Every year, we have to deal with the flu, getting flu shots, and doing our best to keep ourselves and those around us healthy during flu season. If you find yourself or a loved one sick with the flu, come see us at Local MD Urgent Care!
Your local urgent care is the convenient place to go for flu prevention, flu treatment, and flu education. Since we accept online appointments, call-ins, and walk-in appointments, you can truly consider us your local headquarters for all things flu-related!
Influenza Symptoms
Influenza (the flu) is a respiratory illness, which means that it affects your airways. It is spread easily from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and even talking. If you are experiencing a combination of the following symptoms, you may have the flu:
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Muscle Aches
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Body Chills
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Runny Nose
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Headaches
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Fatigue
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Coughing
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Nausea
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Stomach Pains
Preventing the Flu
If you are not experiencing any of those symptoms, you likely are not suffering from the flu. To make sure you stay safe this flu season, the CDC recommends you do the following things to avoid getting infected:
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Wash Your Hands Frequently, using soap & water
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Decontaminate Frequently Used Surfaces, such as smartphones & keypads
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Keep hands Away From Your Eyes, Face, & Nose
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Sneeze Into A Tissue, to avoid spreading germs
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Never Share Food, Drinks, or Toothbrushes
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Get Vaccinated Each Year!
Influenza Treatments
The symptoms of the flu can range from very mild to very severe. In fact, the flu is regularly in the top 10 leading causes of deaths for Americans each year. With how difficult it is to self-diagnose yourself with the flu, it is imperative that you visit your doctor, or a local urgent care, as soon as you suspect that you could have the flu. Treatments for the flu also range from mild to severe, depending on your symptoms. Our medical professionals could treat you in any of the following ways:
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Antiviral Prescription: A prescription to treat the flu works faster than most other available treatments. It can help to lessen the severity of your symptoms, and shorten the duration of your illness by several days!
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OTC Medications: Our medical professionals may recommend the use of Ibuprofen or Tylenol, depending on your symptoms and the severity. They also may recommend decongestants or cough medicines as needed.
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Extra Hydration: Along with the medications above, or on its’ own, ensuring that you are drinking lots of water is imperative to getting healthy again. If you can’t handle water, try an electrolyte drink, juice, or even popsicles!
Extra Sleep: No matter the other courses of treatment, be sure to get plenty of sleep when you have the flu. Taking naps throughout the day and trying to relax will only help you get better faster!
Severe Symptoms Risk
Particular groups of people are more likely to have severe flu symptoms than others, and make up a large portion of the deaths by flu each year. If you are a part of the following groups, make sure you get the flu vaccine each year, and visit a doctor right away if you start showing symptoms:
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Pregnant Women
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Young Children
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Chronic Illness Sufferers
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Adults 65 and Older
At-Home Flu Remedies
While the flu can be a very serious illness, some people still look for home remedies to aid the treatment methods above. Taking supplements such as echinacea, zinc, and vitamins is recommended by some sources to keep the immune system strong.
Please note, with your optimal care in mind, if your injury is severe, the Local MD team may refer you to a local emergency room.