There’snever beenamore important time to take your health seriously.
These days, it seems healthcare is a topic of conversation almost everywhere you turn. But ironically, the unique challenges Ohioans face this year can make it easy to ignore the basic, essential practices that contribute to all of us living the healthiest, most fulfilling lives possible.
Two of the most important steps you and your loved ones can take? Having a primary care physician, and scheduling a wellness exam every year. These visits are important, because they can be so helpful in identifying potential health issues early on.
“You should have your annual wellness visit this year, because this year it is more important than ever to remain healthy,” says Dr. Bryan Ghiloni, Medical Director, Mount Carmel Medical Group. “The wellness visit gives you and your doctor or advanced practitioner the opportunity to be proactive in your healthcare decisions.”
Experts agree that ignoring your health – especially during a pandemic – can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Meeting with your healthcare team provides you an opportunity to ask specific questions about your health, and to receive education and tools designed to help keep you healthy.
“Annual wellness visits set aside time to discuss screening and your personal health, wellness and disease prevention,” Ghiloni continues. “Your physician or advanced practitioner may not have enough time scheduled for this during a sick visit.”
Flu season is here.
While seasonal influenza viruses are detected year-round here in the United States, these viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Typically, flu activity peaks between December and February. But it can last as late as May.
Getting your flu shot this year is especially important, because it can further protect you and those around you from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks, reducing the impact of respiratory illness.
“Even during seasons where the flu vaccine is less protective than we would like, it continues to offer some protection against a very serious infection,” Ghiloni explains. “The flu vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective for the vast majority of people.”
It’s true that familiar COVID-19 precautions such as wearing a mask, physical distancing and proper hand hygiene also play an important role in combating the flu virus. But it’s still extremely important to get your flu shot.
Area providers are working to make it easier and more convenient than ever to get this year’s flu shot. For instance, Mount Carmel now offers both Saturday hours and drive-through clinic options at many locations.
Is it the flu, or Coronavirus?
Both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory viruses, and both diseases can become extremely serious – especially if allowed to continue untreated. They also share other similarities.
“It’s difficult to tell the difference between a cold, the flu, and
COVID-19 in this day and age,” says Dr. Mark Herbert, an Infectious Disease Specialist at Mount Carmel.
“COVID-19 and influenza are respiratory illnesses that cause fever primarily. They can cause people to have a cough and headache, and it’s common that they have muscle aches all over. COVID-19 patients have a tendency to feel fatigued, a little bit achy, and have a loss of appetite. Often that occurs a few days before they get the more typical symptoms, like shortness of breath or fever or cough. Flu patients have a tendency to get sick more quickly. The fever occurs more quickly. The muscle aches occur more quickly.”
As with other health issues, the best approach is to be as proactive as possible.
“It’s important for us to recognize the symptoms for influenza and COVID-19,” Herbert continues. “If we have these symptoms, it’s important for us to contact our healthcare provider within a couple of days, because that’s when the treatment can really be the most helpful.”
Keeping healthcare safe in the time of COVID-19.
Around the world, healthcare professionals have increasingly found themselves on the front lines in the ongoing fight against this global pandemic. They’re also leading the way in developing protocols to minimize risk for anybody entering a hospital or medical office.
A good example close to home is Mount Carmel. Guided by safety as their top priority, Mount Carmel has established numerous system-wide precautions to keep both patients and providers as safe as possible.
These include temperature and symptom screenings at every entrance; mandatory masking for all staff, patients and visitors; plexiglass shields at registration stations; limited, socially-distanced seating in all waiting rooms; and enhanced cleaning protocols following the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mount Carmel has also streamlined check-in and check-out processes, minimizing both time spent and potential close contact. And they’re part of a nationwide trend toward more healthcare delivered via secure, private telemedicine visits when appropriate. They are even offering 24/7 access to a clinician with Mount Carmel Virtual Visit.
And if you’re wondering what you can do to make things safer? Observing the basics is still your best bet, according to experts like Dr. Herbert: “If we’re wearing a mask, washing our hands, and standing six feet apart, the chance of us transmitting COVID will be much lessened.”
Make your appointment, and make a difference.
It’s especially important to get your flu shot this year and have an annual wellness visit. And whether you are a new or existing patient, you can conveniently schedule your appointment online at mountcarmelmedicalgroup.com or call 614-627-2700.