Tag: sore


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

Strep Throat: What To Do If You Have a Sore Throat of the Nasty Kind

26
November
Strep Throat: What To Do If You Have a Sore Throat of the Nasty Kind

Strep Throat: What To Do If You Have a Sore Throat of the Nasty Kind

We can’t do a comprehensive round up of common ‘winter illnesses’ without dedicating one post to strep throat. So here you will be able to read about symptoms and treatment for this contagious condition and find out if you should see a doctor for your ‘sore throat’.

Now we all suffer from sore throats every now and then and, because they are caused by viral infections, they disappear on their own after a few days and you don’t really need to seek medical attention. However, a sore throat can also be a symptom of something harder to get rid of: a strep throat. Strep throats are particularly common in children and teenagers. Read on to find out if you or your kids could be suffering from the infection- and if you should schedule a visit to the clinic.

SYMPTOMS

Classic sore throat symptoms- runny nose, cough, hoarseness, and bloodshot eyes- are present in strep throat cases as well. But if your sore throat is actually an indication of strep throat, you will probably start developing the following symptoms after a couple of days:

• Fever
• Stomach Pain
• Red/swollen tonsils
• Appetite loss
• Feeling of general discomfort/nausea
• Headache
• Swollen neck glands
• Red/white patches in throat

HOW DOES STREP THROAT SPREAD

Strep throats are caused by a group of bacteria called ‘A streptococcus’ and the disease can spread from one person to another through simple things like sneezing, coughing and shaking hands. With kids, the best defense against the strep throat infection- and a whole bunch of other diseases that are common in that age group- is to ensure that they take care of their hygiene. That’s why it’s so important to teach your children about the importance of washing hands (before eating, after defecation etc) and keeping clean.

TREATMENT

Visit your local MedHelp clinic to get you kids or yourself checked by a doctor. A ‘rapid strep test’ is usually performed for diagnosis. The test involves using a cotton swab to take fluid samples from the back of the throat. The test only takes a few minutes and, depending on the result, you’ll know if you have ‘strep throat’ during the same visit. Generally, you will get a prescription for 10-days worth of antibiotics for the infection (though sometimes an antibiotic shot may be administered to eliminate the need for oral medication).

Within a couple of days of taking your meds, the strep throat symptoms will start disappearing but you should still complete the course to make sure the infection is gone for good. Your MedHelp doctor will also advise you on the proper medical care (which usually also includes lots of rest and plenty of fluids).

8 comments » | Urgent Care Atlanta

     

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