Tag: avoid colds


5 More Unexpected Ways to Catch the Flu

26
February

Unexpected Ways to Catch the Flu

In our last post, we discussed the five ways you can catch the flu without even realizing it. We also talked about what you can do to protect yourself. In this post we will take a look at five more unexpected ways in which you put yourself at risk for the flu. Remember, February is the peak of the flu season and you can’t be too careful!

REPLACING HAND-WASHING WITH ANTIBACTERIAL GEL

Antibacterial gels can get rid of germs when a sink and water aren’t available. But there is no evidence to prove that they kill viruses. For the best sanitation, use an antibacterial gel that is 60 to 95% alcohol based and wash your hands whenever you can. Remember, even the best of gels is not a substitute for good old hand washing.

NOT WASHING HANDS CORRECTLY OR FREQUENTLY

Experts recommend that you should wash your hands 10 times a day for the best protection against germs. However, a lot of people don’t even wash their hands after sneezing or coughing! And when they do it’s for less than 10 seconds when you should at least wash your hands for 20 seconds. Make sure that you properly scrub your hands and the areas between the fingers for the wash to be effective.

IMPROPERLY DISPOSING A FACE MASK

Face masks can reduce the number of germs that get access to your nose or mouth but they quickly become a host of germs themselves. It’s therefore important that you are very careful when you take the masks off. Touch only the straps to remove them and don’t let it touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Throw it away and wash your hands after you’re done.

UNNECESSARILY MEDICATING YOURSELF

A number of people rush to stores to stock up on flu meds like Tamiflu and take them prematurely in hopes to have advance protection against the illness. However, the truth is that most of these people would probably have never needed the medicine and only contributed to making the virus more resistant to these drugs. Talk to one of our doctors at the MedHelp clinic before you start taking such medication especially if you are administering it to your child.

TAKING THE FLU TOO LIGHTLY

This is the opposite of the first tip we discussed in the previous post. While you shouldn’t worry too much about the flu, you also shouldn’t throw all caution to the wind. You might have a heightened sense of your immunity because of your youth or history of good health but the fact is that the flu doesn’t really discriminate even if it helps if you are not in a high risk group like the pregnant or elderly. Therefore its important to take care of yourself and be knowledgeable about protecting yourself while still not obsessing about it.

Hopefully our tips will help you battle the flu season and come out of it illness free. However, if you haven’t been so lucky and feel a bit under the weather, visit us at the MedHelp clinic and we will help you recover soon enough!

 

 

 

 

20 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

The Flu Five: The 5 Unexpected Ways You Can Catch the Flu

26
February

The 5 Unexpected Ways to Catch the Flu

We have dedicated all our February posts to influenza and for good reason: as we mentioned at the start of the month, February is the peak of flu season in North America. This means you are more at risk of catching the flu in February than in any other time of the year.  You can reduce the risk by being extra careful this month. Getting the flu shot and limiting your contact with flu victims are obvious precautions but here are five unexpected ways you put yourself at risk for the flu which will require you to be a little more diligent:

GETTING WORKED UP

If you spend too much time worrying about the scary stories you’ve read online about the H1N1, you will only make yourself more vulnerable to the flu. Research has shown that anxiety results in problems like insomnia and depression etc. which can weaken your immune system and put you at a higher risk for catching the flu. So, as the old adage goes, a piece of good advice this month is ‘don’t worry, be happy’.

GREETING SOMEONE

We don’t want you to become an unsocial hermit but you should be aware that even shaking hands is a reliable way of getting someone else’s germs on your body. Kissing and hugging are similarly risky. You should try to maintain at least a 6 foot distance between yourself and a flu patient. However, we understand that that only allows for a cold wave from across the room. So if you feel you must shake hands to avoid being rude, make sure to wash your hands afterwards (and before you touch your face with them).

SMOKING

Here’s yet another reason for you to give up smoking. Research shows that the tiny hair inside the nasal and respiratory passage (that fight disease and germs) are weakened by smoking which make you more vulnerable to illnesses like the flu. There’s also significant evidence to suggest that lungs previously damaged by smoking can put you at a higher risk for developing serious complications from viral illnesses.

