Did you know that winter is peak illness season? Our tendency to spend more time indoors leaves us vulnerable to contracting an illness through airborne illness transmission and direct contact with sick individuals. Find out how you can protect yourself from illness this winter. If you’re experiencing illness symptoms, visit AFC Urgent Care Linden for same-day illness diagnosis and treatment.

Why Are Illnesses More Common During the Winter?

During the colder months, our lifestyle habits tend to change. The biggest change is the amount of time we spend indoors. When the weather is unpredictable and cold, we spend more time indoors than outdoors. This makes us more susceptible to spreading and contracting illnesses. Many infections can spread through the air, or by touching common surfaces like doorknobs. In schools, places of work, and public places, illnesses spread quickly, meaning that illnesses tend to also spread within households very quickly.

If you’re concerned about getting sick this winter, it is important to know what illnesses are spreading during the winter so that you can identify the symptoms. Viral infections, such as the cold and flu, are the most common and most contagious illnesses because they spread through the air in addition to direct contact. However, bacterial infections also are extremely contagious and are common during the winter months.

Common illnesses to be aware of:

• Flu
• Cold
• Strep throat
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Pink eye
• RSV

Do My Illness Symptoms Require Medical Care?

Winter illnesses can spread quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment can often prevent illnesses from further developing and prevent severe symptoms. Although not all illnesses require medical treatment, many illnesses share early symptoms which can make it difficult to self-diagnose your illness at home. Your healthcare provider can evaluate your symptoms and run diagnostic tests to confirm your diagnosis and ensure you begin treatment early to promote a quick recovery.

Treatment options for illness symptoms depend on your symptoms, diagnosis and medical background. In most cases, viral infections can be resolved without medication. Your healthcare provider may be able to provide at-home care instructions and over-the-counter remedies for your symptoms. In the case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed to clear the infection. When you’re experiencing illness symptoms, the best way to ensure that you receive proper medical treatment is to seek early medical care for a medical diagnosis.

Illness Prevention Tips

Although medical treatment may be able to speed up your recovery, the best way to navigate winter illnesses is to take prevention steps to avoid getting sick in the first place. Although most common winter illnesses do not require medical intervention, they often cause uncomfortable symptoms that can be long-lasting. The following actions can help you stay healthy this winter.

Practice Good Hygiene: Although it may seem trivial, good hygiene can greatly reduce the chances of contracting an illness. In the case of both viral and bacterial infections, germs can live on surfaces for days after an infected person has touched them. Washing your hands regularly, using hand sanitizer after being in public spaces, and not touching your face can protect you from transmitting a virus from a surface to your respiratory system.

Focus on a Healthy Lifestyle: Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to ensure that your immune system is ready to fight off illnesses this winter. Eating nutrient-dense foods and staying active both have direct links to boosting your immunity. This will increase your body’s ability to fight off infections faster and more effectively.

Sanitize Surfaces: Regularly sanitizing surfaces, even if you’re not sick, can reduce your risk of getting sick. In many cases, you can carry an infection for days without having any symptoms. By sanitizing regularly, you are killing germs in your home that you may have brought home and protecting others from picking up the illness that you are carrying.

Isolate From Sick Individuals: Illnesses can spread very quickly. Although you may not be able to isolate completely from someone who is exhibiting illness symptoms, isolating yourself if you are sick and isolating family members who are sick both are a great way to ensure that infected people are not passing on their infections to others.

Get Vaccinated: Many common illnesses have vaccines available which can help greatly reduce your risk for illness. While some of these vaccines are available through your primary care provider, the flu vaccine is available annually and is a great way to safely protect yourself from severe illness caused by the flu. 

Walk into AFC Urgent Care Linden for Same-Day Illness Care in Linden, NJ

Avoiding illnesses during the colder winter months is not always possible, regardless of the steps you take to avoid illness. Luckily, AFC Urgent Care Linden offers same-day illness diagnosis and treatment 7 days a week. Our medical staff are experienced in identifying common illnesses based on your exact symptoms and providing effective treatments. Simply walk into our clinic, or schedule an appointment online.

At AFC Urgent Care Linden, we understand that illnesses can happen unexpectedly. Don’t let illness symptoms drag you down. Seeking early medical diagnosis and treatment for your illness symptoms can help prevent severe illness from developing. At AFC Urgent Care Linden, our facility has a laboratory on-site which allows us to provide an accurate medical diagnosis quickly. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer low-cost care options. Walk-in today. For additional questions regarding our clinic, please contact us directly by calling 908-275-5922.