Common Cold Center - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Family Physician Doctors for Common ColdType of Physician: Family Physician What is a Family Physician? A certification by the Board of Family Practice; practitioners prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages, placing special emphasis on the care of families on a continuing basis. They have received a broad range of training that includes surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and geriatrics. Specialty: Family Practice Common Name: Family Doctor Family Physician Doctors in Berkeley * Roxanne Fiscella MD  Berkeley Primary Care  Joseph M Helms MD  Berkeley Primary Care  Berkeley Primary Care  Joseph M Helms MD  Frank H Lucido MD  Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group  Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group  Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group  Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group  Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group  Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group  Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation  Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation  Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation  Bayside Medical Group  Dr Maraha Haller  Stephen E Langer MD  Bayside Medical Group  Berkeley Primary Care Medical Corporation  Stephen M Brown MD  Medic Dermatology  Berkeley Primary Care Medical Corporation  Stephen Hart MD  Loron N McGillis MD  Berkeley Primary Care Medical Corporation  Julie Nickelsen MD  Berkeley Primary Care Medical Corporation  Alfred Rothman MD  Ellen Gunther MD  Jayum Starks MD  North Oakland Medical Clinic  Albany Medical Group  Albany Medical Group  Albany Medical Group  Albany Medical Group  Marcey Shapiro MD  Albany Medical Group  Albany Family Practice  El Cerrito Medical Group  El Cerrito Medical Group  Catherine Whinnery MD  Avenue Family Practice  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  East Bay Family Practice Medical Group Inc  Family Practice Medical Group Of Oakland  East Bay Family Practice Medical Group Inc  North Oakland Family Practice  North Oakland Family Practice  East Bay Family Practice Medical Group Inc  North Oakland Family Practice  Family Practice Medical Group Of Oakland  North Oakland Family Practice  East Bay Family Practice Medical Group Inc  Gordon A Lake MD  Bruce P Lawrence MD  David Louis MD  Integrated Pain Management  George M Martinez MD  Hahnemann Medical Clinic  Lifelong Medical Care Downtown Oakland Clinic  West Oakland Health Center  Patient Health Services  Patient Health Services  Patient Health Services  Patient Health Services  Patient Health Services  Patient Health Services  Phuong Duc Dang MD  Thanh K Bui MD  San Antonio Neighborhood Health Center  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  San Antonio Neighborhood Health Center  San Antonio Neighborhood Health Center  Richmond Health Center  Richmond Health Center  Jaime O Cortes MD  Clinica La Luna Y El Sol Medical Ctr Inc  Brazell H Carter MD  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  Prabha Bhatnagar MD  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  La Clinica Fruitvale Village  Alameda Hospital Emergency Physicians  Alameda Hospital Emergency Physicians  Docs Of The Bay  Brookside Community Health Center  Alliance Medical Group Inc  Hwei-Jung Hsu MD  Brookside Community Health Center  Alliance Medical Group Inc  Alliance Medical Group Inc  Alliance Medical Group Inc  Jacques Calma MD  Alameda Family Physicians  Alameda Family Physicians Berkeley, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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Common ColdRead the Common Cold article » What is the common cold, and what causes it?The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a self-limited contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold. Because so many different viruses can cause a cold and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, children in preschool and elementary school can have three to 12 colds per year while adolescents and adults typically have two to four colds per year. The common cold is the most frequently occurring illness in the world, and it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work.
What are the symptoms of the common cold?Symptoms of the common cold include nasal stuffiness or drainage, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, hoarseness, cough, and perhaps a fever and headache. Many people with a cold feel tired and achy. These symptoms will typically last anywhere from three to 10 days.
How is the common cold spread?The common cold is usually spread by direct hand-to-hand contact with infected secretions or from contaminated surfaces. For example, if a person with a cold blows or touches their nose and then touches someone else, that person can subsequently become infected with the virus. Additionally, a cold virus can live on objects such as pens, books, telephones, computer keyboards, and coffee cups for several hours and can thus be acquired from contact with these objects.
