December, 2021

Common Winter Illnesses to Watch For

Monday, December 20th, 2021

During the winter months, more time spent indoors coupled with lower temperatures increases the risk of getting sick. Many illnesses are more common in the winter, making it important to protect your immunity with a healthy lifestyle along with frequent hand washing and disinfecting. 

Read on to learn about the most common winter illnesses to watch out for in the coming months.

The Common Cold

The common cold, as the name suggests, is one of the most common winter illnesses. This type of viral infection often causes a cough, sore throat, sneezing, nasal congestion, and postnasal drip. 

Most adults have a couple of colds each year, while children typically have between six and ten . This infection can range in severity, but is usually mild and goes away within a week. Over-the-counter medications, including decongestants and antihistamines, can improve the symptoms of a cold while your body works to fight off the virus. 

Influenza

The flu is a contagious viral infection that peaks in the fall and winter. You can receive an influenza vaccination starting in the fall to prevent getting sick with the flu. Fever, body aches, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea are all symptoms of this infection, and it can last between five and seven days. Tamiflu is a prescription medication that can treat the flu if you’ve had the infection for two days or less. 

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a condition that occurs when the lining of the bronchial tubes becomes inflamed. It can develop as a result of a respiratory infection, like the flu, or inhaled bacteria. However, chronic bronchitis, which lasts for three months or longer for at least two consecutive years, can result from irritants such as cigarette smoke or air pollution. 

The symptoms of bronchitis include a persistent cough, trouble breathing, and chest discomfort. Some people also experience headaches, body aches, chills, sore throat, runny nose, and watery eyes. Cough medicine, an inhaler, and antibiotics are possible treatments for bronchitis, depending on the cause of the illness. 

If you’re struggling to manage symptoms of common winter illnesses, visit Suncoast Urgent Care for a diagnosis and expert medical care today!

Do I Have COVID or Is It Something Else?

Friday, December 10th, 2021

During the winter months, people are more likely to catch contagious viruses, including the common cold and influenza. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no wonder that people worry that they have COVID-19 whenever they have a cough or scratchy throat. Here, we’ll discuss how you can differentiate between COVID-19 and other common viral infections at home. Keep in mind that if you’re feeling sick, you can visit Suncoast Urgent Care for prompt medical attention. 

Do I Have COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The symptoms and severity of this viral infection can vary greatly from case to case, which makes it difficult to identify without a COVID-19 test (more…)

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