Urgent care centers across the United States see patients for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common relates to the flu virus. For example, in 2016, the top five medical diagnoses given in urgent care centers were acute upper respiratory infections, acute sinusitis, acute pharyngitis, coughs, and fever, most of which can be connected to the flu. Flu season comes every fall and winter, and is something everyone wants to avoid because even a minor case can cause health issues and discomfort. Thankfully, there are recommended healthcare solutions that, if followed, can make it possible to avoid the flu. This article will take a look at a few of these healthcare solutions.
- Take the Annual Flu Shot: One tip for avoiding the flu is to get the annual flu shot as soon as it becomes available. Medical professionals agree that the flu shot is one of the best healthcare solutions available for protecting yourself against the flu virus. The shot can be obtained from an urgent care clinic or from your regular doctor’s office, just to name a few examples.
- Wash Your Hands With Antibacterial Soap: Another tip for avoiding the flu is to frequently wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Using this to frequently wash your hands will kill most of the germs you come into contact with on a daily basis and reduce your chances of contracting the flu virus.
- Visit Urgent Care When Flu Symptoms Begin to Show: A third tip for avoiding the flu is to visit the local urgent care clinic as soon as symptoms begin to show. Flu symptoms become noticeable a few days after exposure, so if you go to see a doctor straightaway there is a chance of getting treatment before the worst of the flu virus can hit you.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet: A fourth tip for avoiding the flu is to maintain a healthy diet. Maintaining a healthy diet will work towards keeping your immune system strong and make it easier to resist the flu virus if you are exposed to it.
- Avoid Those Who Are Already Sick: And finally, a fifth tip for avoiding the flu is to avoid those who are already sick with the virus. The flu is most contagious during the first week, so it’s very important to keep track of who has come down with the flu and when it happened. After that initial period, it’s generally safe to come back around them again, but not before.
In conclusion, there are several things that can be done to avoid the flu during the upcoming flu season. These include taking the annual flu shot, washing your hands with antibacterial soap, visiting urgent care when fu symptoms begin to show, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding those who are already sick. These are just a few of the things you can do to avoid catching the flu.