Does it have anything to do with exposure to cold weather?Though the common cold usually occurs in the fall and winter months, the cold weather itself does not cause the common cold. Rather, it is thought that during... Recommended Reading Related to Common ColdEustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears) » What is the Eustachian tube?The Eustachian tube is a tube that originates in the back of the nose, runs a slightly uphill course, and ends in the middle ear space. The middle ear space is the hollowed out portion of the skull bone that contains the hearing apparatus and is covered on one side by the eardrum. In adults, the Eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm long (1.3 inches) and approximately 3 mm in diameter (less than 1/10 inch). Cartilage provides the supporting structure for the first two-thirds of the Eustachian tube, with the last third (the part closest to the middle ear space) being made of bone. The tissue that lines the Eustachian tube is similar to that inside the nasal cavity and may respond the same way (swelling) when presented with similar stimuli. The Eustachian tube was named in honor of the 16th century Italian anatomiast Eustachius. Sources credit Almaceon of Sparta as the first to describe the structure in approximately 400 BC... Read the Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears) article » Other Related Common Cold ArticlesEmergency Contact for Berkeley
Nearby Berkeley Hospitals *Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo Alameda Hospital Chinese Hospital Saint Francis Memorial Hospital California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus San Francisco General Hospital UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus California Pacific Medical Center California Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center St Luke's Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Contra Costa Regional Medical Center VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus San Leandro Hospital Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center John George Psychiatric Pavilion Alameda County Medical Center Fairmont Campus San Francisco VA Medical Center John Muir Behavioral Health Center John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus Marin General Hospital Eden Medical Center Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital Seton Medical Center St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center San Ramon Regional Medical Center Sutter Solano Medical Center St Rose Hospital Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center Mills Hospital Mills-Peninsula Health Services Novato Community Hospital San Mateo Medical Center ValleyCare Health System Pleasanton Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Sutter Delta Medical Center Washington Hospital Sequoia Hospital Seton Medical Center Coastside Fremont Hospital Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility Napa State Hospital Menlo Park Surgical Hospital NorthBay Medical Center Valley Memorial Hospital Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics Sonoma Valley Hospital Queen of the Valley Medical Center Livermore Division of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System VA Palo Alto Health Care System Petaluma Valley Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Headache
- Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
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Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)
- Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
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Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
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Sinus Infection
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Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- An upper respiratory infection is a contagious infection of the structures of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx. Common causes of an upper respiratory infection include bacteria and viruses such as rhinoviruses, group A streptococci, influenza, respiratory syncytial, whooping cough, diphtheria, and Epstein-Barre. Examples of symptoms of upper respiratory infection include sneezing, sore throat, cough, fever, and nasal congestion. Treatment of upper respiratory infection are generally with OTC medication and home remedies.
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Chronic Cough
- Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
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Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears)
- The Eustachian tube is a membrane lined tube that connects the middle ear space to the back of the nose. Problems include partial or complete blockage which can cause popping, clicking, and ear fullness. Allergies, sinus and ear infections, or the common cold can cause this blockage, while altitude changes can cause symptoms in those persons with Eustachian tube problems. Treatment includes several maneuvers (swallowing, chewing gum, yawning etc.), which can be done to improve Eustachian tube function.
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Laryngitis
- Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box (vocal cords). The most common cause of acute laryngitis is infection, which inflames the vocal cords. Symptoms may vary from degree of laryngitis and age of the patient. Common symptoms include croup, hoarse cough, fever, cold, runny nose, dry cough, and loss of voice. Chronic laryngitis generally lasts more than three weeks. Causes other than infection include smoking, excess coughing, GERD, and more. Treatment depends on the cause of laryngitis.
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Sinus Headache
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Snoring
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Cold, Flu, Allergy Treatments
- Before treating a cold, the flu, or allergies with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, it's important to know what's causing the symptoms, which symptoms one wishes to relieve, and the active ingredients in the OTC product. Taking products that only contain the medications needed for relieving your symptoms prevents ingestion of unnecessary medications and reduces the chances of side effects.
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Adenovirus 14
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Bad Breath
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Reye's Syndrome
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus
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Children's Health
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Headaches in Children
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Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
- If you have a COPD such as emphysema, avoiding chronic bronchitis and colds is important to avoid a more severe respiratory infection such as pneumonia. Avoiding cigarette smoking, practice good hygeine, stay away from crowds, and alerting your healthcare provider if you have a sinus infection or cold or cough that becomes worse. Treatment options depend upon the severity of the emphysema, bronchitis, or cold combination.
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Health and the Workplace
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