Fluids Are Your Friend
Some advice on the internet says that drinking water every 15 minutes can flush COVID-19 out of your system. This is false.
While supplements like Vitamin C and Vitamin D may boost your immune system, theres no evidence of any magical antiviral supplement. However, if youre fighting off any illness, whether thats the common cold or COVID-19, staying hydrated can aid your recovery process. If you have a fever, like I did, your risk of dehydration increases, which can make you sicker and in extreme cases lead to hospitalization. Experts recommend consuming water over other drinks, and some research suggests hot drinks can help with a wider range of symptoms than room-temp ones.
Worried youre not getting enough fluids? Nephrologist Dr. Mitchell Rosner recommends patients listen to their bodies. It sounds oversimplistic, but thats where your thirst comes in, he told the Washington Post. Its individual, it regulates your own body, and its going to be different for everybody.
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Do Urgent Care Centers Administer Ivs And Medication
Because the staff at all urgent care facilities are medical professionals either doctors or nurse practitioners, they are able to give you the best medical advice and offerings available. In some cases, this may include items such as IVs and medication. This is on a case-by-case basis. If it is determined that you require a medication, a prescription and more information will be given to you. In addition, if you are dehydrated and require an IV, this will be explained and a medical professional will get this started.
The Cost Difference Between In
While most urgent care centers do accept some forms of insurance, a good question to ask is, is this urgent care center in-network?
When an urgent care center is in-network, it means that your insurance provider has pre-negotiated rates for healthcare with them. These rates are often lower than their normal fees, making it cheaper for you and your insurance provider .
If an urgent care center is out-of-network, they can set their own rates and bill you for the amount that your insurance wont cover. Increasingly, health insurance plans offer no coverage at all for non-emergency medical care outside of their network, so you may end up paying the full cost.
The urgent care center may say they accept your insurance but what really matters is if they are in-network or out-of-network, so be sure to double-check. When you book an appointment on Solv, you know if you are going to a clinic that takes your insurance.
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Do I Have To Have Insurance To Go To An Urgent Care Clinic
While your insurance plan may cover your visit to an urgent care clinic, many urgent care clinics offer a self-pay option for those who are uninsured or out-of-network.
Urgent care visits are a fraction of the cost of emergency room visits, which makes urgent care a more feasible option for uninsured patients with non-life-threatening conditions who need medical care.
How Do I Get The Covid
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best, safest way to not get severely ill. Like all vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine teaches your body how to develop its own immunity to the virus that causes this illness. A COVID-19 vaccine usually requires two doses. The second shot happens 14 to 28 days after the first. It takes about three weeks after your last shot to develop immunity. Getting a COVID-19 vaccination will depend on availability and guidelines in your state. Contact us about getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
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Duke Virtual Urgent Care Makes It Easy To Talk To A Doctor During Flu Season
Its winter and youre tired, coughing, and have a low fever. What do you do next? As the country settles into another flu season, its important to familiarize yourself with flu symptoms and how to care for yourself if you get sick. While getting a flu vaccine is the best way to stay healthy, Duke urgent care providers are available in person and virtually to answer questions and offer guidance when you think you may have the flu.
What Are The Emergency Warning Signs Of Flu
- Pneumonia
- Myocarditis
- Encephalitis
- Myositis or rhabdomyolysis
- Multi-organ failure
- Aggravation of chronic medical problems
- Ribs pulling in with each breath
- Chest pain
- Lethargic
- Seizures
- High fever
- Any fever for babies less than 12 weeks
- Fever or cough that improves and then returns or worsens
- Worsening chronic medical conditions
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Dizziness or confusion
- Fever or cough that improves and then returns or worsens
- Worsening chronic medical conditions
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Cold And Flu Treatment
It can be difficult to differentiate between the cold and the flu due to the number of shared symptoms, yet it is important to do so as the flu can cause complications and may require treatment. Both are respiratory illnesses that cause some similar symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses.
Cold Symptoms: Do I have a cold?
When determining between a cold or the flu, one of the first things to notice is the severity of symptoms. Cold signs and symptoms are similar to those of the flu, except that cold symptoms tend to be milder than flu symptoms and are more likely to include runny or stuffy noses.
Colds are viral upper respiratory tract infections affecting the nasal area. Cold signs and symptoms can include headaches, sneezing, runny noses, coughs, and a sore throat.
Usually lasting for 7-10 days, colds tend to be more prevalent in the spring and winter. Colds do not typically require treatment and will usually go away on their own. Occasionally, a cough will remain after other cold symptoms have passed, indicating a chest cold, which is known as bronchitis, and medical treatment may be required.
