GA’s Bad Flu Season Is Getting Worse: Here’s What You Need To Know

Usually defying the odds is a good thing, but when it comes to the flu, not so much. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Georgia—and its 10 million residents—are up against with this year’s flu season. According to the CDC, the peach state is one of only three states to have widespread flu activity. This means that flu cases have been reported across half the state—or more.

Because Georgia’s flu season has already ramped up, it’s important that each of us do our part to help minimize the spread of the flu. A great place to start is to remember the basics of flu prevention, this includes:

·         Getting vaccinated: your best defense against the flu is to get vaccinated. Keep in mind that everyone in your family—6 months or older—should be getting one annually.

·         Not sharing your germs: If you feel sick, make sure to stay home. Going into work or running errands won’t help anyone, especially you, as you’ll only be left feeling worn out and worse for wear.

·         Practicing good hygiene: This means more than remembering to wash your hands (we’ll get to that later). Remember to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And if you have to cough or sneeze, make sure to cover your mouth and nose.

·         Wash, wash and wash some more. Start with your hands—make sure that you’re washing properly and frequently. And don’t stop there. You’ll want to be sure to disinfect all potentially-contaminated surfaces, like doorknobs, remote controls and phones.

In addition to those flu-season musts, here are a few insights you should keep in mind to help protect yourself—and your loved ones—from those dreaded flu bugs:

·         The flu is spread in more ways than one… While the virus can live on objects for upwards of 48 hours (yikes!), it is most often passed through the air via a sneeze or cough.

·         …But not through the vaccine. The flu vaccine can't give you the flu. That’s because the vaccine is made from pieces of dead flu virus cells. After getting the vaccine, some people have mild flu-like symptoms as a side effect. This is not the same thing as having the flu.

·         You may be contagious longer than you think. Even if you’re feeling better, or you haven’t started to feel ill, you can still spread the flu virus to others. According to the CDC, you’re contagious a day before symptoms start and up to 5 days afterward.

·         The flu causes more than just a fever. While a high fever is one of the most notorious symptoms of the flu, it isn’t the only one. And more importantly, a fever doesn’t always indicate that the flu is the culprit. Keep a look out for a high fever (defined as 102 degrees or higher), as well as these other symptoms:

o   Muscle aches

o   Chills

o   Runny nose

o   Congestion

o   Fatigue

o   Cough and/or sore throat

o   Headache

o   Nausea along with vomiting and/or diarrhea

I think I have the flu, now what: The best place to start is always with a trusted medical provider. To ensure that you have access to the care you need exactly when you need it, we offer a variety of different services at many convenient locations. In addition to our expert primary care providers, we also offer urgentand emergency care.

However, if we leave you with one key takeaway from this article (in addition to seeking medical care), it’s that getting the flu shotis always important—regardless of the month. While the flu season may have already begun, it’s never too late to take this important step in prevention to protect yourself and your family.

No Thermometer, No Problem: 6 Ways To Tell If You Have A Fever

If you remember one thing about the month of December, remember this: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. The holly-jolly festivities have already begun (and it’s only the first week), including everything from gift shopping, and menu planning to attending family gatherings and festive office parties, and the fun won’t stop until the New Year. While all of this holiday cheer is what makes this time of year so special, nothing drains your energy faster.

So when you’re lying in bed at the end of yet another long day, feeling totally exhausted, you may be tempted to brush the tiredness off as nothing more than festive fatigue. Unfortunately, though, it could be something more. Did someone say fever?

There’s only one way to know for sure; thank goodness for thermometers. Of course, that’s only if you can find where you stashed it the last time. But if you can’t seem to track it down, what should you do? 

Tik Pau, MD, a primary care provider with GMG's Bostock Family Medicine, provides 6 Ways To Check For Fever (and a few other tips to keep in mind):

1.    Feel your forehead. Of course we had to kick-off the list with an old standby. This is a go-to method of feeling for a fever, but it isn’t necessarily the most accurate. "While we all know that a hand can’t be as precise as a thermometer, the real issue here is that many people do this incorrectly," says Dr. Pau. "When feeling for temperature, make sure to use the back of your hand as this the most temperature-sensitive place."

2.    Check those cheeks (and skin). Is it just your imagination, or do you have a nice rosy-cheeked glow going on? Well, if you have a fever that may be the case. "Not only does your skin take on a pink or red look when you’re warm, your blood vessels also dilate with a fever, giving your cheeks a pinkish appearance," explains Dr. Pau.

3.    Monitor for dehydration. With a fever comes an elevated metabolism, which means you burn through water (and other fluids) much faster. "If you notice symptoms of dehydration, like dark urine, headache, dry mouth and thirst, this could indicate you have a fever," notes Dr. Pau. "This is especially true if you’ve been drinking ample fluids and you still notice these signs."

4.    Assess your activity. Now we aren’t recommending that you try to exercise when you’re feeling under the weather, but routine activity can be a great way to gauge energy levels and overall strength. If you find normal activities, like going up the stairs, walking to the mailbox or perusing the aisles of the grocery store, more tiring than usual, this could mean a fever has landed. "That’s because a fever causes aches and pains, as well as general feelings of weakness," adds Dr. Pau.

5.    Ask around. Now before you assume that it’s just you that’s feeling extra warm, or getting the chills, there’s a chance that there could be another reason for why you’re feeling a certain way. Check in with those around you to see if they’re feeling the same way, or perhaps they could remind you of other possible factors. For instance, the thermostat may be colder than usual, or that hot tea may have really warmed you up.

6.    Cave in and get a new thermometer. There’s no substitute for knowing, especially when it comes to your health. When in doubt, it’s best to get a thermometer—or have someone get one for you—so you can check your temperature accurately. Here are a few helpful tidbits to keep in mind:

·        "If you have a temperature above your normal temperature, but below 100.4, this is called a low-grade fever," says Dr. Pau. A low-grade fever is mild, and may not need medical attention. "Normal body temperature is 98.6, but that can vary by 1 to 2 degrees from person to person," emphasizes Dr. Pau. Your normal temperature may also be lower in the early morning and higher in late afternoon.

·        "Hot or cold food and drinks can affect the temperature reading in a person’s mouth," notes Dr. Pau, "so you should take your oral temperature at least 20 minutes after you eat or drink anything."

·        Even if you have the chills, don’t pile on the layers as these things can raise a person’s body temperature by trapping body heat. Lightweight clothing and lightweight bed coverings are best. These allow body heat to escape and help to not raise a person’s temperature.

Fever…now what? Unfortunately, fever is one of those things that can be a symptom for almost anything. It doesn’t help that it’s also cold and flu season. So, is it a cold bug, the flu, an infection, even the result of taking a medication? The experts at GMG primary care are prepared to find out. From thorough, prompt diagnostics to comprehensive, personalized care, our health care providers will get you feeling better, faster. With convenient locations and easy, online scheduling, you can count on GMG primary care for all your winter health needs. 

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