Tag: cough treatment


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

     

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