OVEREXERCISING

The right amount of exercise has obvious health and immune system benefits. However over exercising can weaken your body’s defense and make you vulnerable to the flu. So make sure you don’t over exert yourself this month. Also, hitting the gym ever so often isn’t a good idea in itself too. You can catch germs from the people and machines in the facility.

DRINKING

Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time makes it harder for you to fight off infections. It can also dehydrate which reduces your body’s mucus production. So cut back on your drinking this month.

If you think you are coming down with the flu, visit us at the MedHelp clinic right away where our team of doctors and medical experts will have your diagnosis and treatment started right away. Join us again for more unexpected ways of catching the flu and what you can do to protect yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

3 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

Is It a Cold, an Allergy or the Flu?

18
February
Is It a Cold, an Allergy or the Flu?

Is It a Cold, an Allergy or the Flu?

Feel like you are coming down with something but not sure of exactly what that something is? Don’t worry: you are not the only one feeling a bit under the weather these days. February is the peak of flu season and there are lots of runny noses and high fevers to be found. However, while flu is definitely enemy #1 this month, you could just as easily be suffering from the common cold or an undiagnosed- and newly acquired- allergy. That’s why it’s important to identify your ailment before you can take steps to treat it. Check out the symptoms for colds, allergies and the flu below to find out what you have- and how to treat it.

SEASONAL FLU

If you are suffering from a fever that’s quickly escalated up to 102 degree Fahrenheit, and you also feel discomfort, aches or fatigue, you probably have the seasonal flu. Drink plenty of liquids and use over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for treatment. You will need antivirals like Tamiflu if you are in a high risk group (pregnant, elderly or severely ill).

H1N1/SWINE FLU

If the seasonal flu symptoms (albeit a bit milder) are accompanied by gastro problems (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting), your ailment might be the swine flu. Treatment advice for seasonal flu also applies for H1N1/swine flu but as this flu is much more contagious, take all necessary precautions and limit your contact with other people. Take some days off to recover at home but if you are not better by the end of the week, see a doctor.

COMMON COLD

High fevers are associated with the flu but if you feel that your fever stays in a comfortable range under 100 degrees Fahrenheit and you don’t have any particular aches to complain of, you might be suffering from the common cold. You will have to deal with nasal congestion though as a runny nose and a little cough is to be expected. As with the flu, staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest is also a top tip for the common cold. Colds run their course and medicine can only make you feel a bit better. So the only cure is to wait it out!

ALLERGIES

If you have a feeling of itchiness in either the eyes, nose and/or throat, you might have something different to deal with than the majority (who are probably all complaining about the flu). Allergies are less common in Winter time than they are in the Spring and Fall, but if you feel an attack coming, the best fix for you will be antihistamines or a netipot. If you already know your allergies, you should keep your meds with you at all times.

If you are still unsure of what’s ailing you, just visit us at the MedHelp clinic. Our doctors and trained medical staff will find out what’s wrong with you- whether it’s a cold, the flu or an allergy- and provide you with the correct treatment right away.

7 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

How to Stay Flu Free in February

12
February
February is the peak of flu season

February is the peak of the flu season

Spring time and warmer days might only be a few weeks away but February is not the month to drop your guard. And by that we mean you should take extra precautions this month and avoid putting yourself at risk for the flu and common cold. According to a report by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), February is the peak of flu season and you are more likely to contract influenza or catch a cold this month than in any other time of the year.

Since you would not want to miss out on work days or stay at home with a runny nose, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and fight the flu:

GET YOUR FLU SHOT

Consider yourself lucky if you have managed to stay flu free in the last couple of months without getting a flu shot. However, since there’s no telling when your luck will run out, you should get a flu shot as soon as possible to make sure your February is as flu free as the months preceding it. The CDC now recommends everyone to get a flu shot every six months and that applies to you too. You can easily and quickly get your flu shot by just walking into the MedHelp clinic in Alpharetta.

EAT WELL

Your immune system is your best bet against the flu and common cold and it only works effectively when you eat well. Eating well doesn’t mean overeating or stuffing yourself with junk food, of course. You should try to maintain a healthy diet that’s high on good protein like lean meats, beans and fish- all of which help build the white blood cells fundamental to your immune system. Round up your diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and water, and you will be able to provide your immune system with the ammunition it needs to fight the flu virus.

