Living a healthy lifestyle is essential for one’s overall wellbeing and longevity. However, sometimes it might be difficult to differentiate between a simple cold and the beginning of a healing process.

In this article, we will be discussing the differences between cold and healing, and how to identify the different stages of recovery.

Cold Symptoms

When it comes to a cold, there are many symptoms that are well-known. These can include:.

Nasal congestion including discharge
Sore throat
cough
Headache
Weakness and fatigue
Fever
Body aches

These symptoms usually set in after an incubation period of anywhere from one to three days after being exposed to the cold virus.

One of the biggest tell-tal signs that you have a cold is that the symptoms tend to get worse before they get better. As the cold virus runs its course, you will usually find yourself feeling worse at the 24-72 hour mark.

After that, you should start to feel a gradual relief from your symptoms.

Healing Symptoms

After an injury, the healing process isn’t instantaneous and the symptoms can resemble that of the cold. The healing process manifests with a range of symptoms that might include:.

Pain
Skin discoloration and bruising
Swelling
Stiffness
Reduced mobility
General discomfort

The healing process can differ for everyone. The process and the duration of symptoms generally depends on the type of injury you have. The changes in symptoms can be gradual.

From increased pain or discomfort during the first few days or weeks, to gradual relief over the following days or weeks.

To accelerate the healing process, proper rest and nutrition play a critical role. Healing isn’t just about resting your affected body part or taking medication.

It’s also important to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle to support and hasten the healing process. This applies not only to physical injuries, but also to mental health and emotional healing.

Cold vs. healing – how to identify the differences

It might be difficult to differentiate between cold and healing because of the similar symptoms that are in play. However, being able to identify unique signs is critical to treatment. So, how are you able to differentiate between a cold and healing?.

First, it’s important to check for contributing factors. For instance, if you were not exposed to anyone with a cold but you are presenting cold-like symptoms, it’s likely this is a sign of healing instead.

From that point, you need to keep an eye out for any changes in your symptoms over time.

If you notice that the severity of your symptoms worsen with time, it’s likely you have a cold. On the other hand, if you notice a gradual improvement in your symptoms over time, it’s probably the healing process at work.

What do you need to do?

When it comes to cold, medications that relieve headaches, fever, and congestion can help treat your symptoms in addition to rest and proper hydration. In many cases, cold like symptoms will begin to improve on their own with time.

If you suspect an injury, medical attention might be necessary, especially if the pain isn’t going away or there is no sign of improvement over time.

To improve your recovery time, you might need to follow a customized treatment plan that includes rest, mild exercises, physical therapy and other therapies.

When in doubt, your healthcare professional can help differentiate between a simple cold and a healing process and offer you advice on the best treatment options available to you.

In conclusion

The differences between cold and healing might be hard to differentiate between, but it’s important to identify the proper symptoms and be able to identify them accordingly.

It is important to remember, if you are uncertain about your symptoms, be sure to check in with your medical professional, who will help guide you toward the right treatment plan.