Nasal congestion can be an irritating illness symptom to deal with. Congestion can occur due to a variety of different conditions including a cold, the flu, and allergies among others. In most cases, congestion will resolve on its own within a few days. However, in severe cases, congestion can lead to secondary infections such as sinus infections. It is important to seek medical treatment if you have severe illness symptoms so that you can treat them effectively. At AFC Urgent Care Back Bay, we offer patients in the Boston area same-day illness care without an appointment. Simply walk into the clinic for free when it’s convenient for you!
Common Causes of Congestion
If you wake up congested one morning, don’t panic. Congestion can be caused by various different conditions. Congestion often occurs in an attempt for our bodies to clear harmful pathogens from the airways. Sometimes, congestion will resolve on its own within a day or two. If your congestion lasts more than a few days, worsens over time, or is accompanied by additional illness symptoms such as a sore throat, cough or fever, you may be sick with a viral infection.
Tips for Relieving Congestion
In most cases, congestion is easy to treat at home. However, it is important to monitor your symptoms. In some cases congestion can lead to secondary infections like sinus infections. There are many at-home remedies for managing congestion including many OTC decongestant medications. Other at home remedies for congestion include:
- Taking hot showers to break up mucus
- Using a dehumidifier in your home
- Apply a warm compress to your face to loosen mucus buildup in sinuses
- Stay hydrated to thin mucus
When to Seek Medical Care for Congestion
Although congestion is a common illness symptom that typically resolves on its own over time, there are some cases of congestion that require treatment. If your symptoms are severe, or don’t seem to be improving, it is important that you seek medical care. A medical professional will be able to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your symptoms. In severe cases, congestion can turn into a bacterial infection which requires more advanced medical treatment.
Walk Into AFC Back Bay for Same-Day Congestion Treatment
If you’re congested and looking for rapid symptom relief, AFC Urgent Care Back Bay can help! Our walk-in clinic offers patients near Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood with convenient and affordable care for illness symptoms like congestion. Our clinic is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm, including on weekends! We work with most medical insurance providers and offer affordable rates for self-paying patients. Simply walk into the clinic for same-day care!