EXERCISE

People who exercise and enjoy an active lifestyle are less likely to fall ill than people who don’t. Regular exercise and physical activity stimulate your immune system and help it protect your body from the flu and common cold. Exercise is also instrumental to long term health and happiness.

Join us again for more advice on protecting yourself through the flu season. You can also read useful tips and find helpful information about the flu and common cold by browsing our archives.

1 comment » | Urgent Care Atlanta

Is it ‘just a cough’? Or should you be worried?

7
January
Is it 'just a cough'? Or should you be worried?

Is it 'just a cough'? Or should you be worried?

We will get to the answer in a bit but first, all of us here at Urgent Care Atlanta want to wish all our readers a Happy New Year and hope that 2012 brings continued health and happiness to you! And if the cold January weather has you feeling a bit down, don’t worry, just drop by the MedHelp clinic and we will have you as good as new again.

Speaking of January, one of the biggest health complaints at this time of the year is the cough. Now coughs can be no more than just a harmless occasional tickle in the throat. But they can also be the sign of something more dangerous. And that’s why you need to know how to tell the difference between the benign and the malignant. Most of the time you can just clear your throat and go on about your day. But it’s important to know when you should see a doctor.

CASE 1: WHEN YOU HAVE A VIRAL INFECTION

Coughs are the body’s natural mechanism to clean up your respiratory tract. And you can usually make them go away by getting rid of the cause- so if your cough is caused by pneumonia or an allergy, you can take an antibiotic or avoid the cause of the allergy respectively. When coughs are caused by viral infections, they can take up even a week or two to go away but you can at least easily treat yourself with over-the-counter medicine, lots of rest and plenty of fluids.

CASE 2: WHEN THE COUGH ALONE IS YOUR MAIN SYMPTOM

If you aren’t suffering from the pneumonia, allergy or some other identified viral infection and you still have the cough, it could be a strep throat or just a bad case of sore throat. You should consider seeing a doctor for these.

CASE 3: WHEN THE COUGH JUST WON’T GO AWAY

Coughs caused by ‘tickles’ or viral infections should be gone anywhere from a minute to a week. Any cough that lasts longer warrants a visit to your local clinic.

CASE 4: CALL THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY

You should call or see a doctor right away if you have any of the following in addition to the cough:

- Symptoms like wheezing, chest pain and/or breathing trouble
- You are coughing blood- or ‘bloody’, yellow or green mucus
- You also have a high fever
- Your condition is worsening instead of getting better
- Unplanned weight loss
- You start sweating heavily during the night

If you have a cough and want to make sure that nothing’s wrong, just drop by the MedHelp clinic. Our medical experts will provide you with accurate diagnosis and the best treatment!

969 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

Have a Healthy Winter! Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold (Part 4)

30
December
Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold

How to avoid the flu

By the time you read this post, you will already have a number of good Christmas meals behind you and made up plans for which New Year parties you will be attending. We here at MedHelp Clinic hope you had a really good Christmas and, most importantly, stayed happy and healthy throughout the holidays. To make sure you enter the New Year flu-free as well, our last post of the year will impart some more super effective tips on protecting yourself from common illnesses.
(You can read tips 1 – 9 in our last three posts).

10. DISPOSE YOUR SNEEZE PROPERLY

This heading may sound strange but what it basically means is that you should not sneeze or cough directly into your hands (as we all tend to do). The reason is the same one as we have discussed before: because we use our hands to touch our faces ever so often, any germs on the former get easy access to the latter. A good alternative to using your hands? The crook of your elbow or a tissue you dispose off soon after.

11. QUIT SMOKING

Can any ‘health’ list ever be complete without telling readers to quit smoking? Well now you can add one more reason to getting rid of your smoking habit: Because smoking adversely affects the respiratory tract and weakens the immune system, it can leave you more susceptible to flu and cold viruses. More particularly, research has shown that smoking can destroy the cilia (the tiny fibers inside the nose) which can increase your risk for contracting infections.

12. BE HAPPY!

Feeling positive, having a good time and being happy have more great effects than just the obvious: they can help increase your immune system! Pleasurable events- smiling, playing with a pet and, yes, sex- can all give a boost to your immunity and help you fend off infections better.
At any rate, you should absolutely begin the New Year on a happy note! Go out with friends, have fun at parties and be sure to make positive resolutions for the year to come.

You will now hear from us next week. Happy New Year!

