Most colds are harmless, yet it is important to be an active advocate for your own health. Read ahead to know when your cold can be concerning.

In an exclusive interaction with the editorial team of Onlymyhealth, our expert, Dr Shrey Kumar Srivastav, Senior Consultant and General Physician, Sharda Hospital - Noida, explained that common cold, most often due to rhinovirus, coronavirus, or adenovirus, would ideally take its course in 7-10 days. The complaints are usually mild: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, congestion, and low-grade fever. When these persist longer than this, worsen in intensity, or are accompanied by new, ominous symptoms, it's a red flag that something more may be in the making.

Here are some of the overlooked risks of not giving chronic respiratory symptoms adequate attention:

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One of the most prevalent and problematic complications of an untreated viral respiratory infection is the acquisition of a secondary bacterial infection. A virus can compromise your immune system and injure the protective lining of your respiratory tract, providing a fertile breeding ground for bacteria.

For those with underlying illness, even a mild cold can precipitate a lethal cascade.

Even if it does not become a life-threatening issue, an ignored respiratory infection can greatly extend your illness. What might have otherwise been a few days of misery becomes weeks of feeling tired, run-down, and less than productive. This does not just affect your personal life but your work obligations as well, resulting in lost days at work and decreased productivity.

By not resting properly and seeking proper care when there are persistent symptoms, you unintentionally increase the risk of infecting other people, especially vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. This inflicts a cycle of disease that affects families, workplaces, and communities.

Occasionally, what might seem like a cold may in fact be the first sign of some more severe, non-contagious condition. Nagging cough, exhaustion, and loss of weight, for instance, might be symptoms of something as benign as allergy or acid reflux, or something as dangerous as tuberculosis or even some form of cancer. Brushing them off as "a cold" can result in disastrous delays in diagnosis and treatment for such illnesses.

So, when do you know if your "cold" needs a trip to the doctor? Watch closely for these warning signs:

• Severe headache, nausea with neck stiffness.
• New or increasing ear pain.
• Abrupt worsening of the symptoms following improvement.

Most colds are harmless, yet it is important to be an active advocate for your own health. Avoid falling into the trap of brushing off recurring or worsening respiratory issues. Pay attention to your body, identify the red flags, and don't be afraid to consult a doctor when necessary. Taking action early can transform small sniffles into severe health emergencies and ensure swift recovery while protecting your general well-being. Your health is not a luxury; it's a necessity.