Written by Home Doctor Gold Coast team
Flu season is here so what can we do to improve our chances of staying healthy while those around us sneeze and suffer those dreaded symptoms?
In the past few days House Call Doctor has seen an increasing number of patients with high temperatures and aches and pains from the flu.
Wayne Ormond of House Call Doctor says even the service’s own doctors have been struck down.
“It’s seems to have hit early this year and it’s hitting people hard. We’ve had a lot of call outs to the elderly and children,” he said.
Mr Ormond said now children are back at school his doctors know from past experience it will only get worse.
“We’ve seen a spike with mums and dads calling us to treat sick kids when they get home from school feeling rotten,” he said.
“A lot of the kids we are seeing have temperatures and there even seems to be some gastro bug spreading at the moment.”
House Call Doctor health specialists have searched out the best tips on how people can better protect themselves this flu season.
Mr Ormond said not surprisingly his research team found diet was one of the most important factors in protecting yourself.
US studies show foods rich in vitamin B6 and B12 could help boost immune systems.
Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods including potatoes, spinach, turkey, beans and enriched cereal grains.
Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, milk and fish.
“We’re all told to eat healthy and exercise, but we found figures that suggest if you also sweat it up four to five times a week you are less likely to come down with a cold or flu.”
Mr Ormond said most importantly his House Call Doctors are urging people to wash their hands.
“You should be using soap for at least 15 seconds – I’m not sure I know a lot of people who can say they do that but our doctors sure wish they would.”
With the flu season ramping up House Call Doctor has local doctors on call, after hours across the Wide Bay – Bundaberg, Maryborough, Hervey Bay. Every house call is 100 percent bulk-billed with patients calling 13 55 66 or www.housecalldoctor.com.au
