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When colds, influenza, (‘the flu’), and sinus symptoms make their yearly rounds, one of the most common questions we hear is, “Do I need to come in for an appointment?” More often than not, you don’t. Usually your best course of action is to stay home and take care of yourself.
What do I have, anyway?
Is it a cold, influenza, sinusitis, or something else like bronchitis? Making the distinction can be tricky, even for an expert clinician. That’s because all of these illnesses have overlapping symptoms (sore throat, cough, runny nose, sinus congestion, headache, weakness, muscle aches, and fever) and you might have more than one condition simultaneously. The culprit is almost always a virus, so doctors often refer to these illnesses using the umbrella term “Viral Upper Respiratory Infection” or “Viral URI,” and a more precise diagnosis is usually unnecessary. As a general rule, colds are fairly mild but the symptoms can last several weeks, whereas influenza tends to be much more severe but rarely lasts more than a few days. Both colds and flus can cause sinus symptoms and/or the nagging cough of bronchitis.
Do I need to be seen?
If you’re experiencing shortness of breath, severe coughing fits, or coughing up blood, pain in an unusual location (such as your eye, ear, or tooth), high fevers (over 103° F), trouble drinking fluids or any symptoms lasting longer than two weeks, or if you have other chronic health problems, we recommend you make an appointment so we can check you for other conditions. Otherwise, you’ll almost certainly recover quickly and completely from an upper respiratory infection without any treatment, so you don’t need to see us.
So what can I do to feel better?
1) Sleep. Your best weapon against these vexing viruses is your own immune system, which works best when you’re sleeping. Try to get 10 or more hours of restful sleep a day to help combat the virus.
2) Drink water. Without water, your immune system cannot function optimally. And when you’re sweating, breathing heavily and blowing your nose every thirty seconds, you’re at risk for becoming dehydrated. So if you’re sick, you need to drink plenty of water, just as you would if you were exercising. You know you’re drinking enough water if your urine is clear, not yellow.
3) Avoid stresses to your immune system. Avoid smoking (and secondhand smoke), drinking alcohol, exercising strenuously, or working long hours. These will only prolong your illness.
Which over-the-counter remedies should I take?
The answer depends on your symptoms. Many over-the-counter products combine various ingredients described below, enabling you to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Headache: acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin)
Fever: acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin)
Runny Nose/Post-Nasal Drip: antihistamines (e.g. Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl) and/or pseudoephedrine (e.g. Sudafed)
Sinus Congestion: nasal rinses with Neti pot or similar device (e.g. Nasaline) and/or pseudoephedrine (e.g. Sudafed)
Sore Throat: hard candies, lozenges, salt water gargles, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin)
Cough: this can one of the most difficult symptoms to control. Eliminating post-nasal drip (see above) is an important first step. Dextromethorphan (found in most varieties of Robitussin and similar products) can also be moderately helpful. If you are having severe coughing fits despite these measures, let us know.
But wait, can’t you give me something?
Most upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses, so conventional antibiotics are ineffective. In rare cases, however, bacteria are responsible and antibiotics can be helpful. We have a few other tools in our shed, too, so if you’ve tried everything described above but you’re still feeling poorly, come see us. (Please note that the color of your mucus is NOT an accurate predictor of whether you have a bacterial infection.)
And of course, don’t forget to come in for your annual flu shot. It’s the single-most effective thing you can do to avoid getting influenza. Check our Influenza FAQ page for more information.
i have had a head and chest cold but the symptoms warrant only rest as instructed above however i have had to miss 4 days of work and will need a doctors note in order to excuse the time. how can i get this? do i need to come into the office?
with new FSA rules, i’ll need a prescription even to get over the counter meds like Dayquil/Nyquil. does that mean i need to come in anyway for an appt?
The snot draining to your sotmach can make you nauseous. Be sure to see a DR since sinus infections can become very serious.In the mean time, take an antihistamine like Clariton. Try Mucinex, it melts the mucus and really relieves the pain well. Try adding in Sudafed, the real Sudafed, the one you can only get behind the counter (you’ll need your ID).Try taking a hot steamy shower, using a vaporizer, or leaning over some steaming water (careful!).And don’t forget the Tylenol.
In addition to all the symptons above, I feel as though knives are running up and down my throat especially when I swallow. Suggestions ?
Hi Mauree,
Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, we can’t provide specific medical advice online. We suggest you get in touch with your primary care provider to look into this further for you. Hope you feel better!
I felt like that too mauree and i drank anything cold or ate anything cold like a popcicle (cant spell it lol) but if u throw up dont eat it but i felt better drinking cold items and eating cold items hope this helps
Flu or sinus infection are viral and therefore affect other parts of body such as lungs If not treated.Therefore prescription to flu and sinus is important for faster recovery.
It is better to prevent our body before flu and sinus attacks it by just getting flu vaccination from the nearest emergency room.
Hey there,
There’s no downside to getting the flu vaccine ahead of time since you don’t know when you’re going to get the flu. If you’re already experiencing flu symptoms, you shouldn’t get the vaccine. Once you’re fully recovered, you can get the vaccine–it could still protect you from other strains of the flu this season.
Malcolm Thaler, MD
Clinical Editor
One Medical Group
i have caught cold , its the internal cold ,and i am feeling weak since 2 days. i have sinus problem. i am staying in a hostel and so cant get good energetic food. i am drinking glucose water since 2 days, and i am taking my sinus medicines. but i dont feel any better. please suggest.
Hi Vidhi
Thanks for the comment. Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well–unfortunately we cannot provide medical advice online. We suggest you talk to your primary care provider to look into further for you.