Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Fall 2017 - 4

A HEALTHY START

Keep Your
Family Safe
from the Flu
Flu season is approaching, which
means it's time to take the proper
precautions to protect your family
from the common-yet potentially
deadly-viral infection.
The flu is very contagious, but some
good habits can help prevent the spread
of germs, including washing your hands,
covering your cough or sneeze, staying
home when you are sick and avoiding
close contact with others.
The flu vaccine is the best protection

Put Down
That Energy Drink!
Before you reach for that energy

According to findings in

against the flu. Everyone 6 months and

drink, consider this: Beverages

the Journal of the American

older should receive a flu vaccination

such as Red Bull and Monster

Heart Association, the other

every year, ideally before the end of

can help you feel more awake

stimulants and additives in

October. For people ages 65 and older,

and alert, but that energy boost

energy drinks have also been

there is a higher-dose vaccine that has

may come with a cost, says

linked to harmful changes

proved to be nearly 25 percent more

Peter LoPresti, MD, a physician at

in blood pressure and other

effective for that age range.

Harford Primary Care in Abingdon.

heart problems.

SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU

"Energy drinks can lead to poor

The energy drink industry

sleep as well as cardiovascular side

markets its products to the

■ Fatigue

■ Sore throat

effects, including elevated heart

younger generation in ways

■ Body aches

■ Fever

rate and blood pressure," says Dr.

that encourage excessive

■ Chills

■ Gastrointestinal

LoPresti. While the average energy

consumption, but experts urge

drink contains 320 milligrams of

the importance of exercising

caffeine, which is equivalent to

caution and consuming energy

about four cups of coffee, recent

drinks in moderation, if at all.

■ Cough

problems

If you think you have the flu, call your
health care provider immediately so
you can be tested. If you have a flu
diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe
an antiviral medication to lessen the

research suggests that it may not

Dr. LoPresti agrees: "Stop

be just the high levels of caffeine

using them. Eat well, exercise,

that can cause heart problems.

sleep well and live longer."

severity and length of the illness.

WANT TO GET THE FLU VACCINE? WE CAN HELP!

Our primary care, adult and senior care, and urgent care
locations offer the flu vaccine. And if you think you have the flu, we offer testing and treatment.
PRIMARY CARE
If you don't
already have
a primary care
physician, please
call our physician
referral line at
800-515-0044.

MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS

COMMUNITY FLU SHOTS
■ Tuesdays, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24,
4-7 p.m. Harford Mall/Macy's parking lot
■ Saturday, Sept. 30, 8-11 a.m.
Bel Air Farmers Market
■ Wednesday, Oct. 11, 4-7 p.m.
Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Department

CHOICEONE URGENT CARE
LOCATIONS (A PARTNER OF
UM UPPER CHESAPEAKE HEALTH)
Aberdeen
744 S. Philadelphia
Blvd. (Route 40)
443-345-2650

Fallston
2315 Belair Road,
Unit C1
443-966-3900

 Looking for a new physician or specialist? Visit umuch.org/healthy.

http://www.umuch.org/healthy

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Fall 2017