Last updated 2 months ago
Flu season is here, but knowing how to fight off the illness may not always be clear. This video explains when to seek medications and when to use at-home remedies for your children.
Illnesses such as colds and the flu develop from viruses, which cannot be eliminated with antibiotics. In fact, using antibiotics for these illnesses may make your child less likely to resist bacterial infections in the future. Instead, doctors advise that parents address the symptoms of their child’s cold or flu and try to make them more comfortable. Ease a sore throat with ice chips. Alleviate an earache with a warm cloth. When in doubt about how to help your child, consult with a physician for further advice.
Riverside Community Hospital wants to help parents trying to cope with this year’s severe flu season. If you have questions about how to treat your child’s flu, call our Riverside facility at (951) 788-3463 for more information. You can also take advantage of our Consult-A-Nurse service, which can help to identify flu symptoms.
Last updated 2 months ago
The United States is facing a particularly severe flu season this year. Unfortunately, this news is often not enough to prompt people to get a flu shot to protect themselves from the flu’s effects. Though the flu can result in serious repercussions for even healthy adults, many people neglect their well-being because of widespread flu misconceptions. The following statements constitute just a few of the many myths surrounding the flu.
You can contract the flu from the flu shot.
Many people fear that the flu vaccination will actually cause them to develop the flu. This idea is wholly incorrect, as the flu shot contains only a dead flu virus. No dead virus can cause you to get sick. Though some individuals may experience minor side effects from getting a flu immunization, no one is at risk for contracting the virus from a shot.
You don’t need a vaccine if you’re younger than 65 years of age.
Older individuals are highly encouraged to get a flu shot, as the immune systems of seniors are typically weaker than those of younger people. However, young adults are not invulnerable to getting the flu. Though healthy people under the age of 65 have a greater likelihood of making a full recovery from the flu, it can still cause days or weeks of illness and complications. To avoid the inconvenience and discomfort of the flu, see a doctor for a flu shot.
You can treat the flu with antibiotics.
Antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections. Given the fact that a virus causes the flu, antibiotics are useless. Despite this fact, many people assume that should they get influenza, they can be quickly treated with antibiotics. Even worse, they may try to treat themselves with older antibiotic prescriptions left over from previous illnesses. It’s important to understand the dangers of using antibiotics for the flu. Not only will they not alleviate your symptoms, but they can also make it harder to fight off bacterial infections in the future. To stay healthy and avoid unnecessary medications, get a flu vaccination today.
Riverside Community Hospital offers influenza vaccinations for patients in the greater Riverside area. If you are suffering from extreme flu symptoms or complications, use our iTriage symptom checker or call (951) 788-3463 for further help.
Last updated 2 months ago
Taking good care of your heart today can mean years of well-being in the future. These articles discuss the components that can affect the health of your heart and ways to monitor them.
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Your dietary habits are a major influence on your heart’s health. ChooseMyPlate.gov provides readers with a breakdown of nutritious proteins.
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What does your blood pressure reading mean? The American Heart Association explains what your blood pressure numbers indicate for your heart.
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Elevated cholesterol can increase your risk for both heart attack and stroke. The National Stroke Association offers some helpful suggestions on how to keep your cholesterol at a healthy level.
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Watching your weight is important, but managing your body mass index is equally essential to protecting your heart health. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute offers readers the opportunity to calculate their BMI.
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Obese individuals may want to consider bariatric weight loss to alleviate their risk for heart disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration describes the gastric banding process, a form of bariatric surgery.
Riverside Community Hospital offers comprehensive medical care for patients in the greater Riverside region. Our heart hospital can help you and your loved ones learn the steps to safeguarding your heart health for a lifetime of well-being. Call (951) 788-3463 or visit our website to learn more about the extensive number of services we provide.
Last updated 2 months ago
A major reason why heart disease is so prevalent in the United States is because too few people realize that they’re at risk. Serious conditions like heart attack and congestive heart failure may either come on suddenly or develop without warning signs. That’s why heart hospital specialists urge adults to know the facts about their heart health. In particular, the following three numbers can help individuals recognize early risk factors that may lead to more severe heart problems in the future.
Body Mass Index
Your weight plays a big part in determining your heart health, but stepping onto a scale each morning is not enough. Your weight number is important to know, but more imperative to safeguarding your heart is ascertaining your body mass index, or BMI. Your BMI is a calculation that factors in both your weight and height to determine if you are overweight or obese. If a person’s BMI is 30 or above, they are considered obese and may require bariatric weight loss to alleviate the risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is not an inherently harmful substance, but most people consume more of it than necessary. When this happens, cholesterol will collect in the bloodstream, which can lead to dangerous artery blockages over time. Unfortunately, high cholesterol is not evident in most people. To find out whether you suffer from elevated cholesterol, make an appointment at your heart hospital to have your levels checked.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure typically shows no signs, which is why you should see a heart hospital specialist on a regular basis to have your blood pressure read. Without consistent supervision of your blood pressure readings, you may be inadvertently putting additional stress on your arteries, which can lead to a heart attack in the future.
Do you know what your BMI, cholesterol, and blood pressure numbers are? If not, call Riverside Community Hospital at (951) 788-3463 to schedule an appointment at our Riverside facility. You can also learn more about the effects of obesity, elevated cholesterol, and high blood pressure by using our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral system.
Last updated 2 months ago
Heart disease might be the single greatest health problem facing Americans, but you can still do something about it. This video from the American Heart Association explains how adhering to “Life’s Simple 7” can significantly lower your risk for heart disease.
It begins with what you eat. Be sure to plan your meals around plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Begin a regular exercise regimen to stay fit. Try to maintain a healthy weight. If you are obese, consult with a doctor about your bariatric weight loss options. Also, make a commitment to stop smoking today. You should also keep up with your physician checkups to monitor important health issues like your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. By taking control of these factors, you can live a long and healthy life free from heart disease.
To learn more about “Life’s Simple 7,” call Riverside Community Hospital at (951) 788-3463. Our heart hospital offers a comprehensive array of preventative and treatment services for patients in the greater Riverside area.
