WKMG NEWS 6’s Breakfast with Bridgett host Bridgett Ellison invited Health First Medical Group Chief Medical Officer Timothy Laird, MD, onto the show Feb. 2, 2024, to explain how to arm yourself and your loved ones against common contagions such as flu and COVID-19. First, he said, get vaccinated.

 

Many viral infections can be year-round but peak in the winter months.

Suffering is not the only consequence. Health First Medical Group Chief Medical Officer Timothy Laird, MD, told WKMG NEWS 6’s Breakfast with Bridgett host Bridgett Ellison earlier this month that "one type of illness can lower your defenses for another.”

While most Americans will hunker down, stay hydrated and eat regularly, limit loved ones' exposure inside the house and get rest, there are some for whom a diagnosis will be important.

For instance, Dr. Laird said, there are over-the-counter testing kits for COVID-19. If you test positive and are vulnerable to serious illness, there’s an antiviral, Paxlovid, that can be administered. This can significantly decrease a person’s chances of hospitalization.

Tamiflu, likewise, is a treatment that lowers risk of serious illness for those with the seasonal flu.

In both of these cases, a person’s first line of defense is simply – get vaccinated. There are effective and safe vaccinations against both flu and COVID-19.

Meanwhile, if being seen by a care provider does seem like a prudent course of action, consider options that are more convenient and faster than the nearest hospital Emergency Department.

The smart choice might be Care Finder from Health First, the first stop online at HF.org. It lets patients learn their care options with a few keystrokes. These include eVisits and Same Day Virtual Visits with a Primary Care Provider.

“There’s no inconvenient transportation considerations, and no exposure – from or to others,” Dr. Laird said.

However, if breathing becomes particularly labored, or a sufferer has major pre-existing complications such as lung disease or diabetes, that person or their loved one should seek care immediately.