Common Cold Center - Westfield, MA
Westfield 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 Westfield * Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Family Medicine Associates  Total Womens Health Care Inc  Brightwood Health Center  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Albert A Romano MD  Stephen J Levine MD  Martin Lesser DO  Southern New England Primary Care  Thomas Judd MD  Andrew S Levin MD PC  Holyoke Medical Center Hospitalist  Paul A Lagac MD  Holyoke Health Center  Holyoke Health Center  Holyoke Health Center  JGS Family Medical Care  Pioneer Valley Independent Health  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Alvin J Keroack MD  Doctors Express  Valley Medical Group  Wing Medical Center of Wilbraham  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Pioneer Valley Family Medicine  Pioneer Valley Family Medicine  Pioneer Valley Family Medicine  Pioneer Valley Family Medicine  Pioneer Valley Family Medicine  Charles K Brummer MD  Hampshire Dermatology and Skin Health Center  Shelly Berkowitz MD  Kathleen Holik MD  Northampton Family Practice  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Northampton Family Practice  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Huntington Health Center  Huntington Health Center  Hadley Family Practice  Hadley Family Practice  Hadley Family Practice  Hadley Family Practice  Hadley Family Practice  Hampshire Family Physicians  Hampshire Family Physicians  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Amherst Family Health Center  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  University Health Services  University Health Services  University Health Services  University Health Services  University Health Services  Stephen R Holuk MD  Baystate Belchertown Adult Medicine & Pediatrics  Baystate Belchertown Adult Medicine & Pediatrics  Katherine J Atkinson MD PC  South Deerfield Family Practice  Hilltown Community Health Centers Inc  Mary Lane Hospital Emergency Department  Richard L Gerstein MD  Mary Lane Hospital Emergency Department  George P Grillo MD  Mary Lane Hospital Emergency Department  Mary Lane Hospital Emergency Department  Valley Medical Group PC  Brimfield Family Health Center PC  West Brookfield Family Practice  West Brookfield Family Practice  West Brookfield Family Practice  West County Physicians  Community Health Ctr Of Franklin County  Community Health Ctr Of Franklin County  Lee Family Practice  Lee Family Practice  Barre Family Health Center  North Quabbin Family Practice  North Quabbin Family Practice  Gary F Jeznach MD  Stephanie Keaney MD  Harrington Hospital Emergency  Alvin C Chua MD  James Goodwin MD  Harrington Family Health Center  Harrington Family Health Center  John Howland MD  Suburban Internal Medicine  North Quabbin Family Practice Westfield, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 Westfield
Nearby Westfield Hospitals *Western Massachusetts Hospital Baystate Medical Center Mercy Medical Center Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital Shriners Hospital for Children Noble Hospital Providence Hospital Kindred Hospital Park View Holyoke Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts Cooley Dickinson Hospital Northampton VA Medical Center Wing Memorial Hospital & Medical Center Johnson Memorial Hospital Rockville General Hospital St Francis Care Hospital Mount Sinai Campus The Hospital at Hebrew Healthcare Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital St Francis Hospital & Medical Center Manchester Memorial Hospital Baystate Mary Lane Hospital Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford Hospital Institute of Living Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey VA Connecticut Healthcare System Newington Campus Cedarcrest Hospital Hospital for Special Care The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus Veterans Home & Hospital Rocky Hill Harrington Memorial Hospital Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Bristol Hospital Franklin Medical Center 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. |
Suggested Reading on Common Cold by Our Doctors
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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
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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
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Sinus Headache
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Snoring
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Cold, Flu, Allergy Treatments
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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
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Health and the Workplace
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