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News Flash
What should I do to prevent the flu?
You should receive the regular flu vaccine for this year. Seasonal influenza shots are now available for all of our patients, including pregnant women. This year's flu shot includes protection against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common, including the 2009 H1N1 strain that caused so much illness last year. You should also perform appropriate hand washing and cover your cough or sneeze. If you know someone has the flu, you should minimize close contact with them and if you have to care for them, consider using a mask.
If you are a high risk individual and have some one in your house with the flu, treatment with antiviral medication to prevent infection is recommended.
Who is at higher risk for complications from the flu?
- People 65 years and older,
- Children younger than five years old,
- Pregnant women, and
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.This includes diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease
How will I know I have the flu?
Your symptoms are likely flu if you have a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater AND:
- cough or sore throat or runny nose or upper respiratory symptoms and/or
- headache, body aches and/or
- vomiting and/or diarrhea
What should I do if I have the flu?
If you are not one of the people in the high risk group, you should stay at home and reduce the chance of spreading the flu to other people. The CDC and MN department of health advise staying home. If you have questions you can call the clinic, but do not come to the clinic for an evaluation.
If symptoms are mild, and you do not fall into a high risk group, then treatment is not needed. You should keep yourself hydrated with plenty of fluids and you can take Tylenol or Advil or Aleve for fever and body aches. You need to stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of any fever reducing medications like Tylenol.
If you are one of the people in the high risk group, you should contact our clinic or your primary care doctor's office for treatment. This can be done on the phone. Patients at high risk for complications from the flu should be treated with antiviral medication. Even if symptoms are not severe, staying at home is still recommended to prevent spreading the flu to others.
Severe symptoms include
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
If these severe symptoms develop then treatment at the hospital is recommended. If you are pregnant, treatment with antiviral medication is recommended even for mild cases.
Thinking about changing to a new doctor or clinic...or are you new in town?
Come tour our clinic and receive a free cholesterol and blood pressure check!
We provide free 10-minute tours for patients trying to choose the clinic that is right for them. On the short tour, you will learn about our services, our providers, and lots more. Also, at the end of the tour, you will receive a free cholesterol and blood pressure check.
Our tours are at: 9:00 a.m. on Mondays and 12 noon on Thursdays.
Call (952) 285-6140 to reserve your place!
Are you 60 years of age or older?
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We now have the new Zostavax vaccine to prevent Shingles (Herpes Zoster). For more information ask about the vaccine at your next appointment. Here’s a link to the CDC for more information: |
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