If symptoms seem to be on the strong side from the outset, visiting Xpress Urgent Care to test for the flu may be necessary.
Flu Symptoms: Do I have the flu?
Worse than the common cold, the flu is caused by the Influenza virus. It can last up to a week and can cause serious complications.
Flu test and treatment at Xpress Urgent Care
Flu Is It Time To See Your Doctor
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, which is a contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, hospitalization, or even death. Flu activity typically peaks in January and February. Although they share many of the same symptoms, the flu is not the same as a cold. Flu symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Flu symptoms typically occur rapidly and last three to seven days. You are contagious both before experiencing symptoms and after theyve subsided. If you or one of your family members is experiencing any of these symptoms, visit your nearest NextCare Urgent Care today for diagnosis and treatment.
You can protect yourself and your family by getting a flu shot at the start of each flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that every person aged 6 months to 65 years get an annual flu vaccine and those persons with certain high risk medical conditions.
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If You Have Insurance But Havent Met Your Deductible
Even with insurance, medical care isnt free. Youll need to pay your annual deductible before your medical coverage will kick in. And, after your deductible, youll still be responsible for a copay or coinsurance.
If you havent met your deductible at the time of your urgent care visit, you may have to pay the full cost of the visit. If youre included in the nearly 50% of Americans who have a high deductible health plan , this is a more likely scenario.
The minimum yearly deductible for an individual HDHP in 2022 is $1,400. Families are looking at a minimum annual deductible of $2,800. If you havent paid those minimum amounts, youll have to pay out-of-pocket for your urgent care visit.
Wait, theres good news. A visit to urgent care even if you have to pay out-of-pocket is still less expensive than going to the ER. On average, urgent care visits cost between $100 and $200. ER visits are significantly more, usually over $2,000.
To give you an idea of what youll pay , Solv displays the out-of-pocket prices for the urgent care clinics we recommend.
To get a clear idea of the out-of-pocket cost of urgent care, take advantage of the Solv ClearPrice tool. Youll see the cost of care at a variety of urgent care clinics in your area.
Signs You Should Go To The Emergency Room For The Flu
In some cases your symptoms are too severe to be treated at Urgent Medical Center and instead require emergency attention. The emergency room costs more than urgent care and it may take several hours to be seen by a doctor, but in more serious cases its a necessary decision.
Here are some of the symptoms that may indicate the need to go to your local emergency room as soon as possible.
For Children:
- Skin or lips are a bluish-hue.
- Child is breathing fast or having troubles breathing all together.
- Child is not waking up.
- Child is not interacting properly.
- Child is so irritable they resist being held.
- They have a fever that comes with a rash.
- Flu-symptoms start to improve before coming back with a fever and worse cough.
- Less urination than normal.
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Can You Treat The Flu With Medicine
If your flu symptoms are on the more serious side you may need antiviral drugs prescribed by a doctor. Antiviral drugs will speed up the recovery process by helping your body fight off the infection. They may also reduce the risk of further complications associated with the flu such as dehydration or bronchitis.
If a doctor does not prescribe antiviral drugs you can help reduce discomfort by taking over the counter medicines like Tylenol.
Your Best Source For Flu Testing & Treatment In St Johns Mi
Influenza viruses cause misery for millions of Americans each year, and many people develop serious complications as a result of a flu infection. For this reason alone, its important to receive an accurate diagnosis and speedy treatment at the onset of flu symptoms. However, now that people are at risk for contracting COVID-19, a new and highly contagious strain of coronavirus, getting a flu test as soon as you begin experiencing symptoms is more important than ever. Fortunately, if youre in the St. Johns, Michigan, area, you can turn to Ouch Urgent Care, your hometown source for fast, nonemergency health care, when you need testing for flu and/or COVID-19.
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Why Do Doctors Work At Urgent Care Clinics In Albuquerque
Doctors often leave the stressful environment of an emergency room or the culture of working increasingly long hours at a primary care facility to work at an urgent care clinic. Albuquerque urgent care clinics often have a better working environment, and although the doctors may be exposed to more contagious illnesses, they get better compensation and more regular working hours than if they chose to work at a family practice or even some emergency rooms.
Does Insurance Help Pay For Urgent Care
Those with insurance may not benefit much more than those without insurance when visiting an urgent care facility. The Affordable Care Act requires emergency services coverage by most health insurance plans. Unfortunately, an urgent care visit is not always considered an emergency in their eyes.
