Richard Soper MD: When Should You Worry About Your Flu?

Influenza, more commonly known as flu, is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It is normally spread by coughs and colds of an infected individual and is highly contagious. Direct contact with the infected person may also cause the other person to catch the flu. Although flu is considered a minor health issue that goes away in a few days, I, Richard Soper MD, believe that sometimes we need to be aware of some severe complications that arise from it. When most people catch the flu, it merely means a need for a few days off work or school. However, there are cases where flu can be potentially deadly because of complications and infections. Continue reading to know some signs that reveal when you should take your flu more seriously.

Bloody, green, or yellow mucus

One of the most common symptoms of flu is cough, but when you start coughing up bloody, green, or yellow mucus, it could indicate signs of pneumonia. Since people recovering from flu have reduced immune function, they often suffer from pneumonia as a secondary complication.

Thick mucus

For some cases of flu, symptoms get worse after seemingly to subside for a short while. You could experience having a mild cough at first, then suddenly cough up thick mucus. This occurrence may indicate that you have bronchitis as a secondary infection. Visit and talk to your doctor to know what your best options are to treat this condition.

Wheezing

Although coughing is a common symptom of influenza, if you experience wheezing or chest tightness, this might indicate that you are experiencing an asthma attack. The flu can trigger an asthma attack, aggravate its symptoms, and increase the risk of other acute respiratory diseases.

Chest pain

Myocarditis is a condition wherein the middle layer of the heart’s wall, the myocardium, is inflamed. The viruses that cause flu can also trigger myocarditis, which often begins with symptoms such as fever and fatigue, then it progresses to chest pain and rapid heart rhythms.

Eye and cheek pressure

Another one of the common symptoms of flu is headaches. However, when you experience having the sensation of pressure behind your eyes and cheeks, it is possible that you also have sinusitis. Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses around the nasal passages. IF left untreated, acute sinusitis can become a chronic disorder.