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Blog: Health News from Getwell Urgent Care

Finding Relief for Respiratory Illness

A man in a sweater sits on a couch. He holds one hand to his mouth and clutches his chest with the other while coughing.

 

Are you fighting a lingering cough? Is your child congested and having difficulty sleeping? Such is the unfortunate reality of winter and the respiratory illnesses that often come with it.

When you’re coughing, congested, or short of breath, you may wonder where to turn for relief. For many respiratory illnesses, urgent care is a great solution. Getwell Urgent Care of Southaven offers quality, convenient care for you and your family.

Colds and Flu

Both the common cold and the flu are usually more prevalent in the winter months, though they are caused by two different viruses. Though they may not always involve shortness of breath or coughing, these all-too-familiar viruses are considered respiratory illnesses.

Cold Symptoms

Symptoms of a cold include:

  • A runny nose.
  • Sneezing.
  • Sore throat.
  • Cough.
  • Fatigue.

Flu Symptoms

Flu symptoms may include:

  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Fatigue.
  • Achy muscles.
  • Cough.
  • Headache.

Cold and Flu Relief

Home remedies for both illnesses are pretty similar:

  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Drink lots of fluids (avoid alcohol or caffeine).
  • Use a humidifier.
  • Try saline nasal spray.
  • Unless contraindicated, try over-the-counter pain and fever relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin).

Cold and Flu Relief at Urgent Care

If you’re experiencing persistent symptoms, an ongoing fever, or are concerned about dehydration, don’t hesitate to visit urgent care. A provider can help diagnose your respiratory illness, perform helpful tests (like a flu swab), and order medication to help relieve your symptoms.

Be on the lookout for dehydration, especially in children or older adults. Symptoms like a parched mouth, sunken eyes, rapid heart rate, confusion, and minimal or dark urine are signs that you should seek medical care. Drink plenty of fluids, especially those containing electrolytes (Pedialyte, sports drinks, diluted juice, or broth). Getwell Urgent Care can provide onsite IV fluid therapy to correct dehydration quickly.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. It can often be brought on by a cold or other respiratory illness. Though it usually lasts less than 10 days, bronchitis can be uncomfortable and typically includes a persistent cough.

Bronchitis Symptoms

The symptoms of bronchitis typically include cold symptoms, along with:

  • Chest discomfort.
  • Coughing, often productive (brings up white, clear, yellow, or green mucus).
  • Shortness of breath.

Bronchitis Treatment

Fluids, rest, and humidified air can all help bronchitis. Going to urgent care for treatment is a good idea, especially if your cough is persistent, you develop a fever, or you are short of breath or wheezing.

Providers at urgent care can assess your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and order medication to relieve your symptoms. This could include a cough suppressant or expectorant (helps you to cough up mucus). If you have asthma or COPD, bronchitis can trigger shortness of breath and other symptoms, and you may need an inhaler for relief.

An urgent care provider can also help ensure your bronchitis isn’t becoming pneumonia.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in your lung tissue typically caused by a virus or bacteria. Pneumonia can be especially serious in older adults or people with underlying conditions like COPD.

Pneumonia Symptoms

Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

  • Cough.
  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Chest discomfort when coughing.
  • Fatigue.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Confusion (in older adults).
  • Low body temperature (in older adults).

Pneumonia Treatment

If you or a family member are experiencing pneumonia symptoms or you have concerns, visit an urgent care provider. Bacterial pneumonia may require antibiotic treatment to get rid of the bacteria and help you recover.

When Should I Go to the ER for Pneumonia?

Some symptoms indicate a life-threatening situation that is best handled in an emergency room:

  • Severe shortness of breath.
  • Blue or gray-tinged lips, mouth, or fingers.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Increasing confusion.
  • Chest pain.

COVID-19

Caused by an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 can be mild in many people but more severe for others, including older adults or people with underlying conditions like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, or lung disease. It can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Cough.
  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Changes in taste and smell.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Cold symptoms.
  • Diarrhea.

COVID-19 Treatment

Urgent care is a good choice when you’re struggling with persistent COVID symptoms. An experienced provider can evaluate your symptoms and order treatment to relieve them.

Respiratory Illness: Visit Urgent Care Today

Urgent care can provide the rapid care you need for respiratory illnesses like colds, the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, or COVD-19. If you or a family member are dealing with a troublesome illness this winter, find exceptional care close to home at Getwell Urgent Care today.