptoms
  • Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently
  • Wear a mask if you have to leave home
  • Clean surfaces you touch at home often with disinfectant

Finally, don’t wait to seek urgent care or emergency services if your symptoms become severe, especially if it becomes difficult to breathe.

 

If you have flu or COVID-19 symptoms, contact The Doctor’s House to schedule an appointment by calling 612-333-4834 or booking a visit online today.

Contact Us

  • Address 6545 France Ave South, Suite 335
    Edina, MN 55435
  • Phone (612) 333-4834

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LouAnne Loewen

2022-04-21

I am amazed at how much time the Doctor spends with me. She is very compassionate, is very interested in your issues and solving them. I was totally taken away when some test results showed some possible heart issues. She immediately rescheduled more test and made the appointments as we sat in the clinic room. When I first met my new heart doctor, he said I very lucky to have Dr. O as my doctor because she cared so much about her patients. (you might have to wait a bit to get called to your room, be patient, she will spend as much time with you)

Michael Zimberg

2024-09-24

Dr O is amazing- she really listens and considers a patient's entire well being. She's pragmatic and I am already feeling much better after a few visits (and some vitamins that are missing from my system). She takes all the time needed to answer every question and is always responsive and engaging.

Sharon Schneider

2024-10-23

Dr. Okulaja has been my primary care physician since 2009. That, right there, says a lot. From my personal experience, her medical treatment is very proactive, to keep me healthy, instead of just reactive. She spends enough time with me at appointments & listens well & works “with” me for my best healthcare plan. Her most unique quality in today’s healthcare world, is that she truly does care deeply about her patients, & I feel very fortunate to be one of them. I highly recommend her as a Dr.

papanana 6530

2024-11-12

How wonderful it is to know that someone cares. Dr. Okulaja is that someone! I do look appreciate our doctor and patient relationship. I recommend Dr. Okulaja to all I know and meet.

heather berg

2024-11-22

Dr. O and her staff have been fantastic. Even the lab did a great job at drawing my blood. Dr. O has been thorough. I’m continuing to see her. They also have a Spa!!! :-)

Celectine O.

I am profoundly grateful to God to have meet Doctor Adepero Okulaja She is very thorough, and she listens to her patients before telling you what you need to do.

Sharon S.

Dr. Okulaja has been my primary care physician since 2009. That, right there, says a lot. From my personal experience, her medical treatment is very proactive, to keep me healthy, instead of just reactive. She spends enough time with me at appointments & listens well & works “with” me for my best healthcare plan. Her most unique quality in today’s healthcare world, is that she truly does care deeply about her patients, & I feel very fortunate to be one of them. I highly recommend her as a Dr.

P P.

How wonderful it is to know that someone cares. Dr. Okulaja is that someone! I do look appreciate our doctor and patient relationship. I recommend Dr. Okulaja to all I know and meet.

Heather B.

Dr. O and her staff have been fantastic. Even the lab did a great job at drawing my blood. Dr. O has been thorough. I’m continuing to see her. They also have a Spa!!!

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