5 Ways to Avoid a Summer Cold

Scratchy throat, relentless sneezing, and a stuffy nose are the unmistakable and frustrating symptoms of a common cold. While most people associate these ailments with chilly winter months, catching a cold in the middle of summer is a surprisingly frequent—and lingering—nuisance.

That’s when you need medical care and, preferably, without having to interrupt your summer fun or leave the comfort of your home. Enter OhanaMed Virtual Urgent Care. Led by Kyle Nefzger, APRN, FNP-C, the team at OhanaMed Virtual Urgent Care offers same-day telehealth appointments to patients four and older throughout Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaii.

We provide a convenient way to access medical consultations and treatment plans right from your home, helping you find fast relief so you can get back to enjoying the sunshine.

Cold and flu symptoms are among the most common conditions we treat during the warmer months. That’s not surprising, since millions of Americans contract summer viral infections each year between June and October.

Here’s what our team wants you to know about preventing and managing a summer cold.

Understanding the summer cold

While winter colds are typically triggered by rhinoviruses, summer colds are often caused by non-polio enteroviruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these viruses thrive in warm weather and can spread easily in crowded summer environments.

In addition to traditional respiratory symptoms like a runny nose and cough, enteroviruses are unique because they can also cause mild stomach upset or low-grade fevers. Blasting indoor air conditioning, sudden temperature shifts, and spent hours in crowded airports or summer camps create the perfect environment for these bugs to circulate.

Preventing a summer cold

These five tips can reduce your risk of catching or spreading a summer viral bug:

Practice frequent handwashing

Lathering up with soap and water for at least 20 seconds remains your best defense. It removes viruses picked up from shared summer surfaces like pool handrails, plane tray tables, and door handles.

Stay hydrated with water

High summer heat and humidity make dehydration a real threat. Drinking plenty of fluids keeps your nasal membranes moist, allowing them to trap and flush out viral invaders more effectively.

Be mindful of air conditioning

Going back and forth between scorching outdoor heat and freezing air-conditioned rooms can dry out your nasal passages. Keep indoor thermostat settings moderate and consider using a cool-mist humidifier.

Prioritize sleep and recovery

Summer schedules often mean staying up late and traveling. Skimping on rest weakens your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off opportunistic summer viruses.

Avoid sharing food, drinks, and towels

Summer barbecues and beach outings invite sharing, but sharing cups, utensils, or beach towels is one of the fastest ways to pass an enterovirus around a group.

When to seek medical evaluation via telehealth

If, despite your best prevention tactics, you start experiencing miserable cold symptoms, make a virtual appointment with our medical team. We analyze your symptoms, help rule out other seasonal issues like allergies or sinus infections, and recommend effective symptom-relief strategies or supportive prescription medications. If prescriptions are needed, we send them directly to your preferred pharmacy in Hawaii for quick pickup.

Book a same-day telehealth appointment with OhanaMed Virtual Urgent Care. Call us at 808-468-5779 or request an appointment online.