Eight Common Acute Conditions and How To Treat Them

No one likes to get sick, especially when it comes out of nowhere and comes on with a vengeance. While most common cold and flu symptoms don’t last long, they can stop you in your tracks and really put a damper on your plans. When that happens, it's good to have an idea of what you're dealing with and a trusted physician to call.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to distinguish between chronic and acute illness symptoms. Family physician Dr. Priti Ranjan is here to help you and your family stay healthy. If you or someone you love is not feeling well, contact Nest Family Medicine in Plano, TX. Dr. Ranjan ensures her patients receive the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

What is acute illness?

When most people think of illnesses, they probably often think of acute conditions without even realizing what the word means – it’s really just a simple way of saying an illness has come on suddenly and severely. It’s different than a chronic illness, which develops slowly over time. In some instances, an over-the-counter medication may be all you need, but in others, a trip to the doctor is in order.

But how do you know if you have acute illness symptoms and if you need medical attention or just an over-the-counter medication? Here are eight common acute conditions and how to treat them.

1. Common cold: The common cold is something many of us face at least once during the year. A trip to the doctor is not necessary to treat a cold – there are a lot of effective remedies for the cold right in your own home. Some suggestions are to stay hydrated; rest; gargle saltwater to help relieve sore throat symptoms; and use over-the-counter medicines to reduce fever, help relieve stuffy or clogged nose, and reduce coughing. Dr. Ranjan is always here to help suggest over-the-counter medications and dosage for children, teens, and adults.
2. Flu: Common flu symptoms include fever, aching muscles, chills and sweats, headache, dry cough, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea. This can be tested and confirmed at Nest Family Medicine, but typically plenty of rest, water, and a pain reliever can help relieve these acute symptoms. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or the sickness is in a young child or an older adult, an office visit may be necessary. Dr. Ranjan can help you decide when and if you need to visit our Plano, TX office.
3. Sinus infection: A sinus infection may often be confused with a cold; however, sinus infections are typically brought on by a cold or allergies. Dr. Ranjan can diagnose you with a sinus infection, but again, it’s something that will most likely go away on its own. A decongestant, warm compress over the nose and forehead, and breathing in steam from hot water or a shower can all help relieve the acute symptoms of a sinus infection.
4. Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes the lungs to fill up with liquid. Depending on the cause of the infection, your age, and your health, pneumonia can become serious. Viral pneumonia will often go away on its own, while bacterial and fungal pneumonia will likely need an antibiotic. Dr. Ranjan can diagnose pneumonia in her Plano, TX office, and get the right treatment for you.
5. Asthma attack: An asthma attack is typically presented with severe shortness of break, chest tightness, and coughing and/or wheezing; however, symptoms can vary from person to person. It’s important to meet with Dr. Ranjan when you have asthma so you can identify your unique symptoms of an asthma attack as well as a treatment plan. If symptoms do not improve with your home treatment method, you may need to seek emergency care.
6. Heart attack: Common heart attack symptoms include pressure, tightness, or a squeezing feeling in the chest; nausea or heartburn; shortness of breath; a cold sweat; fatigue; and a lightheaded sensation or dizziness. At the first sign of a heart attack, you should seek emergency help.
7. Broken bone/injury: Bone breaks and injuries can happen during a fall, sports injury, car accident, and more. But how do you know if it’s a break or an injury that requires a doctor visit? A sharp stabbing pain that gets worse with movement, swelling and bruising, and the inability to put weight on the bone in question can all be signs of a break or fracture. If you think you have a broken bone, call Dr. Ranjan and she can either treat the break or send you to a facility that is better equipped to treat you. From there, you’ll require a few regular visits to ensure the break is healing properly.
8. Skin rash: A skin rash can come in many different forms. However, most commonly, we identify rashes as red and inflamed skin; bumps on the skin that could be dry, cracked, oozy, or blistered. Commonly rashes will be painful and/or itchy. Depending on the type of rash, they can be treated with antibiotics, cortisone creams, soap, or more. Dr. Ranjan can help identify the type of rash and an appropriate treatment method.

If you find yourself with acute symptoms or would like to schedule an appointment, contact Nest Family Medicine in Plano, TX. Dr. Priti Ranjan can help you assess whether a visit to the office is necessary or provide you with home-remedy solutions for your acute illness.