Common Colds, Cough and Flu Treatment Doctor Q&A

Doctors who are likely to be best suited to treat colds and coughs include general practitioners, primary care physicians, or family doctors. While it is typically recommended that patients visit their primary care physician when they develop a cough or a cold and require medical attention, many people do not have access to a primary care physician or family doctor with whom they can schedule same-day appointments. Many primary care physicians and family doctors who are providing medical care out of a primary care office cannot take unscheduled patients who require medical attention on short notice. Urgent care clinics are a great option for these cases, offering high-quality medical treatments for most minor illnesses or injuries from qualified physicians on a walk-in basis, frequently providing care for patients with colds or coughs.

While a physician can prescribe or recommend medications to lessen the symptoms of a cold or cough which can lead to a faster recovery and significantly increased comfort during recovery, many at-home remedies will likely be recommended. These recommendations include drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated to help loosen congestion and prevent dehydration, getting plenty of rest so that the body can efficiently heal, and soothing a sore throat by gargling salt water, using throat sprays, or taking tablets. Medication is also often highly recommended to reduce congestion and stuffiness, as well as reduce any muscle soreness or pain caused by the illness, often making it a bit easier for patients to achieve better quality rest and to breathe a bit more easily. Coughs can be minimized by sipping on warm beverages, increasing humidity in the air, and taking decongestants or expectorants.

Catching a cold or flu is fairly common but can sometimes require medical attention if the condition of the patient continues to worsen or the symptoms last for too long. An adult with a cold or flu should consider visiting a doctor if the symptoms continue to worsen or just do not get any better after about 10 days if they have a fever that is greater than 103 degrees Fahrenheit or a fever that is accompanied by chills, a cough, or sweating, and if they are vomiting frequently making them unable to drink fluids. Other symptoms that indicate medical attention should be sought include experiencing intense headaches, chest pain, and feeling very fatigued while appearing pale.

While developing a cough is pretty normal after having a cold or the flu, having pain in the chest or shortness of breath while sick could be a sign that there is a more serious health condition involved such as pneumonia, asthma, or even heart disease, likely requiring urgent medical attention in these cases.

Urgent care clinics will be one of the best places to go to receive high-quality, convenient, and affordable treatments for colds, flu, and a cough. The physician will likely not be able to get rid of the illness but can recommend or prescribe medications or at-home remedies to lessen symptoms as much as possible. One of the hardest parts of coming down with an illness is being able to get a night of good quality sleep due to the symptoms that are causing discomfort or a cough that keeps you awake, but sleep is incredibly important to allow your body to fight the illness and recover as quickly as possible. Managing these symptoms will allow you to rest and sleep much more successfully, as well as consume fluids, supporting a speedy and healthy recovery.

Visiting a doctor while suffering from a cold, cough, or the flu will also rule out the possibility of any other, potentially more serious, health conditions, allowing you to focus on recovering from this bout of illness without worrying. For more information, please contact us or use our online check-in. We have convenient locations in Ruther Glen and Alexandria, VA. We serve patients from Alexandria VA, Huntington VA, Arlington VA, Ruther Glen VA, Bagdad VA, Athens VA, Doswell VA, and surrounding areas.