It's beginning to look a lot like common cold season! Therefore, our team at AFC Urgent Care Cheltenham wants you to learn how to take action to protect yourself from colds, as well as learn treatment methods in case you do fall ill.

How Long Does a Cold Last?

Although a person can be contagious for five to seven days, the average length of a common cold is around three days. However, you might feel congested for over a week.

By staying hydrated and resting, you can help to speed the process along so that you can recover from the common cold sooner rather than later.

Preventing Illness

• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Do not smoke.
• Wash toys regularly.
• Clean surfaces regularly.
• Don't share items like cups or utensils.

Are There Different Stages of a Cold?

When you experience symptoms of a common cold, you might feel as if it is going through stages. For instance, in the beginning, you might experience symptoms of a scratchy throat, body aches and fatigue. However, as the days go by and you move into stage two, you might develop more symptoms, including a low grade fever, cough, congestion and a runny nose.

Finally, by the time you reach stage three, you begin to feel relief. During this stage, you might only experience congestion and fatigue.

How to Treat the Common Cold

• Get plenty of sleep.
• Stay hydrated.
• Take decongestants.
• Use over-the-counter pain medication.
• Utilize a humidifier.

Are you experiencing the symptoms of a common cold? Visit AFC Urgent Care Cheltenhamtoday for a medical evaluation.