If You Notice This One Cold-Related Symptom In the Month of January, You Should Go to Urgent Care ASAP

Coughing, sneezing and wheezing—these common cold symptoms are often considered a default way of life each January. Yes, respiratory viruses certainly peak when much of the U.S. is crammed inside, where germs spread more easily, and there's no cure for a common cold except to rest and wait it out.

However, doctors caution that you should still be mindful of cold-related symptoms and when to seek urgent care. They say this advice is especially important for people with severe asthma.

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"Colds and viral respiratory infections in general can make asthma symptoms worse," says Dr. Jimmy Johannes, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.

Dr. Johannes and other doctors share that these symptoms can lead to asthma flare-ups, which can become life-threatening without the correct care. They shared the No. 1 cold-related symptom to flag ASAP, plus a few more to note.

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Why Colds Make Asthma Worse

Understanding what's happening to your body can help you feel more informed about your health—and help you better understand when to call for help stat. That's because colds can be more than a seasonal inconvenience for people, especially those with asthma.

"Colds—upper respiratory infections—affect the upper airways and sometimes can bother the smaller airways much further down into the lungs where asthma occurs," Dr. Libbat-Tzion Shaham, MD, a board-certified family physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder.com. "Asthma causes inflammation in and spasming of the tiny muscles around the small airways, giving typical asthma symptoms."

Dr. Shaham says these asthma symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath

• Chest tightness

• Wheezing

• Certain coughs

Dr. Johannes says asthma flare-ups also often involve excess phlegm, AKA thick mucus.

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Here's The No. 1 Cold Symptom To Never, Ever Ignore

"If you feel very short of breath like you can't breathe, like your chest is tight, like you can't speak a full sentence or have to prop your arms on the knees or hips to help breathe—take your asthma inhaler or get to a doctor right away," Dr. Shaham says.

A pulmonologist agrees.

"If you’re experiencing a wheeze that’s persistent or chest tightness that makes it hard to speak or catch your breath, it’s important to seek treatment," says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, the chief medical advisor for Garage Gym Reviews. "This could be a sign of an asthma flare-up, which can become life-threatening if not treated quickly."

It sounds scary, but tuning into your body (or calling a doctor) can help you stay safe.

"It might sound like a wheeze—a high-pitched 'eeee' sound,"  Dr. Shaham says. However, Dr. Shaham says sometimes, a doctor will need to perform an exam to determine whether you're wheezing.

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Other Cold-Related Symptoms Not To Ignore

Severe shortness of breath is rightfully alarming. However, it's not the only symptom that might warrant ASAP medical attention.

"If you have a very high fever—104 degrees or over for a few days, and it does not go lower for a few hours with Tylenol or ibuprofen, or if you have confusion, or vomiting and can't even drink water, you should seek medical attention promptly," Dr. Shaham says.

Dr. Dasgupta adds that severe coughing that doesn't stop might indicate that your airways are irritated and need attention before it snowballs. He also mentioned fatigue or dizziness as significant flags.

"These could be signs that your body isn’t getting enough oxygen because of restricted airflow due to swelling and inflammation of the airways," Dr. Dasgupta says.

Notably, Dr. Dasgupta says asthma flare-ups are progressive and often don't start as severe shortness of breath.

"The symptoms of acute severe flare-ups often happen over hours or days," Dr. Dasgupta says. These symptoms include:

• Trouble breathing

• Wheezing that gets worse

• Fast breathing

• Coughing

• Chest tightness that gets worse

• Inability to breathe when lying down

• Trouble walking and talking

• Sweating

• Fast heart rate

• Confusion

• Irritability

The good news is that care is available.

"Exacerbations of asthma often require additional treatment, such as steroids," says Dr. Johannes, who also stresses the importance of seeking quick care. "Sometimes, a doctor may help you create a plan to take an oral steroid treatment and escalate your maintenance inhaler before you seek out care in the ER or urgent care."

Ways To Stay Healthy This Winter

January—and peak respiratory virus season, in general—can be anxiety-provoking, especially for people with asthma more prone to severe illness. However, you can take some common-sense steps to keep yourself safe.  Dr. Johannes recommends people:

• Stay up-to-date on vaccines, including flu, COVID-19 and (if applicable) RSVP

• Good hand hygiene

• Wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces

• Avoiding contact with people who have a respiratory virus

Also, if you've been meaning to "catch up on sleep," consider this your sign to do so. "Sleeping helps your immune system," Dr. Shaham says. We'll snooze to that!

Up Next:

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Sources:

• Dr. Jimmy Johannes, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center

• Dr. Libbat-Tzion Shaham, MD, a board-certified family physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to LabFinder.com

• Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, the chief medical advisor for Garage Gym Reviews