Your Go-To Guide for Cold & Flu Season
Colds are incredibly common, but that doesn't make them any less miserable. The good news: staying on top of it early makes a real difference. Here's what to know.
You know the feeling. A sniffly nose. A little pressure behind your cheeks. A scratchy throat that wasn't there yesterday. Oh no, here it comes….
What's Causing This?
Most cold symptoms come from a virus — and there are a lot of them out there. Rhinovirus is one of the most common culprits, but COVID-19 and the flu can look similar in the early days and carry more serious risk, especially for certain people with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions.
Common symptoms to watch for:
- •Runny nose
- •Nasal congestion
- •Facial pain or headache
- •Ear pain
- •Sore throat (usually from post-nasal drip)
- •Cough
- •Fever
Most colds are self-limiting, meaning they improve on their own with time (usually 7-10 days). But a few early steps can help you feel better faster — and keep the people around you healthy too.
What to Do Right Away
- •Take an at-home COVID test. Because COVID can be more dangerous than an average cold, it's worth ruling out early, both to guide your own care and to know whether you're contagious.
- •Wear a mask if you're coughing or sneezing. It's a simple way to protect the people around you.
- •Stay home if you have a fever, and wait until you've been fever-free for at least 24 hours before resuming normal activities.
When to Call Your Doctor
Most colds run their course without any special treatment, but reach out if you notice:
- •A fever lasting more than three days
- •Symptoms that haven't improved after about a week (this can sometimes signal a bacterial sinus infection or something else going on)
- •Shortness of breath, chest pain, or lightheadedness
- •Or really, anytime you'd just like some guidance on how to manage your symptoms. That's what we're here for!
Treatment: What Actually Helps
Depending on what's actually behind your symptoms, there are options worth knowing about:
- •Tamiflu can help with the flu when started within 48 hours of symptom onset, especially for people at higher risk of complications.
- •Paxlovid can help with COVID-19 when started within 72 hours of symptom onset, for people at higher risk of complications, such as older adults, those on immunosuppressive medications, anyone with a weakened immune system, and people with a history of heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, or similar conditions.
- •Antibiotics typically aren't needed for the average cold and are reserved for bacterial infections. Your doctor will typically consider them if you have had persistent or worsening symptoms on days 7-10, or if they are concerned for more serious illnesses like pneumonia.
When in doubt, talk to your doctor about whether one of these is right for you.
Dr. Richardson's Go-To Cold & Flu Regimen
Here's what I personally recommend to my patients who are battling congestion:
| What | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| NSAID (naproxen / ibuprofen) | Pain and inflammation relief around the sinuses | 2-3 times a day for 7–10 days |
| Antihistamine (cetirizine / generic Zyrtec, or loratadine / generic Claritin) | Helps decrease mucus production | Once daily, per label |
| Decongestant (12-hour Sudafed / pseudoephedrine) | Constricts blood vessels to reduce congestion | Per label, up to twice daily |
| Nasal rinse (neti pot or NeilMed) | Often works better than any medication for congestion | 1–2 times daily — use sterile or distilled saline only, never tap water, due to the risk of contaminants |
The Bottom Line
If you're dealing with cold or flu symptoms, don't tough it out alone — talk to your doctor. At Bespoke Primary Care, we make it a priority to be there for our members exactly when they need us.
Book a meet-and-greet visit today to learn more and see if membership is right for you.
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