Over the last few years, COVID-19 has been the grand focus, but during this cold and flu season, it’s important to remember that other commonly communicated illnesses are still here. Consistent cold slows down your body’s response time, and this includes your immune responses to illness. Cold weather and dry air create the perfect environment for viruses to fester, which is the main reason cold and flu season is identified to be around the start of winter. If you can’t recall the last time you used your primary care services, perhaps it’s time to schedule an appointment.

Mask Up

Many places have everyday masking culture that the United States seems to lack. This is because masks protect yourself and those around you from any kind of illness communicated by air, not just COVID. In the years that people were quarantined and masked consistently, the U.S. saw a lower number of cold and flu cases than ever before. This includes fatalities from the flu, which is still quite a prevalent thing in this country.

Get Vaccinated

It seems repetitive at this point, but people work year-round to modify the flu vaccine standard to be able to anticipate the next wave. This is why getting vaccinated and boosted when recommended is so important. The cold and flu uniquely mutate consistently, so protection has come to evolve with it. According to Medical News Today, if the vaccine matches up to the viruses circulating, a vaccinated person’s chances of getting sick are 40 to 60% lower. Vaccination has also become more accessible, with many urgent care centers, schools, and even store pharmacies being able to safely administer the vaccine to walk-ins.

Regular Physicals

It’s common to stop getting physicals or check-ups as an adult, but there’s still a proven benefit of speaking regularly about your health. Most primary care services have tele-med services and financial assistance programs if accessibility is a worry. Regular check-ups can help to detect underlying issues you may not even know are there. Things like excessive tiredness or a weak immune system are often shrugged off but can be a sign of things like chronic illness, vitamin deficiency, or a problem in your family’s genetics. Obviously not every little discomfort is worth going to the doctor over, but it’s important to remember that they’re there to help improve the general quality of life as well as treat the sick.

Immunocompromised individuals are everywhere; you may even be one without knowing. Conditions like this can make lasting effects from illness much more detrimental than usual, so having a guard up this winter is the responsible and smart way to go. A strange disdain for self-care has overcome this culture. People have the right to health and comfort, and if you have primary care services, they can help you pursue them. Give Care Station Medical a call today to see how we can help!