P.S. If you have been a bit too careless in the Holidays and now feel a chill coming, get yourself checked at the MedHelp clinic in time. Our trained medical staff will have you treated and ready to enjoy the beginning of the New Year in no time.

765 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

Have a Healthy Winter! Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold (Part 3)

21
December
Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold

Exercising helps avoid illnesses

Sleep well, stop touching your face and get your shots. These were just some of the tips we covered in our last two posts dedicated to listing the ‘best ways to avoid the flu and common cold’. This week we have rounded up some more really easy and effective precautions that will help you enjoy a safe and healthy winter. With Christmas just around the corner, you don’t want to be stuck inside with a runny nose, do you! So take good care of yourself and have the happiest of holidays. Here are this week’s top tips:
(You can read tips 1 – 6 here and here).

07. WORK OUT

Yes we know ‘exercise’ seems to pop up on every ‘you should’ list. But there are plenty of good reasons for that. ‘Work out’ makes our list because exercise, as doctors and medical experts will tell you, helps build the immune system. And with a stronger immune system, you are more capable of fighting off any infections that try to get a hold of you. So put on those gym clothes and get ready to do some sweating. You will feel better, look better and fight viruses better!

08. GET RID OF AN OLD HABIT

Remember how your mother used to tell you to stop biting your nails? Well, from now on you really should listen to her. In the previous posts, we discussed how touching your face basically provides transportation for the germs on your hands to get to your nose and eyes. But when you nibble on your nails- whether it’s a long standing nervous habit or just something you feel like doing every now and then- you are actually INGESTING the germs beneath the nails. Clearly, you are doing half the germs’ work yourself. So from now on, make a conscious effort to avoid biting your nails.

09. KNOW YOUR SYMPTOMS

A sneeze here and there is usually no cause to worry. But if you find yourself coughing and sneezing all too much, it’s time to deal with it seriously. Even ‘just a slight cold’ can easily escalate to a raging case of influenza, so contact your doctor as soon as you feel your symptoms becoming significant. Our team at MedHelp is trained to provide you with the best medical care. Just walk in to your local MedHelp and a doctor will have you diagnosed and treated in no time.

Join us next week as we continue to list more great tips!

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22 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

Have a Healthy Winter! Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold (Part 1)

6
December
Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold

Best Ways to Avoid the Flu and Common Cold

Our previous posts covered a few common winter illnesses in basic detail. We talked about the best ways to cure the flu, beat the common cold and the necessary precautions for sinuses. When you’re already ‘under the weather’, learning about symptoms and treatment is useful. But as all healthy individuals know, you should never wait to get the flu or go down with a fever before you start taking care of yourself. That’s why we’re now going to do a series of everyday tips that will help you stay flu free and cold-less during the whole season. After all, prevention is better than cure!

01. SHAKE AND WASH!

While you wouldn’t want to offend anybody by washing your hands right in front of them after shaking hands with them, doctors and medical experts recommend that you should wash your hands as often as you can. Physical contact- even small stuff like shaking hands- with other people is a sure way of getting germs on you. But when you keep the water flowing over your hands, you’re literally sending those illness-causing germs straight down the drain!

02. JUST BECAUSE ITS YOUR OWN FACE DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD KEEP TOUCHING IT

We all touch our face A LOT and usually it’s without reason (it’s not like we have to check and see if it’s there!). Whether you do it unconsciously or because of a nervous habit, the fact is that frequently touching your face- especially the nose and eyes- increases your risk for contracting the flu and cold etc. Because germs can travel directly from your hands into your eyes or nose, you basically provide them with convenient transportation when you touch your face!

03. DON’T WAIT FOR A HIGH FEVER TO GET A SHOT

Flu shots are highly effective in protecting you from many of the associated viral infections. A lot of us don’t seem to find the time to get a shot when we’re up and about. But getting one in time is better than regretting not getting it when you have to miss out on weeks of work and stay under the covers because you’re feeling too sick. Getting a shot doesn’t even take much time: just walk into your local MedHelp clinic in Atlanta and you could get a flu shot in the same visit. Our trained and professional medical staff will make sure your winter is full of health and joy- and not runny noses and bloodshot eyes!

Check back next week for more tips on protecting yourself from the flu and cold.

40 comments » | Uncategorized, Urgent Care Atlanta

     

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