Advanced Family Medicine

Why Influenza Vaccinations Are Important to Your Family’s Health According to the  Centers for Disease Control , anywhere between 151 and 156 million flu vaccines will be distributed this year within the United States, although not all of these doses will be used. And while this might be considered a large number, keep in mind that there are more than 316 million individuals living in this country, which means that less than 50% of the population will obtain a flu vaccine this year. Here at Advanced Family Medicine, many of our patients frequently express concern about the effectiveness of immunizations; perhaps because they received a flu vaccine in the past but still came down with the flu. On the other hand, some individuals consciously choose not to get vaccinated against the flu as they’re simply not concerned about acquiring it. Whatever your reasoning may be though, the importance of getting vaccinated against influenza this year cannot be understated. The flu seas...

How Tylenol Works, & How It Can Help Your Child Find Relief You’re a great parent. You do a lot for your children, and you never want to see them hurting or ill. Unfortunately, a big part of life is dealing with various levels of pain and getting sick, so it’s inevitable that, at some point, your child’s going to hurt themselves or fall ill. And for toothaches, minor bumps and bruises, and other types of “owies,” it’s likely that—after giving your child a big hug and wiping away their tears—you give them a dose of Tylenol or a generic form of acetaminophen. However, did you know that the next time you child comes down with the  flu or another illness , Tylenol can work as an effective treatment to reduce their temperature? How Does Tylenol Help Reduce Fever? Surprisingly, the answer to this question is that we really don’t know. Despite acetaminophen’s  widespread use , “experts aren’t quite sure how the drug works.” However, some researchers think that this dr...

Important: Knowing the Distinction Between the Cold and the Flu Could Save Your Health It’s that time of year again in Seattle when coats, mittens, and caps are the norm, right along with runny noses and missed school days. But if you or your child starts getting the sniffles, at what point should you start worrying if it’s a cold or the flu? Make no mistake; it’s an important distinction, because the common cold will typically resolve itself with home remedies, while the flu may require medical attention. So, let’s take a closer look… Differences Between the Cold and the Flu During onset, cold and flu symptoms might seem similar, including sore throat, congestion, and coughing, which often lasts no more than 3-5 days. But when you’re trying to discern if it’s a cold or the flu, a lot of it comes down to whether or not you’re running a high fever. While it’s true that cold symptoms may include a low-grade fever, flu-based fevers typically reach much higher temperatures if...