If you think you have the common cold, you likely think that you can and should just deal with the issue on your own at home. However, there are times when your so-called cold is more than just a cold. It is important that you know the signs that you have something else wrong and that you should see a doctor. That way, you can go to a walk-in urgent care clinic right away to be seen and to get the treatment you need to get better as soon as possible.
You Have Body Aches
Body aches are not a common symptom of the common cold. In fact, if you have any body aches at all, especially if they are severe, you are much more likely to have the flu or another serious viral infection. As such, you should head to the doctor's office or urgent care center right away to get tested for the flu and to get treatment if possible. Flu treatments are often most effective within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, so be sure not to delay your trip to the doctor's office.
You Have Shortness of Breath
Colds are unpleasant, but they do not often cause a person to be chronically short of breath. If you notice that everyday activities are leaving you gasping for air or if you are short of breath even when sitting down and resting, you need to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Shortness of breath can be a sign of the viral infection known as COVID-19, which can be quite dangerous and could require hospitalization. It is also a sign of pneumonia, which also may require extensive medical treatment.
You Have a Lot of Yellow Mucus
While not pleasant to look at or think about, the appearance of your mucus can tell you a lot about what is going on in your body. When you have a cold, for example, you may have some yellow or green mucus when you blow your nose. However, if you have large amounts of just yellow mucus, you may also have a bacterial infection like a sinus infection.
These bacterial infections often require antibiotic treatment to resolve themselves. As such, you will need to see a doctor and get a prescription to deal with the infection.
Now that you know some of the signs that your cold is more than just a cold, be sure to head to the walk-in urgent care clinic as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
To learn more, contact a resource like La Costa Urgent Care.