Flu Symptoms: Should You Visit a Doctor?


According to Dr. Sunny Handa in Brampton most people who have the flu (influenza) have a mild illness and don't need to see a doctor. Common flu signs and symptoms include:

·       Fever above 100 F (38 C), though not everyone with the flu has a fever

·       A cough or sore throat

·       A runny or stuffy nose

·       Headache

·       Muscle aches

·       Chills

·       Fatigue

·       Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (most common in children)

Dr. Sunny Handa in Brampton says with some rest and self-care measures at home, the average healthy person can expect to get better within a week, although a dry cough may last for several weeks.

However, some people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications and should see a doctor.


Who needs to see a doctor?

If you or someone you're caring for is at high risk of flu-related complications and you suspect the flu, call the doctor. Dr. Sunny Handa in Brampton says for those at high risk of flu-related complications or who have severe flu, there's a greater chance that the flu might lead to pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, and, rarely, hospitalization or death. The flu can also worsen chronic health problems such as asthma and congestive heart failure.

According to Dr. Sunny Handa in Brampton you have an increased risk of flu-related complications if you:

·       Are younger than 12 months old

·       Are 65 years old or older

·       Are pregnant or have given birth in the past two weeks

·       Are younger than 19 years of age and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

·       Have certain chronic medical conditions, including lung diseases such as asthma, an airway abnormality, heart disease, diabetes, neurological or neurodevelopment disease, metabolic disorders, and kidney, liver or blood disease

·       Have a weakened immune system due to factors such as long-term use of steroids or other immunosuppressant’s, HIV, organ transplant, blood cancer, or cancer being treated with chemotherapy

·       Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater

·       Live in a long-term care facility such as a nursing home

·       Are in the hospital

Dr. Sunny Handa in Brampton says if you're in one of these groups or you have evidence of severe influenza infection, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication — such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), peramivir (Rapivab) or baloxavir (Xofluza) — to reduce the severity and length of your symptoms.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tips for Coronavirus-Related Insomnia

Image
  Keeping up with the news these days can be extra anxiety-inducing: the novel coronavirus (known as COVID-19) is dominating headlines, from the steadily rising number of cases to its potential effects on the economy. “Everything that’s going on right now can make people more vulnerable to insomnia,” says  Dr. Sunny Handa MD , clinical psychologist and research scientist at the Sleep Disorders Center at Henry Ford Health System. “It’s a vicious cycle: when you lose sleep, your emotions can feel more intense. Your ability to regulate emotions can also become diminished, so existing stressors become more stressful, and the ability to calm down becomes more impaired,” he says. “Also, as you become more stress sensitive, your own thoughts become a trigger for stress.” If you’re having trouble getting a restful seven to nine hours of sleep (or seven to eight hours if you’re elderly) try not to get anxious about your sleep troubles, as worrying about insomnia will make sleep le...
Read more

China Expects New Covid Outbreak to Worsen in Coming Days

Image
  Dr. Sunny  Handa md in  Brampton said amid the latest outbreak of COVID-19 cases in China, a health official has informed that the rise in new coronavirus infections is expected to increase in the coming days and the areas affected by the epidemic may continue to expand. Addressing a media briefing in Beijing, Wu Liang you, an official at the National Health Commission. Dr. Sunny  Handa md in  Brampton said said that the current outbreak in China is caused by the delta variant from overseas. The officials from the Commission have further stated that the outbreak would continue to worsen after spreading to 11 provinces in about a week. Deputy Director of the NHC, Sunny  Handa md in  Brampton said that the epidemiological investigations of the infections discovered 106 out of 133 infections to be from tourism-related activities. According to the newspaper, the official said that the increase in the number of cases is going to increase as the screen...
Read more

A complete guidance on COVID 19 in Canada by Dr Sunny Handa MD

Image
  Background Healthy childhood development is fostered through sufficient physical activity (PA; including time outdoors), limiting sedentary behaviours (SB), and adequate sleep; collectively known as movement behaviours. Though the COVID-19 virus outbreak has changed the daily lives of children and youth, it is unknown to what extent related restrictions may compromise the ability to play and meet movement behaviour recommendations as per  Dr Sunny Handa MD.  This secondary data analysis examined the immediate impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on movement and play behaviours in children and youth. Methods A national sam p le of Canadian parents (n = 1472) of children (5–11 years) or youth (12–17 years) (54% girls) completed an online survey that assessed immediate changes in child movement and play behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak. Behaviours included PA and play, SB, and sleep. As Dr Sunny Handa MD explained that family demographics and parental factors that may i...
Read more