Winter brings its own full set of potential health concerns, many that could land you or your loved ones in a hospital or urgent care center. But by far, the most prevalent winter ailment is the common cold. 

Urgent care centers nationwide see a lot of patients with the common cold each year. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause a cold and reports show that U.S. residents get more than a billion colds annually. It’s the No. 1 reason that children miss school and adults miss work.

Once a cold virus enters the body it begins to multiply, causing a whole host of symptoms including runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, mild fever and aches and pains. There no cure for the common cold nor is there a vaccine to protect you from catching one. For the most immediate care of cold symptoms, try a mild pain reliever or over-the-counter cold remedy. Just know that OTC remedies will only help relieve symptoms, but will not shorten your illness. A common cold must simply run its course. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water or juices and be sure to get plenty of sleep. 

To help prevent a cold wash your hands up to the elbows several times daily, particularly after contact with others showing any symptoms. Keep your natural resistance to illnesses strong by eating healthy, balanced meals, exercising regularly and getting adequate nightly sleep. Turning your thermostat down and keeping your home humid also helps. That’s because dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat causing them to crack, creating entry points for cold viruses.

If your cold symptoms persist for more than a few days or if you begin to vomit, have chest pain or difficulty breathing or painful swallowing, head to an urgent care clinic or hospital as soon as possible. These may be signs of a secondary problem aggravated by a cold and requiring immediate care. For instance, aside from a mild discomfort, a cold will not cause painful swallowing. This may be a sign of a more serious infection or injury.

A cold also will not cause shortness of breath or chest pain. If you experience this, head to an urgent care center or hospital ASAP, as this could be a sign of a much more serious problem such as heart disease, asthma or pneumonia.

A cough that lasts more than a few days may be related to asthma or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (commonly known as GERD), a condition that causes food or liquid to travel backwards from the stomach to the esophagus. Physicians nationwide also have seen an increase in pertussis, aka whooping cough, in children over the past few years – something to check on if a cough lasts more than two weeks.

Each of these heightened conditions calls for immediate care. Solantic Urgent Care locations are found throughout Florida. You never need an appointment and we guarantee that if you’re not feeling better in three days after your initial visit, your follow up visit is free.