Get Back on Your Feet Faster When You’re Sick
A cold or flu can leave you feeling exhausted, congested, achy, and unable to keep up with your normal routine. While many respiratory infections resolve on their own, knowing what you’re dealing with can help determine whether you need testing, prescription treatment, supportive care, or simply time to recover.
At Wild Horse Health, our General Medicine Department provides evaluation and treatment for common respiratory illnesses. We focus on identifying the likely cause of your symptoms, managing them appropriately, and recognizing when additional medical care is needed.
Burnout is more than feeling tired. It is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, and it often develops gradually in high-demand environments. While burnout is commonly associated with work, it can also stem from caregiving, chronic illness, or ongoing life stressors. Left unaddressed, it can affect multiple systems in the body, including the nervous system, hormones, and immune function.
Burnout often shows up on its own, but it can also overlap with other conditions like anxiety, depression, or chronic fatigue. Because the causes are layered, the recovery needs to be too.
The common cold and influenza (flu) are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. Their symptoms can overlap, but they often differ in how quickly they develop and how severe they become.
The Common Cold
A cold usually develops gradually and primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms commonly include:
Most uncomplicated colds improve with time and supportive care.
Influenza
Influenza often begins more suddenly and can cause more significant systemic symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
Not everyone with influenza develops a fever.
Symptoms alone cannot always distinguish influenza from other respiratory infections, so testing may be appropriate depending on your symptoms, exposure, risk factors, and the current illnesses circulating in the community.
Certain people have a greater risk of developing serious complications from influenza and other respiratory infections. Risk can be increased by factors such as:
For people at higher risk for serious influenza complications, early evaluation and antiviral treatment can be particularly important.
Our goal is to determine if you have a simple viral infection or whether additional evaluation or treatment is warranted.
Depending on your symptoms and clinical findings, your visit may include:
For influenza, prescription antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of illness and may reduce complications. They work best when started early, ideally within the first 48 hours of symptoms, although treatment may still be appropriate later for people who are at higher risk or who have severe or progressive illness.
Colds and influenza are caused by viruses that spread primarily through respiratory droplets and particles and through contact with contaminated surfaces or hands.
Common Cold
More than one type of virus can cause a cold. Rhinoviruses are among the most common causes, but other respiratory viruses can produce similar symptoms.
Influenza
Influenza is caused by influenza viruses. Different influenza strains circulate from year to year, which is why influenza remains a recurring seasonal illness.
Other Respiratory Infections
Cold- and flu-like symptoms can also occur with other infections, including:
For influenza, prescription antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of illness and may reduce complications. They work best when started early, ideally within the first 48 hours of symptoms, although treatment may still be appropriate later for people who are at higher risk or who have severe or progressive illness.
Most viral respiratory illnesses can be diagnosed based on your symptoms and medical history. However, testing may be useful when the diagnosis is uncertain or when the result would change treatment.
Testing may be recommended when it can help guide treatment or determine whether additional precautions are appropriate. Depending on your presentation, testing may include:
A positive or negative test is interpreted alongside your symptoms and physical examination rather than in isolation.
When you’re sick, you shouldn’t have to wonder whether you have a simple cold, influenza, or something that requires additional treatment.
During your visit, we aim to:
Our goal is to provide appropriate medical care without unnecessary treatment, while making sure potentially serious illnesses are recognized early.
Most colds and uncomplicated cases of influenza can be managed without hospitalization. However, some symptoms require urgent evaluation.
Seek immediate medical attention for:
People at higher risk for complications should contact a healthcare provider promptly when influenza symptoms develop, particularly early in the illness when antiviral treatment is most effective.
Colds tend to develop gradually and cause primarily nasal and throat symptoms. Influenza often begins suddenly and is more likely to cause fever, chills, significant fatigue, headache, and body aches. However, symptoms overlap, so testing may sometimes be necessary.
No. Colds and influenza are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not treat viral infections. Antibiotics may be appropriate when a bacterial infection is diagnosed or strongly suspected.
Yes. Prescription antiviral medications can be used to treat influenza. They work best when started early, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset. They may still be recommended later for people who are at higher risk or have severe or progressive illness.
Testing is not necessary for every person with flu-like symptoms. However, testing may be useful when the result could affect treatment decisions, particularly for people at higher risk of complications or when several respiratory illnesses are circulating.
Most uncomplicated colds improve with time. Symptoms can vary considerably from person to person, and cough and congestion may persist after other symptoms begin improving.
Many people recover from influenza within several days to about a week, although fatigue and cough can last longer. More severe illness can take longer to resolve.
If you are experiencing significant respiratory symptoms, please let our staff know when scheduling your appointment. We can help determine the most appropriate way to be evaluated while reducing exposure to other patients.
Helpful measures include staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with others, covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands regularly, and staying up to date with recommended vaccinations.
Wild Horse Health is a cash-pay clinic. We do not bill insurance directly, but:
Don’t let a cold or flu keep you down longer than necessary.
Whether you’re dealing with congestion and a sore throat or a sudden fever, body aches, and fatigue, our General Medicine Department can help determine what’s causing your symptoms and whether additional treatment is appropriate.
