Take Action Against the Common Cold This Season | AFC Urgent Care Memphis
When getting ready for the holidays, the last thing you want to do is be brought down by the common cold. However, your odds of getting a cold at some point in the year are high, as there are millions of cases of the common cold among Americans each year.
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults experience at least two to three colds a year. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis wants you to know the steps you can take to prevent a common cold this year, as well as how to treat the virus should you get sick!
How Can You Prevent the Common Cold?
Of course, the best way to treat the common cold is to prevent it in the first place. Take steps to prevent the common cold by:
- Washing your hands as often as possible
- Not touching your face
- Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
- Cleaning household surfaces regularly
- Washing your children’s toys often, especially if they have been sick
- Throwing tissues away after use
Nevertheless, sometimes no matter what you do, the common cold still finds you. Knowing the symptoms and what to do are two keys in overcoming the illness.
Symptoms of the Common Cold
While the symptoms of a common cold can be similar to that of the flu, it is important to note the differences between the two to ensure you are caring for the virus effectively. Common symptoms of the cold virus include:
- Runny
- Stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Congestion
- Slight body aches
- Mild headache
- Sneezing
- Low-grade fever
- Feeling unwell
There is no specific treatment or medication to treat the common cold. Your best bet is to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and use OTC medications to treat your individual symptoms.
Are you experiencing symptoms of the common cold or the flu? Visit AFC Urgent Care Memphis for a medical evaluation. We are here for you seven days a week!