Know when your cold symptoms may require a trip to your provider's office.

You have the sniffles and perhaps a scratchy tickle in the back of your throat. You feel rundown and you know you’re coming down with a cold. Over the year, about 1 billion Americans deal with the common colds, and kids alone deal with anywhere from 6-10 colds per year. While a cold might wipe you out for a few days it typically isn’t anything to worry about; however, you may want to turn to the providers at Trophy Club Family Medicine, Dr. David Yi, Dr. Paula Lansford-Seabaugh, and Carol Addy PAC if:

Your cold lasts more than a week

Most common colds last about a week before you start to see symptoms tapering off. While you probably won’t feel instantly better you should see a light at the end of the tunnel; however, if you are still dealing with a persistent cough, fever, or chills for more than a week then it’s time to see your provider, as this could be a sign of an upper respiratory infection.

You have breathing issues or tightness in the chest

If you were simply dealing with a productive cough, fatigue, and a runny nose you may be surprised when you start to notice shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest tightness. This could be a sign of a more serious infection should as pneumonia, so you must see your Trophy Club, TX, physician if you are experiencing these symptoms. A simple chest X-ray can detect lung problems including pneumonia and bronchitis.

You can’t get your cold symptoms under control

We know that there is nothing fun about having a cold, but symptoms should be fairly manageable with over-the-counter remedies and home care; however, if you find yourself having trouble sleeping because of your symptoms and at-home treatments just aren’t helping you manage your runny nose, sneezing, and other issues, then you may feel more than a little frustrated. This is when turning to a provider could help you get a better hold on your symptoms.

You have a preexisting health problem

While having the sniffles is typically just a little annoying, it could be a bigger deal for someone with a chronic illness. If you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or chronic bronchitis and you develop a cold, you’ll want to talk with your provider about ways to prevent complications from happening to you. Your provider can map out ways to ease symptoms and keep control over your preexisting chronic health problems.

Since the symptoms of a cold are often similar to the symptoms of COVID-19, we know that you might be concerned if you start to feel ill. If you suspect that you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus you must self-quarantine. If you’re concerned about your symptoms and want to know whether you should come in for treatment at Trophy Club Family Medicine, call the office in Trophy Club, TX, at (817) 430-9111.