Many believe the flu is nothing more than a very bad cold; however, the flu can be deadly. Because it weakens the immune system, the flu can leave you vulnerable for opportunistic infections – notably bacterial pneumonia – the results of which can be devastating. Since it’s nearly impossible to avoid coming into the contact with the virus, your best protection is to get a flu shot. Here’s why getting a flu shot is the safest, most convenient way to avoid getting the flu this or any other year. ... [Read More]
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The Long-Term Effects of STDs
Almost 20 million Americans contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) each year. That statistic may or may not surprise you, but those who are afflicted with an STD – both men and women – could face dire consequences if they allow the embarrassment and stigma attached to these diseases to prevent them from seeking immediate medical help. The most common STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, herpes, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C. Some of these diseases respond quickly and eff ... [Read More]
Talking to Your Teenager about STDs
If you are wondering when is the best time to talk about sex with your teen, the answer is “the sooner the better”. You definitely don’t want to be having this conversation while driving to the pharmacy to fill a prescription for a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The truth is that about 80% of teens are sexually active by the time they reach the age of 19 and approximately ½ of the 20 million reported cases of STDs annually are in people aged 15 to 24 years old. These reported cases include ... [Read More]
Get a Flu Shot Today so You Don’t Risk Dying Tomorrow
If you are looking forward to not dying tomorrow, you may want to consider getting an influenza (flu) shot today. That may sound funny, but the Centers for Disease Contol (CDC) estimates that 40,000 lives have been saved in the United States alone during the last decade because of people getting a seasonal flue shot. In the 1918 pandemic, 20-50 million people died worldwide. Antiviral medications, improved healthcare, and vaccines have all combined to save countless lives. Researchers have ... [Read More]
A Nurse Practitioner: A Different Dynamic of Care
You’re sick and you need to go to the doctor – or do you? The healthcare system in the United States has changed a lot, and today there are a lot more options for patients to choose from than say, 20 years ago. As the population grows – and grows older in particular – and the number of physicians decline, people are seeing a lot more nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) for not only primary care, but also for acute, urgent, and emergency care. You may have seen an NP or PA in th ... [Read More]
