6 Common Illnesses and How to Avoid Spreading Them

The “common cold” may sound routine, but when it hits you or your family, it’s anything but. Likewise, illnesses such as bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, strep throat, and COVID-19 can upend your daily life. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce their spread.

At family-owned Healthy Horizons Clinic in Pasadena, Texas, Dr. Haala Hai and Dr. Afroze Hai offer a variety of family medicine services. From physical exams to vaccines and blood work, they help keep you and your family healthy throughout flu season and the rest of the year.

Here’s what they want you to know about common illnesses and how they spread, so you can protect yourself and others. 

Common illnesses

Below, discover what to expect from six widespread illnesses, from their symptoms to patterns of contagion.

1. Common Cold

Colds usually include coughing and sneezing, and you’re most contagious when these symptoms feel the worst. You can pass a cold virus for up to two weeks. 

2. Bronchitis

With bronchitis, the airways to your lungs fill with mucus, leading to a chronic cough that usually lasts three weeks or more. You’re typically contagious for as long as symptoms persist.

3. Pneumonia

Viral pneumonia often develops from the flu or other respiratory illnesses. It’s most contagious during the early stages when symptoms like coughing are at their worst. 

Watch for symptoms like:

• Breathing difficulty
• Fever above 102°F
• Chest pain
• Congestion
• Cough expelling bloody, yellow, or green mucus

Millions in the United States are diagnosed yearly with pneumonia. Contact your doctor to see if your respiratory illness has progressed to a more serious bout of pneumonia.

4. Strep throat

Strep throat, usually characterized by a severe sore throat and painful swallowing, can spread two to five days before symptoms appear. It becomes most contagious within 48 to 72 hours after experiencing symptoms. Untreated, it may lead to scarlet or rheumatic fever, and even heart disease.

5. Flu

The flu spreads via respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze. You’re most contagious during the first 48 hours you feel sick.

6. COVID-19

COVID-19 has become a more common, often treatable illness. A COVID test offers the best diagnosis. You remain contagious from five to 20 days (or longer) depending upon the severity of your symptoms, so isolation particularly helps protect others.

For many of these illnesses, our doctors may prescribe antibiotics or antivirals, depending upon the situation.

How to stop spreading common illnesses

To control the spread of such common illnesses as the flu, we suggest you:

• Stay home if you’re contagious
• Wear a mask when around others
• Sneeze or cough into the inside of elbow, not your hand
• Wash your hands often
• Disinfect remotes, counters, and other common areas

When you share cups, utensils, and other personal items, you may also transmit your illness.

Symptom management  

Since one cannot cure many common viral ailments with antibiotics, we offer other ways to strengthen your immune system during your illness, such as:

1. Rest more and forgo exercise
2. Gargle with salt water to ease sore throats
3. Avoid smoking and alcohol, which weakens your already-compromised immune system
4. Enjoy warm, broth-based soups, along with a well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables
5. Drink plenty of fluids without added sugar, such as water, caffeine-free tea with lemon, and vitamin C-packed orange juice

We also recommend using a humidifier and taking warm, not hot, showers, as appropriate, to help clear any congestion. Although it may appear counterintuitive, fever helps destroy germs. Unless it gets too high, you needn’t suppress it. Contact us for further guidelines.

Let’s clear the air 

Clean air plays a crucial role in keeping everyone healthy and reducing the spread of disease. To improve air quality:

• Filter indoor air with a good home or office HEPA or HVAC system
• Open doors and windows when the air outside is good
• Hold more gatherings or activities outside

And, of course, if you feel under the weather, stay home or wear a mask until you recover or receive a diagnosis.

Your best defense 

The best way to avoid spreading illnesses is to avoid getting sick. Use preventative measures such as a good night’s sleep, a balanced diet, fresh air, and regular exercise to promote overall health. If you or your family becomes ill, give us a call or schedule an appointment at Healthy Horizons Clinic through our online booking feature.

Stay healthy by washing hands often, exercise, eat healthy and get your sleep! 

If you’re running fever or symptoms worsen over 2-3 days please contact your doctor!