AIBU to think that those who say “covid is just a cold” would rather just have a cold than covid if given the choice?

[Owlonbranchtwo]

As per title.

Tests are sold in places like chemists and supermarkets, but are also available online.

Colds have been around for a very long time. Medicine presumably knows about all the long term effects on humans.

Covid is a new virus. This article talks about how Covid ages women’s blood vessels especially:

https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Covid-infection-ages-blood-vessels-especially-in-women

Apparently this increases affected people’s risk of cardiovascular disease - heart attacks and strokes. I haven’t knowingly had COVID, and I’d prefer not to have these risks increased by catching it.

It also says initial Covid 19 survivors are at risk of post acute Covid 19 syndrome, where symptoms appear 3 months later, and last at least 2 months. I’d prefer not to get this either.

So, imo Covid is not just another cold.

I'm presuming the people who say that have had it and it presented in a similar way to a cold. Either that or they're possibly heavily into conspiracies about the origins of COVID, anti-lockdown, and are anti-vax etc.

I wouldn't want COVID because I'd be worried I could pass it to an elderly or sick person who could die. So yes, I'd say everyone would rather have a cold.

I had Covid last year, and a cold this year, and the cold was definitely worse. So on that basis I'd rather have a cold. I have a pack of Covid tests and I test out of interest.

My elderly mother caught a cold last year which developed into bronchitis, which killed her. I did not visit her if I had a respiratory virus whether it was Covid or any other variety.

Isn't COVID-19 very similar to other coronavirus' that produce cold symptoms anyway?

Yeah, COVID has the fear factor and the name, but how we experience COVID 19, Influenza and seasonal cold virus' differ from person to person, and occurrence to occurrence, but I if could put money on it, I'd say you'd find it hard to distinguish between COVID and a other seasonal rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus etc. on a blind test.

In my NHS Trust us medical staff are expected to still come into work if we have Covid. We can still see patients all day long just wear a mask. I don't think that many folk test anymore to be honest.

I don't know anyone who tests.

I’ve had covid so many times and most have been horrible - weird symptoms as well as the usual.

But I asked the GP about the vaccine being available privately recently and they told me there’s evidence that it’s triggered auto immune responses and isn’t recommended anymore, except for the real “oldies”! She said Covid is “just a cold” now. And that flu is the big worry.

A simple viral infection could present differently in a vulnerable person, who could die.

A simple viral infection could present differently in a vulnerable person, who could die.

I’m with the others who think this just doesn’t really makes sense.

a cold isn’t definable- it’s a group of cold virus’ and with differing viral loads you can get all sorts of degrees or cold- from a sniffle to being unable to function normally.

covid now has many variants and also the severity depends on viral load and your own vulnerability.

I mean you realise you can have mild Covid and a severe cold virus don’t you? I had to spend a week in bed with a cold in January.

ive had Covid once to my knowledge and it wasn’t as bad as having the flu, which was truly hideous.

both of those were confirmed by test. If you don’t test how do you even know what you have? “Cold” just describes a group of virus symptoms, it isn’t a virus itself

I only had COVID once and the only symptom I had was hives that lasted about 2 days. I wouldn't have even tested except that my son had tested positive. I don't remember the last time I had a cold. But for me COVID was nothing more than a minor inconvenience so I guess I would choose that.

I wouldn't know if I had covid these days as im not paying for tests so if I feel unwell I'll stay in and if I feel OK I'll go about my business

Colds, flu and Covid can all be caused by different varieties of viruses from the Coronavirus group, so there are definite similarities.

All can hit different people with varying degrees of severity, varying from severe and needing hospital treatment to mild and asymptomatic, meaning that the person may not even realise they have it. And every shade in-between.

I've only had Covid once that I am aware of. To me it did seem like a very heavy cold which settled on my chest, leaving me with a chest infection that needed antibiotics to clear long after the Covid infection itself had subsided. So, I can't choose.

I can't say that I give the whole thing very much thought now apart from having my annual vaccination at the same time as the flu vaccine every year. If I am well then I go out and about as normal, if not then I stay at home until I am better. As ever really, and I haven't tested for years even though they are still available in the pharmacy and online. I'm not buying.

I don't test, and I don't know anyone who test anymore. Wouldn't have a clue if it's covid or "just a cold" anyway.

I don't believe most people even care if it's Covid or a cold.

I wouldn't think I could kill someone by having a cold. Though I keep my distance and don't socialise while I have one. And I wear a mask when out in public.

I don't know anyone testing.

Older family members are sometimes offered covid vaccine in their area like they are flu and have it - otherwise it would just be cold/flu varient.

There was a cold going round my family years before covid hit half the familiy it was a mild cold - other half where on steriod tablets, nebulisers and inhalers - with few then having long term asthma and other with a long period of general unwellness. It just hit us - family gentically related - very very differently.

Having had covid at lest 3 times possibly 4 (didn't have a test last time) I would much rather have a cold. Colds cam be mild and even when I've had a bad one non have triggered my migraines like covid has. Also the last time I had covid I had a chest infection for the first time in my life. I've had colds since and have never before or since had a chest infection.

For me having covid is like having flu or worse so it's definitely not comparable to a regular cold for me. I'm aware others can ha e it mildly and technically I'm not in an at risk group. But apparently those who have chronic migraine seem to get it quite badly. So give me a cold anyday and yes I had my vaccinations.

You could. It's possible for complications from a cold virus to be fatal. And as cold viruses can also be asymptomatic or very mild, it's possible to transmit them without knowing you have them.

Well it's a good job I don't socialise, wear a mask and only do essential trips out when I have one then. I do the same precautions I would with COVID. But I still believe COVID has more potential to be dangerous than a common cold.

I’ve had covid and been really ill but I’ve also had covid been a little bit unwell, the same with colds. I really hate vomitting so I would probably opt for cold.

Yes, that's the sort of thing you'd need to be doing in order to have any degree of certainty you weren't transmitting a cold virus. Obviously most humans don't live like this.

Not sure how reliable the data on transmission of the common cold is, since we test so infrequently. Covid is an unusual virus in that respect, because most of them don't have a bloc of people testing with no symptoms. Even with flu it's easier than colds because people test somewhat more often for that, albeit nothing like as much as covid. And there are some wildly varying figures out there for how much flu is asymptomatic.

It's also not really comparing like with like. We use a cold colloquially to mean a substantial range of viruses, whereas covid 19 is just the one. I'm not a fan of defining covid in relation to colds in general.

I totally agree. They're very different. I would never say it but OP did.

Same here - I get awful colds that always go to my chest but Covid was the mildest virus I ever had. I've got a nasty cold right now.

But we're all different and react to viruses in different ways.

Honestly, the vast majority of people wouldn't give this any head space 5 years in.
Unless you are someone who qualifies for free covid tests, you don't need to test.
If you have extremely vulnerable family members or friends, don't go near them when you're unwell- with any illness! It's simple really.