Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that affects the lungs and is typically mild, but can be severe in rare cases. Most patients recover quickly when treated with treatment options recommended by a doctor. However, in some cases, pneumonia is fatal. Patients should ensure they treat pneumonia properly as it can cause further lung damage if left untreated.
The key to recovering from pneumonia is seeking medical attention, including a specialized treatment plan that reduces the infection and helps you get better. Given this, some of you may be wondering if you should seek out urgent care for pneumonia. This is why we thought it would be useful to put together a brief article on this topic. If this is something that you want to learn more about, read on as we discuss if urgent care can properly treat pneumonia.
What Causes Pneumonia?
Before we discuss anything else, we first have to learn more about the disease itself. Pneumonia occurs when the air sacs in the lungs are inflamed as a result of inflammation caused by infection. This inflammation results in the fluid buildup and makes it difficult to breathe. Pneumonia usually develops in individuals who are already suffering from an upper respiratory infection, such as influenza or a common cold. Pneumonia is easier to contract if you smoke or have other underlying medical conditions that make you more prone to infection such as diabetes or heart disease.
For the most part, pneumonia is caused by:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungus
- Aspirating (breathing in) chemicals or other particles
What Are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?
Pneumonia can be quite tricky to detect as its symptoms vary in severity depending on your personal health. Here are some symptoms that you’ll want to be on the lookout for:
- Coughing
- Feeling feverish
- Difficulty swallowing
- Muscle aches
- Shortness of breath
- Chest congestion
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Chills
Can Urgent Care Centers Help Treat Pneumonia?
If you visit urgent care, you will be able to receive the same treatment as at a regular doctor’s office. Hours of operation are longer and staff is far more flexible than at a regular doctor’s office. You can use urgent care for any medical issue, but it is especially useful for those with chronic illnesses.
Two main factors determine whether pneumonia symptoms progress over time or get worse in a matter of hours. The first is whether or not you seek medical attention. This is why urgent care is effective for treating pneumonia as it ensures you get the care that you need in a timely manner. An urgent care clinic will be able to examine your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order tests to determine the type of pneumonia you have (bacterial or viral). By doing this, they will be able to provide you with the right treatment plan in order to nurse you back to health. The other factor is whether you have risk factors that put you at greater risk for contracting pneumonia, such as smoking, being obese, and having diabetes.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to furthering your understanding of how urgent care can help you deal with pneumonia. As you can see, urgent care can effectively address all the complications that come with pneumonia. If you suspect that you have pneumonia, it would be wise to seek out medical attention as soon as possible.
If you are searching for urgent care in Santa Fe, Aspen Medical Center is your best choice. We provide state-of-the-art medical facilities and expertise to ensure that you are well taken care of. For more information on our services or to book an appointment, contact us at (505) 466-5885.
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