Thursday, January 10 2013 3:08 PM EST2013-01-10 20:08:37 GMT
Phones are ringing and questions being answered at Beaumont Health System's flu hotline center. Nurses are taking calls all about the flu, which is hitting Michigan hard and early this year.
Phones are ringing and questions being answered at Beaumont Health System's flu hotline center. Nurses are taking calls all about the flu, which is hitting Michigan hard and early this year.
Friday, January 11 2013 7:27 PM EST2013-01-12 00:27:10 GMT
We saw a steady stream of people coming to the Oakland County Health Division's clinics in Southfield and Pontiac on Friday to roll up their sleeves for flu shots. The health department says clinics have been packed.
We saw a steady stream of people coming to the Oakland County Health Division's clinics in Southfield and Pontiac on Friday to roll up their sleeves for flu shots. The health department says clinics have been packed.
Thursday, January 10 2013 3:56 PM EST2013-01-10 20:56:41 GMT
Around metro Detroit, hospital emergency rooms are swamped with people suffering from flu-related symptoms. Fox 2's Deena Centofanti asked Providence Hospital ER doctor Steve McGraw about treating the flu.
Around metro Detroit, hospital emergency rooms are swamped with people suffering from flu-related symptoms. Fox 2's Deena Centofanti asked Providence Hospital ER doctor Steve McGraw about treating the flu.
Wednesday, January 9 2013 4:05 PM EST2013-01-09 21:05:03 GMT
No doubt about it, the flu is hitting early and hard. Michigan is one of the states with reported high influenza-like illness activity.
No doubt about it, the flu is hitting early and hard. Michigan is one of the states with reported high influenza-like illness activity. The CDC is reporting across the country we're seeing levels of flu activity that usually are peak levels much later in the season.
Wednesday, January 9 2013 4:04 PM EST2013-01-09 21:04:45 GMT
Lake Fenton High School freshman Joshua Polehna became ill over winter break and had to be hospitalized. Sadly, he died over the weekend from what is being described as flu-like symptoms.
Lake Fenton High School freshman Joshua Polehna became ill over winter break and had to be hospitalized. Sadly, he died over the weekend from what is being described as flu-like symptoms.
By Deena Centofanti Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- Around metro Detroit, hospital emergency rooms are swamped with people suffering from flu-related symptoms. I asked Providence Hospital ER doctor Steve McGraw about treating the flu.
Q: In general, what should you do if you're fighting the flu?
A: The things our mothers told us, right? Make sure you take Tylenol for your fever. Take it to prescribed dose. Increase your fluids. Make sure you're getting enough rest, sleeping well enough, and staying away from other people that aren't sick. Make sure they wash their hands and so do you.
Q: Who should seek medical attention for the flu?
A: The people that should seek medical help are those that are the most vulnerable -- the very, very young under the age of two, pregnant females, the very elderly, people that are sort of at the extremes of age -- and those with other significant comorbidities or other illnesses -- people with transplants, chemotherapy, those that have severe lung disease or heart disease, especially if they notice they can't tolerate liquids, can't breathe, can't get up, can't walk independently and they otherwise used to be able to -- those are the ones that we should probably see.
Q: Do antibiotics do anything to fight the flu?
A: They really don't. People with the flu have a viral infection, and antibiotics really aren't designed to take care of viruses. There are antivirals, the most common which is Tamaflu, but the only way that's really effective is if it's started right after the beginning of the illness within the first day or so and then it has to be taken twice a day. The best studies show that it shortens your course of illness not immediately, but rather by a day or two over the course of a four to eight day illness. So you're really going to save a day or two on the other end.
Even though the flu seems to be aggressive this season, Dr. McGraw says don't panic.
"We see the flu every year. It's a little earlier this year and there are some suggestions that the vaccine this year may not have been as effective as we would've hoped, but it's still effective. And if people haven't had the flu vaccine yet, I would still reassure them there's still plenty of time to get it. There's plenty of vaccine out there. We're going to have at least eight weeks of this, so until the Tigers break training camp. If you haven't gotten a shot, you should probably get one."
In general, the CDC recommends that anyone six months of age or older get a flu shot. It takes about two weeks for your body to make those antibodies to fight off the flu, so it's not too late. In fact, the sooner the better.
Click on the videos in the player above for more of Deena Centofanti's interview with Dr. McGraw.
Tuesday, December 4 2012 4:11 PM EST2012-12-04 21:11:01 GMT
You have one heart attack and then take medication to prevent another one, but there's new research that says what you eat is a very powerful tool in preventing another heart attack.
You have one heart attack and then take medication to prevent another one, but there's new research that says what you eat is a very powerful tool in preventing another heart attack.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-07 14:17:04 GMT
Making healthy choices at the grocery store can be difficult. With deceiving labels, and buzz words like 'organic,' 'all-natural' and 'heart-healthy,' it's tough to decide what to buy.
Making healthy choices at the grocery store can be difficult. With deceiving labels, and buzz words like 'organic,' 'all-natural' and 'heart-healthy,' it's tough to decide what to buy.
Friday, May 3 2013 5:27 PM EDT2013-05-03 21:27:05 GMT
She is the Flat Rock girl that has gained national attention for her battle with a rare, fatal disease. Now little Lindsay Ratcliffe has been given new hair and new hope.
She is the Flat Rock girl that has gained national attention for her battle with a rare, fatal disease. Now little Lindsay Ratcliffe has been given new hair and new hope.
Tuesday, April 23 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-04-23 16:55:57 GMT
Living with autism is a challenge that as many as one in fifty families face everyday. One family says intensive therapy has not just helped their daughter, but changed their lives.
Living with autism is a challenge that as many as one in fifty families face everyday. One family says intensive therapy has not just helped their daughter, but changed their lives.
Wednesday, April 17 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-04-17 12:10:45 GMT
An FBI-trained forensic artist worked with Dove to conduct social experiment to illustrate the ongoing struggle women have with recognizing their own beauty.
An FBI-trained forensic artist worked with Dove to conduct social experiment to illustrate the ongoing struggle women have with recognizing their own beauty.
Monday, April 15 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-04-16 00:14:46 GMT
For some people, sugar is like a drug and kicking the sweet habit is hard. Desserts like cakes, cookies and ice cream can be irresistible because of the effect sugar has on the brain. "Sugar is a particularly
For some people, sugar is like a drug and kicking the sweet habit is hard. Desserts like cakes, cookies and ice cream can be irresistible because of the effect sugar has on the brain. "Sugar is a particularly
Monday, April 1 2013 8:14 AM EDT2013-04-01 12:14:05 GMT
Next week the American Heart Association celebrates National Walking Day. This means bring your sneakers to work on April 3 and plan to walk for 10, 20 or 30 minutes.
Next week the American Heart Association celebrates National Walking Day. This means bring your sneakers to work on April 3 and plan to walk for 10, 20 or 30 minutes.
Friday, March 29 2013 7:28 AM EDT2013-03-29 11:28:22 GMT
A consumer group says most kids' meals at restaurants are too high in fat, sugar and salt. The report says 97 percent of meals failed to meet recommended nutritional criteria.
A consumer group says most kids' meals at restaurants are too high in fat, sugar and salt. The report from the Center for Science in the Pubic Interest says 97 percent of meals failed to meet recommended nutritional criteria for 4 to 8 year olds.
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