About 124 million people visit emergency rooms in the United States annually with upper respiratory conditions, with the common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia being the most common. Instead of waiting for hours in a busy hospital emergency room, the doctors and medical staff at My Emergency Room 24/7 in San Marcos, Texas, can diagnose and treat many acute or critical health need. To learn more, stop in or call.
Upper respiratory conditions involve inflammation of the nose and throat membranes. Adults experience an average of two colds per year, and children have even more. Men, women, and children in the United States suffer more than one billion colds annually in the United States. Upper respiratory infections lead to more doctor visits and absences from school and work than all other illnesses. Upper respiratory conditions include:
Most upper respiratory conditions don’t require medical treatment, but if the viral infection leads to a bacterial infection, you will need treatment from a doctor. Patients with asthma may experience more significant symptoms. You should seek medical treatment for upper respiratory conditions if:
Both the flu and common cold are upper respiratory conditions, but different viruses cause them. They often have similar symptoms, which can make it difficult to tell the difference. Colds are usually milder than the flu, and they usually don’t result in serious health problems requiring hospitalization. Flu symptoms are more intense, and they typically include a high fever and severe muscle and body aches. The flu can also lead to more severe health problems, such as bacterial pneumonia and ear or sinus infections. The flu may also worsen existing chronic medical conditions, including asthma, congestive heart failure, and diabetes.
A cold or another respiratory infection can lead to bronchitis, an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. People with bronchitis tend to cough more often and forcibly than someone with a cough from the common cold. Furthermore, a bronchitis cough often brings up a discolored, thickened mucus.
Most bronchitis symptoms usually clear up in about 10 days, but a cough from bronchitis may linger for weeks. Chronic bronchitis, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a serious condition that is often caused by smoking. It involves constant irritation or inflammation of the bronchial tubes’ lining. People with COPD are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease, and other conditions.
My Emergency Room 24/7 provides diagnostic services and treatments for upper respiratory conditions and can treat patients with and without appointments.