family medicine provider Royal Palm Beach FL

Coronavirus Treatment Evolution – What we now know about how to treat COVID-19

Coronavirus Treatment Evolution – What we now know about how to treat COVID-19

You may be hearing about coronavirus on a daily basis, but do you know what to do in case you develop symptoms? There’s no telling whether you will get mild or severe symptoms when you get infected. Fortunately, we have learned a lot about treatment over the past several months.

Mild Symptoms

If you develop a fever, dry cough, and body aches and think you may have COVID-19, you must stay home. Call your primary care family medicine provider and let them know of your symptoms. Your family medicine provider may recommend that you get tested to make sure you know the cause of your symptoms. Follow your family medicine provider’s instructions to help make your recovery more comfortable. Monitor your symptoms closely.

According to the CDC, people with mild symptoms of coronavirus can recover from home. Take care of yourself and do what you can to be healthy and help your body fight the virus. Rest, eat nutritious food, take your vitamins, hydrate, take a fever reducer, sleep, and do light exercises. Most people with mild symptoms feel better after a week. Most people who get COVID-19 have mild symptoms. As such, there is no need for prescription medication while they recover in most cases.

Moderate to Severe Symptoms

In the case you have severe symptoms, treatment may be necessary. Your family medicine provider may prescribe medications to help with symptoms, but not to treat COVID-19 itself. While the world awaits a vaccine, so far, only one medication has been approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19, and that is Remdesivir. This is only for patients who are hospitalized. A corticosteroid called dexamethasone is also used for patients with severe symptoms who need a ventilator. Convalescent plasma therapy or using the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19 is also used to help reduce the severity of the symptoms and help patients recover. If you have severe symptoms, your family medicine provider will determine which (if any) of these treatments can help you.

If you develop severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, a consistently high fever, or if your lips turn blue, go to an emergency room immediately. Remember, only patients with severe and life-threatening symptoms are admitted to the hospital.

The FDA is expediting the development of COVID-19 treatments at this time. In the meantime, mind your hygiene, follow social distancing guidelines, and do what you can to strengthen your immune system.

Family Medicine Provider in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

Our primary care providers, Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and Shariffa Gunawardene, ARNP are dedicated to providing personalized care and treatment. They are focused on restoring you to your optimal health. In light of the pandemic, we closely monitor patients who are COVID-19 positive and those who are showing symptoms but have not been tested. We understand that these are scary times, which is why we provide personalized care and support backed by medical science. If you have questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, call (561) 434-1935 or use our online request form.

5 Mistakes That May Be Sabotaging Your Hand Washing

Our hands are in contact with our surroundings more than any other body part. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought several red flags to light when it comes to maintaining proper hygiene, most notably with hand washing. To prevent the spread of contagious diseases and reduce exposure to bacteria, viruses, and germs, frequent and proper handwashing is a must.

Do you want to know if you are washing your hands properly? Avoid these five major mistakes that may be sabotaging your hand washing.

#1 Washing Your Hands Too Quickly

Many of us are guilty of being inconsistent when it comes to washing our hands. We flip open the faucet, rinse for a second or two, get a few squirts of soap, rinse for a couple of seconds, and then go off to the next activity of the day.

You should be washing your hands for at least 20 seconds—twice the length of the Happy Birthday song—to eliminate harmful germs from your hands and prevent illness. Make sure you get in between your fingers, the backs of your hands, and under your nails, too.

#2 Touching Dirty Surfaces or Items After a Wash

After washing your hands, make sure not to touch surfaces or objects that may contain germs or bacteria, such as the faucet or door handle. These surfaces can contain a lot of germs, especially in public restrooms. This mistake may be the hardest to avoid because of how inconvenient it can be to correct it. To avoid touching dirty surfaces after washing your hands, have paper towels on-hand or a clean towel to dry your hands and turn the faucet off as well as to open the door as you exit.

#3 Not Washing Your Hands Regularly

Think of a typical day and try to recall how many things you touch. Think about how many other people also touch these objects or surfaces and the germs you may be picking up as a result. You can easily infect yourself when you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with germ-infested hands.

To limit the germs we pick up and transfer, we must all practice frequent hand washing. Try your best to wash your hands before and after meals, when you clean wounds, and after you have touched an object that may be a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, or germs. Also clean your hands after you touch your pets, handle garbage, use the toilet, cough, sneeze, or blow your nose.

#4 Using Hand Sanitizer Instead of Hand Washing

Do not let the product descriptions and marketing ploys fool you. Traditional hand washing is still better in getting rid of the germs and bacteria on your hands. Thorough soaping and rinsing are more effective and can remove harmful things you have collected on your hands much better than hand sanitizer can.

If there is no other choice but to use hand sanitizer, make sure that it contains at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizers with an alcohol concentration of over 60% are more effective at killing germs.

#5 Not Using Soap at All

This is a mistake committed by many people and one you should do your best to avoid. Merely rinsing with water will not get rid of the oil on your hands, where germs often stick. When washing your hands, make sure to lather your hands with soap, scrub them well, and rinse off the soap, oils, and germs.

Improve Your Hand Washing Technique to Prevent the Spread of Germs and Disease

Hand washing is an often overlooked aspect of maintaining proper hygiene and preventing the spread of viruses and contagious diseases. However, it is a major defender against sickness. We all want to stay healthy, therefore, we must observe proper hand hygiene and avoid the mistakes that defeat the purpose of hand washing. Clean your hands often and properly to avoid the coronavirus and other diseases and keep you and your family safe.

Primary Care in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

You must stay vigilant and look out for your health and the health of your family. If you live in Florida, the providers at Advanced Medical Clinic can assist you when you get sick. We offer family-oriented and comprehensive care for your health care needs. Get in touch with us today. If you have inquiries or you wish to schedule a consultation, call us at (561) 434-1935 or book an appointment online.