Being sick is uncomfortable, however, being congested can make it difficult to do daily tasks. In many cases, congestion is a temporary symptom that will resolve after a few days. In some cases, however, congestion may linger for longer than your other symptoms. If you’re suffering from congestion that just won’t go away, visit AFC Urgent Care Waltham. Our dedicated medical staff is available 7 days a week to diagnose and treat a variety of common illnesses based on your symptoms. Walk in today.
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What Causes Congestion?
Congestion is a very common illness symptom. This is because our bodies naturally use mucus to flush out irritants. This can be environmental irritants as well as pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. When you’re sick, your body is producing an excess amount of mucus to try to flush out the infection, however, it can become trapped due to swelling in your nose and sinuses.
Congestion can be caused by a variety of different conditions. In many cases, congestion can occur due to mild viral infections that cause colds. In these cases, congestion will last only for a few days and resolve on its own. However, in some cases, congestion can continue to worsen over time and eventually lead to bacterial infections like sinus infections. Congestion can be caused by things other than illnesses as well. Allergies in the spring and fall often can cause irritation in the sinuses and lead to congestion, as can exposure to cold or dry air during the winter.
When to Seek Medical Care for Lingering Congestion
Congestion is a common symptom that usually resolves on its own after a few days. In some cases, congestion may linger if you are continuously exposed to an irritant such as an allergen. However, in the case of most illnesses, congestion will resolve on its own. If your congestion is not resolving, even after your other symptoms have resolved, you should seek medical care to determine what is causing your congestion.
In some cases, allowing your congestion to worsen without seeking medical care can lead to an infection in your sinuses. Sinus infections occur when excess mucus gets trapped deep in your sinuses which causes a bacterial infection to occur. Sinus infections can be serious and become chronic without proper treatment. Because of this, it is always important to monitor your symptoms to ensure that they are not worsening as that could indicate that there is an infection in your sinuses.
Same-Day Illness Treatment in Waltham, MA
If you’re suffering from lingering congestion that just won’t go away. It is always a good idea to seek medical care for diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes, congestion can linger due to continued exposure to an irritant, or due to your illness worsening over time. Seeking medical care early can help prevent your congestion from turning into an infection.
When you seek medical care for lingering congestion, your medical provider will evaluate your symptoms. This includes discussing whether you are experiencing other illness symptoms and how long your congestion has lasted. Your medical provider may perform diagnostic testing to determine whether there is an infection present, or evaluate you for allergies to see if your congestion is caused by an allergen. Based on the findings, your medical provider may recommend at-home care instructions or prescribe medications for treatment.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Waltham for Symptom Diagnosis & Treatment in Waltham, MA
If you’re suffering from congestion that simply will not resolve, seeking medical care is the only way to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and determine the best course of treatment. At AFC Urgent Care Waltham, our walk-in clinic offers a convenient way to get fast and accurate medical diagnoses for a variety of common illnesses based on your symptoms. Our clinic is open 7 days a week from 8am-8pm. Simply walk in when it’s convenient for you, or schedule an appointment online.
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Our clinic is conveniently located and maintains short wait times so that you can quickly access the care that you need. The medical staff at AFC Urgent Care Waltham is board-certified and able to provide care for the whole family. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care options. Walk in today, or call (781) 894-6900 to learn more.
