Cold & Flu Season Is Here: Stay Well From Wherever You Are
September Wellness Spotlight | Wellness NOW
As fall approaches, so does cold and flu season. Between school schedules, workplaces, travel, and busy family routines, respiratory illnesses can quickly interrupt your plans.
At Wellness NOW, convenient telehealth care means you can connect with a healthcare provider when you're not feeling your best without adding another trip outside the house to your already busy day.
Is It a Cold or the Flu?
Colds and influenza can cause similar symptoms, but there are some common differences.
A cold often develops gradually and may cause a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and mild fatigue.
The flu often begins more suddenly and can cause fever or chills, body aches, headache, cough, and significant fatigue. However, not everyone with influenza develops a fever.
Other respiratory illnesses can cause similar symptoms, so when you're unsure, speaking with a healthcare professional can help determine the appropriate next steps.
Feeling Sick? Don't Wait to Seek Care
One of the benefits of telehealth is being able to seek guidance without sitting in a waiting room when you're already feeling sick.
Depending on your symptoms and medical history, a Wellness NOW provider can evaluate your concerns, discuss appropriate symptom management, determine whether additional testing or in-person evaluation may be necessary, and prescribe medication when medically appropriate.
For influenza specifically, certain prescription antiviral medications are most beneficial when treatment begins early. That's one reason it's important not to ignore significant flu-like symptoms especially if you're at higher risk for complications.
Give Your Body the Support It Needs
If you're recovering from a respiratory illness, the basics still matter. Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, eat nourishing foods as tolerated, and follow your healthcare provider's recommendations.
Be cautious about combining multiple over-the-counter cold and flu products. Different products can contain the same active ingredients, which can result in accidentally taking more than recommended.
Sick Day? Your Appointment Can Come to You.
When you're coughing, congested, achy, or simply don't feel like leaving home, telehealth can make getting medical guidance more convenient.
With Wellness NOW, you can connect with a provider from the comfort of home and discuss your symptoms and next steps.
Some symptoms shouldn't wait for a virtual appointment. Difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, confusion, severe dehydration, or other severe or rapidly worsening symptoms require prompt in-person or emergency medical attention.
Make Your Health a Priority This Cold & Flu Season
Don't wait until you're completely run down to start paying attention to your health.
Listen to your body. Rest when you need it. Seek care when something doesn't feel right.
Feeling under the weather?
Wellness NOW makes getting care convenient wherever you are.
Schedule your virtual appointment today at Wellness NOW.
