My child can’t return to daycare unless he recovers from bronchitis, but the pediatrician won’t prescribe antibiotics. How do we treat it?
The short answer is that bronchitis is a disease that resolves on its own in most cases; therefore, in this instance, antibiotics do more harm than good, leading to avoidable side effects and contributing to widespread antibiotic resistance, which has become a global health threat.
The more complicated answer is that bronchitis is typically a viral infection, and antibiotics target bacteria, not viruses. Just as important is that antibiotics can end up killing bacteria in our bodies that are essential for our health. This may be particularly true in children, where the early use of antibiotics has been associated with a host of future health issues, like asthma, allergies and childhood obesity.
Antibiotics still play an important, even life-saving, role in treating infection, but many times the right choice is avoiding them. That doesn’t mean you and your pediatrician are powerless. Ask about medications and other treatments that can reduce the symptoms of bronchitis while your child’s body fights the virus. And one nice thing about a virtual 98point6 visit compared to in-person is that it is much more convenient to
start a follow-up visit in a few days if the symptoms are not resolving.
Learn more about the correct and responsible use of antibiotics, and how 98point6 is committed to keeping medicine effective.
Post-COVID-19, gym memberships and attendance may not be skyrocketing like they usually do in the season of New Year’s resolutions, but that self-improvement mindset should definitely persist, since regular physical activity boosts overall health, immunity and general quality of life. And applied to the era of COVID-19, maintaining a healthy body and mind are just one more way, as individuals, we can potentially
fight the virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exercise helps reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease that, in turn, increase the likelihood of COVID-19 complications. One study2 even suggests that regular exercise may decrease risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death in COVID-19 patients.
So does the benefit of hitting the gym this winter outweigh the pandemic-associated risks? Not exactly. “There aren’t many people who miss gyms more than I do, but the hard truth is that they’re a challenging environment to keep safe,” says Dr. McCune. “Your fellow patrons may be a bit more than six feet away, but if they’re panting on a treadmill or squeezing out one last rep, they’re probably also expelling a greater than
normal amount of respiratory droplets into the air.”
Due to winter surges in COVID-19 cases, some gyms have limited their hours of operation, or closed temporarily. If the level of virus spread is currently high in your local area, steering clear is in your best interest. Dr. McCune recommends getting outside for a run, bike ride or brisk walk when the weather permits, and mastering bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, burpees and sit-ups that can be done indoors—or anywhere—with no equipment.
Walk, jog or bike 150 minutes or more per week.
Go at a pace where you can talk but it is not easy.
Do exercises for your arms and legs 2–3 days per week.
Shoot for 8-20 repetitions and 3 sets. If it gets too easy, add some weight to a backpack.
Possible equipment: Chin-up bar, resistance bands, hand weights
Tip: There are a lot of great (and free) videos on YouTube that describe the proper way to do common exercises.
We all have our reasons for putting off that visit to the doctor. There’s no time in your schedule. It’s too awkward to talk about. And 2020 gave us a perfectly valid new excuse: worries about potential COVID-19 exposure.
The result? A widespread decrease in annual wellness and chronic illness checks, routine lab work and recommended cancer screenings. In fact, 61% of clinicians reported being worried about avoidable illness among patients due to delayed care.3
Why Primary Care Matters
How important is that annual check-up with your primary care doctor? Well, numerous studies have confirmed a life-affirming truth: having a primary care doctor keeps people healthier as they age. As far as regular screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies, the guidelines are complicated, and it’s the primary care doctor’s role to guide you toward the best individualized recommendation.
We’re Here for You
While 98point6 isn’t meant to replace your regular physician or your yearly in-person visit, it’s different from traditional telemedicine or urgent care in that the primary care relationship is core to our mission.
Our physicians are available on-demand, 24/7 whether you’re feeling sick right now or you’re looking for answers and guidance on the next step in your healthcare journey. By empowering you to better understand the importance of primary care, we believe we can help you take charge of your health.
Excuses Are So 2020
With 98point6 text-based primary care, concerns about COVID-19 transmission from an in-person visit don’t prevent you from getting the most out of a relationship with primary care. Here are just a few questions we can help address, from wherever you are:
After months of uncertainty, news about a safe, effective vaccine has arrived. Still,
continuing to take precautions, like masking and physical distancing, remains as important
as ever while we wait our turn and learn more. Whether you’re among the first in line or
simply want to stay informed, 98point6 is a trusted source of guidance for vaccine
questions and concerns.
Epidemic proportions
For decades, the average weight of Americans has increased. A recent study4 found that 42.4% of U.S. adults are now obese, as well as 19.3% of children. This is the single biggest preventable health crisis in the country.
What’s my BMI?
BMI, or “body mass index” is calculated using your height and weight. It is a simple tool that helps doctors assess your risk for obesity-related disease. Over 25 is considered overweight and over 30 obese.
How many calories do I need per day?
Workouts aside, if we take in more calories than we burn with activity, our bodies store the excess as fat. Use this body weight planner to get a daily calorie target for your weight goal. Learn how to count the calories in the foods you are eating. It may be more than you need.
How much physical activity should I get daily?
Kids should get a minimum of 60 minutes per day of active play or sports.
Adults should get a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, like a brisk walk, plus at least two sessions devoted to muscle strengthening.
Watch for hidden sugars: Once you start reading nutrition labels, you’ll be amazed at how much sugar is in everyday foods. High fructose corn syrup, in particular, is an ingredient in many snacks and drinks, and appears to be especially bad for maintaining healthy weight. Start by minimizing and work toward cutting out as much sugar as possible.
Practice smarter snacking: Aim for real, not processed, foods, like nuts and berries and whole fruits with some fiber. Replace juices—which have all of the sugar but little of the fiber—and sodas—which are very high in sugar—with water.
Keep track: Digital devices can give us a wealth of information about our activity and sleep, but an old-fashioned paper and pencil gets the job done, too. The key is being consistent and patient. If you keep showing up and doing the work, results will come over time.
Remember you can’t outrun a bad diet. The calorie counter on your treadmill isn’t there to tell you how much extra you can eat because of your workout. If you need to lose weight, those burned calories make a difference. But even if you are exercising just for health benefits, balancing it with responsible calorie intake is essential.
Need help managing your weight or have concerns about obesity and your health? Here are some thought-starters for your next visit with a 98point6 physician.
1Chua Kao-Ping, Fischer Michael A, Linder Jeffrey A.
Appropriateness of outpatient antibiotic prescribing among privately insured US patients: ICD-10-CM based cross sectional study
BMJ 2019; 364:k5092
2https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231720303190
3https://www.green-center.org/covid-survey
4https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/factsheets/factsheet_nhanes.htm
Q: The circumstances around COVID-19 have piqued my interest around virtual care for myself and my family. How can I be confident we are getting the same quality experience as an in-person visit?
Q: Why are kids so prone to ear infections? I can’t remember the last time I had one, but I’ve lost count of how many times my toddler did in the last year.
Q: How do I get a prescription for an antibiotic I’ve taken in the past? I know it will make me feel better.
Whether your child has a fever or you’re worried about that dizziness you’ve been feeling, 98point6 is available 24/7 to you and your eligible family members ages 1 and older. With access to on-demand primary care via a mobile app, care is always at your fingertips.