The flu season is upon us again and many people in Las Vegas suffer from congestion, itchy or sore throats or even come down with the flu during the winter months. If you’re suffering from any of these illnesses this year, consult Dr. Dipti Shah, the best internist in Las Vegas. She will provide the appropriate treatment to ensure you completely recover from the malady.
Preventive Measures You Can Take
While we at Radar Medical offer world class medical care to our patients, our focus is also on prevention of illnesses. With this in view, here is some information that will help you avoid colds and the flu this winter.
Avoiding everyone who sneezes or coughs isn’t practical and wearing gloves and a mask to work isn’t really an option. It just isn’t possible to avoid touching doorknobs barehanded or shaking someone’s hand. While it might not be possible to avoid germ contamination entirely, you can fight back in some ways:
-
Wash Your Hands As Often As Possible
Wash your hands after touching doorknobs, other contaminated surfaces or someone’s hands. This is a good way to flush germs away before they start to affect you. If washing your hands often isn’t an option, use a hand sanitizer; it will help reduce the germs present on your hands. Avoid touching your nose or eyes with non-sanitized hands. These are the easiest ways for germs to find entry into your body.
-
Get Sufficient Sleep
Your body becomes fatigued when you don’t get sufficient rest. This means it doesn’t have the capacity to fight back against the germs, as it should. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, as it will help your body build its natural defenses against germs.
-
Get your Flu Shots
The best internal medicine specialist in Las Vegas recommends that you get your flu shot a couple of months before winter as that strengthens and boosts your immune system well before the flu season. However, if you haven’t gotten your flu shot already, you might still want to get it now as a preventive measure.
-
Focus On Building Up Your Strength
Maintain a healthy diet and include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits in your meals. These vitamin-packed foods bolster immunity that helps your body fight the flu virus and germs. Exercising regularly also boosts your immunity system, improves blood circulation and your overall health. Discontinue bad habits such as smoking as it affects your immune system and ups your risk of developing lung diseases. Keep yourself properly hydrated during wintertime; it helps your body fight viruses.
-
Where Possible, Avoid Sick People
Although it might not always be easy to stay away from individuals showing flu and cold symptoms, stay away from the ones you can. This includes not visiting homes where someone is sick. It’s also a good idea to avoid crowded places like shopping centers and malls and do your shopping online instead. Being in these places increases your chances of being exposed to the flu virus and cold germs.
It’s important to stay strong and make every effort to give your body what it requires to fight these wintertime maladies effectively. If your internal medicine expert in Las Vegas feels that supplements like Vitamin C etc. will be beneficial for you, she might recommend that you take them during this season.
Common Cold Vs. The Flu
Common cold and the flu are both respiratory illnesses spread by viruses and they have very similar symptoms. We at Radar Medical have seen that many patients find it difficult to distinguish between the two. In general, the flu is more severe and when left untreated, can lead to serious health complications like pneumonia. Both, a cold and the flu can cause a fever, however, its more common with influenza. Still not everyone with the flu will develop a fever.
Dr. Dipti Shah, the reputed internist in Las Vegas feels that recovering from these sicknesses is a lot about getting them treated in a timely manner. This is why it is important to be aware of the symptoms of the flu.
Flu Symptoms
Depending on the strain of the flu virus, certain symptoms may be less or more severe. The ones to look out for include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Stuffy/runny nose
- Headaches
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Flu Complications
Flu can cause a number of different complications such as:
- Pneumonia
- Myocarditis (heart inflammation)
- Encephalitis (a brain infection)
- Myositis (muscle inflammation)
Those with asthma and/or diabetes, and congestive heart failure are at high risk for various flu-related complications. Some of the warning signs of these complications include:
- Chest pressure or pain
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Loss of appetite
- Severe vomiting
Common Cold Vs. Seasonal Allergies
Dr. Dipti Shah at Radar Medical has also seen that many of her patients confuse the common cold with various seasonal allergens. This is because the latter are quite common in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. However, there is a distinct difference between the two.
If your throat feels very sore during high-pollen seasons and you’re experiencing sneezing at the same time, then seasonal allergies might be the culprit. If you’re suffering from a seasonal allergy, here are some winter health tips to keep them at bay:
- Avoid the outdoors
- Take your allergy medication every day
- Get sufficient vitamin C
Best Internal Medicine Center Las Vegas
As a Las Vegas internist, Dr. Shah also treats allergies and its best to consult her and get the right treatment. If you are unsure about whether you’re suffering from an allergy, common cold or the flu, schedule an appointment at Radar Medical immediately. In addition to these health issues, Dr. Shah also treats and helps manage common adult conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Arrhythmia
- Blood pressure
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Obesity
If you want to know more about our internist in Las Vegas, NV services, don’t hesitate to call Radar Medical at 702 644 0500 or get in touch through our contact us form.
