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Common Reasons Your Cold Won’t Go Away

Do you ever get a cold that lingers on for weeks? Or perhaps you come down with the flu and it knocks you out for a long time? The common cold and the flu share many features: they’re both caused by viral infections, have similar symptoms, can be treated at home, and can last for a seemingly long time. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases say that an average cold can last 7 to 10 days. However, in some cases, it can linger for several weeks. If you are one of those people who struggle to kick the cold or the flu, here’s where you could be going wrong.

Common Reasons Why Your Cold or the Flu is Lingering:

• Stress

Stress is a major immune suppressant and something that we experience every day. There’s no hiding from stress, but you can work to minimize the effects of stress. If you’re already ill, you can try meditating, writing, talking to a friend, and practicing mindfulness to ease your tension levels. According to the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, stress can make the body highly vulnerable to diseases.

• Exercise

Sure, skipping your workouts may make you feel agitated or irritable, but if you have a fever or a cold, you must reschedule your gym dates and let your body heal. It’s best if you don’t exercise while you are ill, as physical exertion will only hinder your progress. If you have a cold that is above the head, you may be able to introduce your training sessions slowly. However, if you have body aches and chest congestion, it’s best you stay in bed until you are fully recovered.

• Sleep

When suffering from a cold or the flu, it’s important to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night to allow the body to replenish itself. Even the healthiest of us fail to get enough rest on a nightly basis, but it becomes increasingly more important when fighting a virus. Experts say that lack of sleep can suppress the immune system like nothing else, so make sure you are sleeping well before, during, and after getting a cold.

Even though a cold and the flu can last several days and sometimes even weeks, be mindful to notice any signs of complications. Severe symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• Pain in the chest or abdomen
• High fever
• Seizures
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

If you have any of these symptoms, you should promptly seek medical attention.

For all of your health concerns and medical needs, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. We welcome walk-in patients. Call us at (949) 536-7892 or visit us here to get started!

Healthy, Fast, and Filling Breakfast Ideas for Busy School Days

School is back and session and that means you, as a parent, have incredibly busy mornings. It can seem like there simply isn’t enough time to feed your child breakfast and get him or her out of the door in time. However, as the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and you would be doing your child’s development a disservice by letting them skip breakfast every morning.

Breakfast is a must to help our kids do their best at school. Many studies have found that there is a link between eating a healthy breakfast and higher achievement on standardized tests, improved concentration, and classroom behavior. Breakfast doesn’t have to be extravagant – just a bit of substance can help your kids get out the door with full bellies and brains eager to learn.

Although mornings can be a crunch, there are a few quick and easy breakfast ideas to make busy days a breeze.

• High protein granola bar and a piece of fresh fruit
• Toast a bagel, cover with a light coating of cream cheese and add two or three slices of apple
• Whizz up ½ cup milk, a frozen banana, ¼ cup of oats, ½ cup of blueberries, and a few ice cubes in a blender for a delicious blueberry smoothie
• Put a banana on a stick, dip it in yogurt, and then roll it in granola. Place it on wax paper and freeze for 1-2 hours or overnight
• Make the night before: Breakfast sandwich made with an English muffin, jam, and peanut butter
• Make the night before: Oats, soaked in soy milk with fresh berries and a sprinkle of cinnamon and left to chill in the fridge overnight
• Make beforehand: Roll apple chunks, raisins, cinnamon, flaxseed, soya milk, and oats together. Roll into bite-sized balls, and bake in the morning for a hot oatmeal breakfast treat.

If you have more time in the mornings, whip up some whole wheat pancakes or frittatas to keep your kid full until lunch.

To ensure that your child is getting the right nutrients, let the team at Sand Canyon Urgent Care help. We provide the medical attention that has your child’s best interest in mind. With facilities in Irvine and Stanton, we can help treat your child quickly. We welcome walk-ins and have an expert team of medical professionals ready to help you.