The common cold is the most common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, affecting the nose and throat mucus membrane. CDC reports around 1 billion colds in Americans each year. Statistically, adults catch colds 2-3 times, while children catch colds 8-12 times a year.
As the name indicates, it can be easily transmitted to others within homes, classrooms, and workplaces through the air or from the surfaces when a person infected with the common cold virus cough, sneeze or touch these surfaces.
Let’s talk about a few tips that can make the common cold a little less common and where you can go for world-class treatment even for a common cold.
Wash Your Hands Frequently with Soap and Water
Prevent common cold by washing your hands before eating or preparing food. You should also wash your hands after wiping your nose, using the bathroom, and after coming in contact with an infected person. It is recommended to wash hands for almost 20 seconds with soap and water.
Don’t Touch Your Mucous Membrane with Unwashed Hands
The virus enters the body through the mucus membranes. As your unwashed hands may contain various types of germs, including rhinovirus –a virus that commonly causes cold, it can spread from there to the mucus membrane of your nose, mouth, and eyes.
Avoid People Having Cold Symptoms
The common cold is a contagious infection. Sick people can spread the common cold virus by coughing, sneezing, and touching surfaces. To avoid cold, avoid people sick with the common cold to a greater extent. If it is necessary to stay close to a sick person, wear a mask and wash your hands after leaving their company.
Protect Others When You Are Sick
If you are sick with the common cold, practice moving away from other people or covering your nose and mouth with a cloth before coughing or sneezing.
Clean Frequently Used Surfaces
After being touched by an infected person, common cold viruses can live on surfaces for several hours. Cleaning frequently used surfaces with disinfectant, bleach, or soap and water can keep them germ-free.
Strengthen Your Immune System
Your immune system fights with harmful agents to keep you healthy. Eating healthy, avoiding stress, and getting enough sleep can strengthen your immune system.
Get Yourself Vaccinated
Unfortunately, there is no specific cure or vaccine for the common cold; however, you can get flu shots if you suffer from chronic asthma. Flu also spreads and causes illness around the same time as the common cold. CDC recommends flu vaccination every year to prevent complications.
Common Cold Treatment at My Doc Urgent Care
If you’re sick of the common cold and are at risk for common cold complications, seek medical treatment from our qualified and experienced providers at My Doc Urgent Care. Our provider will treat your common cold and offer flu shots that help prevent the illness from developing. You can also get your seasonal flu shot at My Doc Urgent Care in Garfield, New Jersey, quickly and conveniently.
To know more about our urgent care services, please call our office today at (862) 295-3501. You can visit us any time during our regular business hours without an appointment.
We look forward to being your primary health care provider!
