Cold or flu? When you need to see a doctor

Winter is upon us, bringing with it that pesky cold and flu season.

How do you tell if just have a common cold or something more serious that needs attention from a doctor?

Most upper respiratory tract viruses tend to present the same way, says Dr Charl, which can make it hard even for doctors to tell the difference.

The common warning indicators they look out for is length of time and severity.

If you're bringing your symptoms under control with over-the-counter anti-fever and anti-pain drugs like paracetamol and aspirin for a couple of days, then it's probably something you can manage at home, he says.

"The proverbial cup of ginger tea and taking some time off still make sense - sleep is always good for your immune system."

If, on the other hand, the symptoms become more challenging over a longer period of time, it would be advisable to visit your general practitioner.

"Where a fever is not settling down or you can't get it under control with those over-the-counter remedies and is persistent for more than a couple of days... or you're developing other symptoms that are bothersome like shortness of breath, then it is a good idea to see your GP."

If you haven't had the seasonal flu vaccine, now is the time to do it. Dr Charl cautions that if you're not feeling well, to wait until you are better before getting the jab.

"It is such an easily available insurance policy... We're protecting against the common strains of flu from the last 12 months. Certainly there some new flus that will develop that we can't protect against, but we are taking our best shot at what we've seen."

Another listener question is whether taking health supplements helps to boost your immune system in winter.

The reality is that there isn't any good data that connects one particular supplement to immune boosting, notes Dr Charl.

However, if you're worried about your diet being balanced and feel better personally by supplementing, there is nothing wrong with that, he adds.

The doc makes the point that your immune system actually looks after itself quite well, if you give it a little bit of help along the way with the common basics.

"Making sure you're getting the appropriate amount of sleep, making sure you're challenging it with good amounts of exercise, and then that mystery thing called the balanced diet - just getting enough of 'the good stuff' in, is absolutely perfect."

To listen to Dr Charl van Loggerenberg in conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: