FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 7, 2017 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
health
Is it a cold or the fl u? When to seek care
Your nose is running. You are coughing
and tired. Are you sure it’s just a cold?
You could have infl uenza, commonly
referred to as “the fl u.” Although common,
the fl u can be serious and even lead
to hospitalization or death. Knowing the
diff erence between a cold and the fl u is
very important so you can get the right
care, prevent worsening symptoms, and
help prevent the spread to family, friends
and coworkers.
Even if you’ve had the fl u vaccination
this year, it’s still possible to catch the fl u
and to pass it on to others.
“Every year we fi nd that patients have
a tendency to underestimate the fl u and
forget what a serious health risk that
the fl u presents, particularly for the very
young and for seniors, but really for anyone
when it is left unaddressed,” said
Dr. Jason Tibbels, MD, board-certifi ed
family physician and director for quality
programs at Teladoc, the world’s largest
and most trusted provider of virtual care
delivery services. “Without proper care,
the fl u can be life-threatening, so it’s vital
to seek care as soon as you’re experiencing
any symptoms.”
Th e Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the
last seven years the fl u has been responsible
for more than 700,000 hospitalizations
and more than 55,000 deaths across
the U.S. Furthermore, the risk of fl u varies
state by state, and some regions -
including Texas, Florida and California
- tend to see more fl u cases than others.
To fi nd out the fl u risk in your state, visit
www.Teladoc.com/fl u.
If you’re experiencing fl u symptoms,
don’t wait to seek care. Telehealth is an
ideal option, and yet many people don’t
realize that they have access to a telehealth
solution like Teladoc through their
health benefi ts. With telehealth, you can
visit with a doctor from the comfort and
safety of your home - or wherever you
are, at any time of day or night. Within
minutes, using a phone, mobile app or
the web, you can access board-certifi ed
doctors from any location, getting you
and your family the care you need, when
you need it. Th is keeps you out of places
like the ER, which can be breeding
grounds for illness, and in a fl u-free zone,
and enables children and adults to stay at
home when sick.
So how do you know if you have the
fl u? Flu symptoms are oft en very similar
to those of a cold and include nasal
congestion, cough, aches and fatigue. We
asked Teladoc’s Dr. Tibbels for the top
fi ve signs you may have the fl u. Here’s
what he said:
1. Quick onset. Th e fl u oft en comes on
suddenly, whereas cold symptoms can
slowly worsen over the span of a few days
and are generally milder.
2. Fever. A moderate to high fever (at or
above 101 degrees Fahrenheit) and chills
are associated with the fl u, and are not
typical symptoms of the common cold.
3. Aches and headaches. Severe muscle
or body aches are a telltale fl u symptom.
4. Known exposure: Close contact with
individuals known to have infl uenza can
increase the chance of contracting the
virus.
5. Time of year. You can catch a cold at
any time of year, but fl u season typically
runs from November through March.
Symptoms that show up outside of fl u
season are more likely to be from a cold
or an allergy.
“If you are feeling sick, going to the ER
or visiting urgent care may make you feel
worse, while also putting others at risk of
catching your illness,” said Dr. Tibbels.
“Visiting a Teladoc doctor is the most
eff ective way to get quality care, while also
containing symptoms and stopping the
spread of fl u.”
To learn more about Teladoc and the
level of fl u risk where you live, visit
Teladoc.com/fl u.
Courtesy BPT