When you go to a hospital, it is assumed you are dealing with an emergency. When you go to urgent care, insurance companies may decide your visit was not an emergency. In this situation, those with insurance might be in the same position as those without insurance.
If insurance does cover the visit, patients still have to pay the necessary copay or deductible. According to Solv, those with insurance typically have a copay of $35 to $75 for a visit to urgent care.
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Is Urgent Care Really Cheaper Than The Er
Figuring out what you might pay for a doctors visit can be incredibly confusing. But it doesnt have to be. Almost all urgent care clinics take insurance and are far more affordable than a visit to the ER, which could cost you $2000 or more, depending on what youre being seen for.
Many people go to the ER because they know theyll have to be treated, even without insurance. Urgent care centers will also treat you without insurance and many will offer payment plans if you cant pay upfront.
Regardless of how you choose to pay, youll end up spending a lot less using Solv to visit urgent care than you would at the ER. Solv brings transparency to your visit costs so that you can make an informed choice about where to go the next time you need same-day medical attention.
Urgent care clinics can be a great way to get affordable medical care, especially when you know what to expect before you arrive.
Michael is an experienced healthcare marketer and father of two. He has worked alongside healthcare leaders at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, St. Luke’s, Baylor Scott and White, HCA, and many more, and currently leads growth marketing at Solv.
How Can I Ease Irritating Symptoms Of Vaginitis
Even though vaginitis can be super itchy and irritating, try not to scratch. It can cause more irritation or cuts in your skin, which can spread germs and lead to more infection. There are over-the-counter vaginal creams that you can use on your vulva to help calm the irritation. Your doctor can also give you tips on relieving burning and itching.
Avoid sex until your infection or irritation goes away . Friction from sex and your partners body fluids can cause more irritation or make it harder to heal. And some medicines that you use in your vagina have oil in them, which can cause condoms to break.
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When To Talk To A Doctor
Mony Mehrotra, MD, a Duke Health urgent care doctor and medical director for Duke Primary Cares telehealth offerings, advises people to talk to a medical provider if theyre dealing with flu-like symptoms. Symptoms include muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, coughing, nausea, and fever.
Having this conversation when flu-like symptoms start is really important because we can prescribe medicine that can help, Dr. Mehrotra said. Starting antiviral medication as early as possible may help you feel better faster.
Virtual visits offer an option thats fast and convenient, she said. People can stay in the comfort of their home and prevent others from potentially getting exposed, and we can order tests just like we do when a patient comes to see us in the office. When we meet with someone for a video visit, we also make sure they dont show any symptoms that could indicate a more serious concern like pneumonia or dehydration.
What Is A Rapid Flu Test
Officially known as a rapid influenza diagnostic test , a rapid flu test is a type of diagnostic testing that is used to detect the presence of the influenza virus. The test is administered by a medical professional who uses a nasal swab to collect a sample from the patients respiratory system, which is then tested for the virus. Rapid flu tests work quickly and show results in about 15-20 minutes.
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How Do You Know If You Need A Flu Test
Your need for a flu test will come down to the symptoms to present to your doctor, and how they decide to diagnose those symptoms. The most common signs and symptoms of the flu, per the CDC, usually include:
- Fever and chills
- Cough
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Vomiting and diarrhea
You may realize that the symptoms listed above are also very common to those seen with COVID-19and if your doctor decides to test for that first, and it comes back negative, they will likely move on to a flu test, Robert L. Murphy, MD, a professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine, tells Health.
Urgent Care Centers Generally Cost Less Than Emergency Rooms
Of course, what youll pay will depend on your insurance, but urgent care is often much cheaper.
Because most urgent care clinics dont have as much equipment or specialist availability as an emergency department, the cost to provide care is less, and many insurance companies will require a lower copayment for evaluation, Paul L. Nadler, M.D., medical director of adult urgent care and a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, tells SELF.
deeper look, yeast infection
Can you go to urgent care for a yeast infection? you ask. Of course, you can! Yeast infections are common, and most urgent care centers are equipped to treat them. You dont always need to go to urgent care for a yeast infection, though. While its always best to err on the side of caution with any medical problem, we should discuss what yeast infections are, and when they need medical attention.
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Urgent Care Vs The Er: How Do I Know Where To Go
Urgent care centers can save you from a trip to the ER, but they cant treat all conditions. Generally, urgent care is for situations that are not emergencies but cant wait until you get an appointment with your primary care doctor. The ER is for potentially life threatening situations and serious injuries.
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