Having a cold can look different from person to person. Colds are caused by viral infections. Depending on what virus is causing your symptoms, you may experience a variety of different symptoms. Colds typically cause mild symptoms that resolve on their own. However, there are some cases where cold symptoms may linger or come and go during the recovery process. If you’re suffering from cold-like symptoms and wondering when you will start to feel better, keep reading.
If you’re in need of symptom diagnosis and treatment, AFC Urgent Care Centennial is here to help. Our team of dedicated board-certified medical providers are experts in identifying and treating a wide variety of illnesses based on your symptoms. We never require that you schedule an appointment to receive prompt medical treatment for your symptoms. Simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient for you.
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Causes & Symptoms of a Cold
Colds are caused by viral infections. There are hundreds of different viral infections that could lead to cold symptoms. Oftentimes, because cold symptoms tend to be mild and can resolve on their own, you may not know the exact virus that is causing your symptoms. Colds typically can resolve on their own over time, although they may cause more serious illness for those with compromised immune systems or underlying heart or lung conditions.
Common Cold Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Post nasal drip
Colds can affect anyone. Viruses are extremely contagious from person to person. You can catch a virus by coming in direct contact with someone who is infected with a virus. You can also catch a virus by breathing in the microscopic droplets of someone who is sick and coughing or sneezing. Viruses can also live on surfaces, like door handles, for up to a couple of days.
How Long Do Cold Symptoms Last?
Depending on the type of virus, cold symptoms can last anywhere from a couple of days to over a week. In most cases, diagnostic testing is not required for a cold because cold symptoms tend to be mild. This means that your symptoms may stay a few days, or may stay for over a week. For those with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, young children or anyone with a compromised immune system, cold symptoms may last longer than usual because your body will have to work harder to fight off the infection.
Healing from a cold is not a linear process. You may notice that your cold symptoms seem like they are getting better, only to have them worsen again a day or two later. Symptoms may appear at different times and its possible to have some symptoms linger longer than others.
When to Seek Medical Care for Cold Symptoms
Colds are caused by viral infections, which means that there’s no medical treatment to help get rid of the infection. Instead, your body has to fight off the infection on its own over time. However, there are some times where you should seek medical care for your cold symptoms. When left untreated, certain conditions can worsen and develop into secondary infections.
Seek medical care if you have any of the following symptoms:
- A fever
- Facial pain
- Severe congestion
- A cough that produces discolored mucus
- Throat pain that inhibits your ability to swallow or eat
- Chest pain
Visit AFC Urgent Care Centennial for Urgent Illness Treatment
If you’re experiencing cold-like symptoms that just won’t go away, you may be suffering from something more serious than a cold. At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, we make illness symptom diagnosis and treatment fast and easy. We never require that you schedule an appointment to receive prompt medical care for your illness symptoms. Walk into the clinic for rapid same-day care.
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Schedule an Appointment
Our dedicated team of board-certified medical providers are trained to diagnose and treat many common illnesses. They will evaluate your symptoms, including asking how long you have had them. They may perform diagnostic testing using our on-site laboratory to confirm their diagnosis or rule out certain conditions. Based on the results, your medical provider will curate a customized treatment plan to get you back to feeling your best. For additional information, contact the clinic directly by calling (303) 220-9168.
