(BPT) - A lingering cough. A stuffy nose that just won't quit. If you've ever felt like your cold is overstaying its welcome, you're not alone. Most respiratory infections clear up within a week or two, but sometimes, what we do while we're "on the mend" can turn a simple sickness into a longer, drawn-out battle.

"People often assume that once their fever breaks or congestion improves, they're in the clear," notes Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree, a family medicine physician and Associate Chief Medical Officer at MD Live by Evernorth . "Your immune system is still in repair mode even after the worst symptoms subside. Seemingly harmless choices can set your recovery back or even cause rebound symptoms."

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