A 70-year-old male presents with symptoms of a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat. However, he also reports chest tightness and wheezing. What should be the next steps?
While the patient's symptoms may indeed be due to a common cold, the additional symptoms of chest tightness and wheezing could suggest a complication such as bronchitis or even pneumonia, especially considering his age. He should be further evaluated with a physical examination, and possibly a chest X-ray or other tests. Depending on the findings, treatment could involve antibiotics, bronchodilators, or other measures.