Just when you think you are in the clear of all the viruses that tend to spread during the winter season, you quickly learn that even the warmer weather during spring can also bring about the common cold. Yuck!

Fortunately, our team at AFC Urgent Care Indian Trail has some advice on how you can not only treat the common cold virus should you become ill, but also ways you can prevent getting sick in the first place!

How Do You Catch a Cold?

While it would be nice if the ability to catch a cold ended when winter did, you can unfortunately catch a cold at any time throughout the year. Therefore, just because we are entering into the spring season, it doesn’t mean we cannot begin to experience the symptoms of a common cold.

The common cold is extremely contagious, as it is spreads easily through tiny air droplets when a person who is sick with the common cold coughs, sneezes and/or blows the nose. As a result, you want to make sure you are avoiding people who have these symptoms as much as possible, as well as covering your own nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Symptoms of a Common Cold

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Low-grade fever
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches
• Mild headache
• Sneezing

How Can You Prevent a Cold During the Spring Season?

Preventing a cold during the springtime is much like trying to avoid a common cold during the winter. You want to make sure that you are washing your hands as frequently as possible, especially after you cough or sneeze, use the restroom, shake hands or come in contact with others.

In addition to washing your hands, you also want to make sure you are regularly disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and not touching your face with unwashed hands.

Treatment for a Cold

• Stay hydrated.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Soothe a sore throat using lozenges.
• Combat stuffiness with a humidifier.
• Relieve pain with over-the-counter medications.
• Sip warm liquids.

Our mission at AFC Urgent Care Indian Trail is to provide affordable, high-quality health care to our community!