PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR
A new year is here with a chance for many opportunities — including stepping up your family’s routine! Use these three tips to protect your family’s health this year:
1. IMPROVE YOUR LIFESTYLE HABITS
One of the first things patients tend to improve in the New Year is their lifestyle habits so they can live a healthier life overall. While there are many ways to do this, here are some places to start:
- Visit your doctor regularly.
- Add more movement to your routine.
- Lower your blood pressure.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Choose lean proteins like chicken and fish.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Diagnose and control existing symptoms.
- Seek treatment if you are ill or are in pain.
2. STRENGTHEN YOUR JOINTS
For athletes and elderly patients, joint pain or damage can cause a visit to your doctor. Taking supplements and increasing your calcium intake is a great way to protect your joints and bones and prevent damage.
Sprain or Break?
When an injury happens like a blow to the knee or a slip and fall, it can be hard to know what’s wrong. Often, it’s either a sprain or a break — but the two are very similar.
A strain is a soft tissue injury that occurs when a ligament (a tissue that connects two or more bones at one joint) is stretched, and a sprain occurs when a ligament is torn. Typically, sprains take about a week to heal, though in some cases, it can take up to 4 weeks or more.
Symptoms of a strain include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Popping noise
Strains typically require rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications.
A break is also called a fracture and refers to when a bone is shattered by excessive force. When a break goes through part or all of a bone, it’s also called a broken bone. An X-ray is commonly needed to diagnose a broken bone — unless the bone is popping through the skin.
A broken bone has the following symptoms:
- Inability to put weight on the limb (deformity).
- Crunching sound at the time of the incident.
- Pain and swelling.
Patients with a broken bone may need a cast, screws, and metal plates.
3. PREVENT COVID-19 & OTHER VIRAL DISEASES
With COVID-19 still spreading, school back in session, and communities reopening, taking the proper protective measures to keep your family safe has never been more important. At the same time, common winter illnesses such as the common cold, the seasonal flu, and the stomach flu are still present — and no one wants to start the New Year sick!
The best ways to protect yourself and your family include:
- Getting vaccinated against the flu & COVID-19.
- Properly wash your hands.
- Follow CDC guidelines.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat a healthy diet.
It’s important to know the common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 for both children and adults — as they can differ. This will help you seek the care you need:
Adult Signs of COVID-19
Adult signs of COVID-19 according to the CDC are:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Pediatric Signs of COVID-19
Pediatric and infant symptoms are similar, but these are typically milder than adult cases of COVID-19 and include:
- Pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms.
- Sore throat.
- Excessive fatigue.
- Diarrhea.
- Cough
- Fever or chills
- Congestion or runny nose
If you believe you or your loved one is sick, visit Gemini Urgent Care for testing and treatment.
HOUSTON URGENT CARE SERVICES
At Gemini Urgent Care, we’re dedicated to providing our community with fast, friendly, high-quality unscheduled acute and chronic medical services in a comfortable setting. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care while providing excellent customer service and personalized attention.
If you become sick this flu season, stop into our walk-in clinic today or learn more about your telemedicine options. To learn more about our services or help with any questions, contact our team today.