By Tiffany Wohlwend, MPA – C, St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine
A good deal of disease can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle consisting of eating well (healthy), staying hydrated by drinking lots of water, and getting plenty of exercise and sleep. In addition, avoid being around sick people. If you are sick, stay home!
If you need to cough or sneeze, do so into the crook of your arm or into a tissue and throw it away. Avoid putting your fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth. Practice safe hand hygiene. Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, like handrails, table tops, or toys, and then transferred to another person’s hands.
Get a flu shot!
Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. It also may make your illness milder if you do get sick. Getting vaccinated yourself protects people around you, including those who are more vulnerable, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
When to see your Primary Care Provider or visit the Emergency Department:
Colds are viruses and will generally go away on their own with or without treatment from a doctor. Colds and their residual symptoms (particularly cough) can last as long as 14 days. Some symptoms may indicate something more serious that does require medical attention:
- If you feel lightheaded or dizzy or feel like you might faint. If you faint, seek immediate medical attention.
- Persistent or severe vomiting.
- A cough that stays for 10 days or more or is getting worse. It may indicate an infection that needs further evaluation and treatment with prescription medication.
- Chest pain or pressure. Coughing may cause you to be sore, but if pain fluctuates with breathing, you may have pneumonia. Severe chest pain should always be addressed immediately.
- Prolonged or high fever that does not respond to Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
If symptoms are severe, seek immediate medical attention. Our Emergency Department, located at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, 100 Hospital Drive, is staffed 24/7 with board-certified emergency medicine physicians.
We have expanded hours for walk-in and same-day care over the holidays! Ketchum walk-in care: Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 29, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Same-day care in Ketchum: Monday, Dec. 23, Thursday, Dec. 26, Friday, Dec. 27, Monday, Dec. 30, Thursday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. For same-day appointments with Dr. Busby, call (208) 727-8811. Same-Day Care in Hailey: Monday – Friday starting at 9 a.m., St. Luke’s Clinic – Family Medicine, 1450 Aviation Drive, Hailey. Call to schedule: (208) 788-3434. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.