First, an anatomy lesson: The upper respiratory tract is the part of the body that includes the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx. These are the upper airways that direct air from the outside to the trachea and then to the lungs. If you develop an upper respiratory infection, your doctor may call it by its specific area of infection. For example, you may have rhinitis, a sinus infection, a cold, pharyngitis, laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, or tracheitis. All of these fall into the broader category, upper respiratory infections, and comprise one of the most common reasons people miss work and school, and visit the doctor.

Common upper respiratory infection symptoms include:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Painful swallowing
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever (though this is most common in children)

Less common symptoms include:

• Bad breath
• Decreased sense of smell
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Sinus pain
• Watery eyes
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Body aches

Upper respiratory infections are contagious, and one reason they are most common in the fall and winter months is that people spend more time indoors around other people. Most of these infections are caused by viruses, and resolve themselves eventually, without medical intervention. To treat an upper respiratory infection at home, stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, and use a saltwater gargle or saline nasal spray.

Symptoms of upper respiratory infections typically last from three to fourteen days. If you have symptoms that last beyond that timeframe, become severe, or make it impossible for you to breathe, consider visiting a physician, because you may have something more serious, like bronchitis or pneumonia. If you are looking for a board-certified physician after doctor’s hours, First Choice Emergency Room offers an alternative to traditional emergency rooms. Visit their website to learn more, or connect with First Choice on Facebook and Twitter.

First, determine if you really have the flu. The common cold, the flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia can all have similar symptoms. A headache accompanied by muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, vomiting, and a fever are flu-like symptoms.

Your flu recovery period will have a much shorter duration if you take antiviral medications within twenty-four to forty-eight hours of the onset of your symptoms. These can be prescribed by a physician, but even if you do not see a doctor, there are things you can do to make recovering from the flu easier:

• Get plenty of rest. Recovering from the flu will be much easier if you do not overexert yourself. Stay home and remain indoors, because cold and bad weather can intensify symptoms.
• Eat food that is rich in vitamin C. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts are all good sources of vitamin C, which provides antioxidants. Starchy foods and lean meats can be good flu fighters as well.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water is the best choice, but soups, sports drinks, and fruit juices can all help you stay hydrated, which will help with your recovery from flu.

Of course, the best way to handle flu recovery is to avoid flu-like symptoms in the first place. Physical fitness, a well-balanced diet and exercise, can be your strongest allies, and avoid public places when you know the flu has hit your town. If you develop flu-like symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible, either at your primary care physician’s office or at an emergency room. First Choice Emergency Room is a unique concept in medicine, a freestanding emergency room with dedicated doctors and nurses ready to handle both major and minor ailments. Visit the First Choice website to learn more, or connect with the online community on Facebook and Twitter.

Here are some of the biggest sources of risks:

• Personal hygiene and beauty products often have confusing labels, with unfamiliar chemicals. Choose products made with natural ingredients, and secure them in a place beyond the reach of children. Products that can be especially dangerous include nail polish and remover, hair dye, and perfume. In addition, consider eliminating sprays, which can be dispersed through the central air conditioning unit and cause a health risk.
• Be careful with chemicals under the sink and in your garage. Cleaners, polishers, paints, pesticides, repellents—almost everything commercially available contains toxic ingredients. Replacing hazardous chemicals with natural products can minimize contaminant. Remember to keep contaminants in secure places away from children and pets, and handle with proper care.
• Carbon Monoxide and Radon are odorless gases that constitute a considerable hazard. Carbon monoxide can be caused by poor ventilation, faulty space heaters, charcoal grills, and gas-operated motors. Radon escapes through the ground and causes lung cancer. Fortunately, both of these can be detected; carbon monoxide by the installation of a carbon monoxide monitor, and radon with testing services and kits available through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
•  Mold is a common fungus around the house and, if left untreated, it can cause allergic and asthmatic reactions.  Mold grows in damp locations such as bathrooms and kitchens, but the spores can become airborne and filter through the house.  Mold growth typically is non-problematic, as long as leaks are fixed promptly and bathrooms and kitchens are wiped down and cleaned properly.  Mold is likely to grow around the edges of the house in damp places like firewood stacks, etc. EPA again has the information needed in a Brief Guide to Mold.
• Helpful medications can turn harmful if improperly used. Do not rely on childproof packaging to protect your children, but keep medications out of their reach or locked away. Never administer medication in the dark, and do not tell a child that medicine “tastes like candy.”

We hope that you are able to maintain household chemical safety and that you never have to deal with any situation where your child ingests a dangerous chemical. If faced with this problem, call 911 immediately. If you find yourself in need of an emergency room, Dallas has several fine hospitals, and Emergency room Austin options are also plentiful, as are emergency room Houston choices. Offering an additional option, First Choice is a new concept in emergency medicine, a freestanding emergency room with the capability to handle adult and pediatric emergencies. Visit their website to learn more, and find a location near you.

• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water, juice, clear broth, decaffeinated tea, or hot water with lemon and honey can loosen congestion and help you feel better. Avoid coffee, soda, and alcohol, which can dehydrate you.
• Gargle with saltwater. An eight-ounce glass of warm water with one quarter to a half teaspoon of salt is a natural and effective remedy for a sore throat.
• Use a nasal spray. Saline nasal drops and sprays can fight stuffiness and congestions, and are safe for all ages. For infants, doctors recommend saline drops, followed by a gentle suctioning with a bulb syringe.
• Try some zinc. Cold sufferers have long sworn by zinc, but it is only recently that clinical trial data has backed this up. No one is quite sure of the best zinc formulation, but the FDA warns against zinc-based nasal sprays, which can permanently damage your sense of smell.
• Eat chicken soup. Your mother was right; chicken soup is good for colds. This may be because it has anti-inflammatory and mucus-thinning properties.
• If you are an adult, over-the-counter cold and cough medication may help. Nasal decongestants and pain relievers can relieve symptoms, but they do not shorten a cold’s duration, and may make symptoms worse if used for more than a few days. Use with caution for older children, and never give them to children under age 2, because they can be dangerous.
• Always read labels. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage or even liver failure if taken in high doses. It is not hard to overdose if you are getting acetaminophen from more than one medication, so pay attention.
• Try an antihistamine. Antihistamines can help relieve your cough, sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose, but they might also put you to sleep.
• Humidify your air. Colds are common in winter because cold viruses thrive in dry air. To make matters worse, dry air can aggravate your stuffy nose and scratchy throat by drying out mucus membranes. Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air, but be sure to change the water daily, to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

While none of these remedies will cure a common cold, they do offer some relief. Less effective remedies, which may still be worth a shot, include vitamin C and Echinacea. Antibiotics will not fight cold viruses, and over-the-counter cold and cough medications can be as hazardous to young children. Take care this cold season, and get plenty of rest, to help fight the common cold.

http://www.fcer.com/locations/dallas-map/flower-mound/

• No matter how cold your hands, keep them free when walking outdoors in winter. Do not keep your hands in your pockets, but rather have them free to catch you if you begin to slip.
• Dress for success. In the winter, this means having the proper footwear. Your shoes need to keep you warm and provide traction, and whether or not they look fabulous is of secondary concern. Gloves will help, too, by helping you resist the urge to put hands in your pockets.
• Use great caution when approaching snow or ice. Test it with your toe before you walk on it, to stay safe. Then, take small steps and do not hurry. Safety should be your primary focus.
• Do not carry large loads when walking through snow and ice. If you are carrying something, and you start to fall, toss the load and use your arms to break your fall.
• Help the elderly to stay safe, too. Seniors are at higher risk of broken bones and dangerous injuries, so lend a hand when you can. If you are older, ask for help when you need it.
• Plan your route for safety. Even if it takes a little extra time, it is worth it. When you see an especially dangerous area, make a mental note of it, and warn others.
• Be especially careful during transitions. Many falls happen when people are getting in and out of cars, so take care. When entering a building, wipe your feet to rid them of excess moisture.

Avoiding slips and falls is one way of staying safe during the winter months. For more helpful tips, check out First Choice Emergency Room’s website. Additionally, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, to join the online community and learn more about living a safe and healthy life.

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• The most important thing to do when feverish is to stay hydrated.
• Get plenty of rest. A body at rest heals more easily.
• Dress lightly. You may have heard of “sweating out” a fever, but this is an antiquated and dangerous idea. Never wrap a feverish person in blankets, but keep them as lightly covered as possible, though you can use a light blanket if the person feels cold.  Keep the room temperature between 70-74 degrees.
• Go easy on the medication.  You can use acetaminophen for a child age 17 and younger, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for an adult—but try other methods of fever reduction first.
• Try a lukewarm bath. Especially if the fever is over 102ºF. Never use ice water or alcohol to reduce a fever, as these are dangerous and ineffective.

Whether you have a sick child, or you are the one who is sick, knowing how to reduce a fever can make you more confident in your ability to handle illness without seeking medical attention. However, if you ever do need to seek care, First Choice Emergency Rooms is here for you. Visit the website for more tips and resources regarding how to help your family stay healthy, or join the online community on Facebook and Twitter.

• Seatbelts are a must. This is non-negotiable! Safety belts, worn properly, reduce the risk of serious injury in a traffic accident by 50 percent, and reduce the risk of fatality by up to 70 percent! Set a good example by always wearing your seatbelt, and insist that your teenager does the same.
• Make sure your teenager knows the rules. Go over the laws for teenaged drivers together, and set some additional rules of your own. Set limits on hours of driving, and the number of passengers that are allowed in the car, and require your child to always keep you abreast of his or her whereabouts. Stress basics, like abiding by the speed limit and maintaining a safe following distance. To be sure that your distance is adequate, use the three-second rule: choice an immovable object by the side of the road, and start counting the second when the car in front of you passes it. Your car should pass the same object three seconds later—if you pass it sooner than that, you are following too closely.
• Be a critic. In a nice way, of course, give your teenager feedback when you are riding together. Driver’s education is an ongoing process, and does not end when the teenager gets a license. Be sure to praise your child for safe driving, and remember to be patient.
• Teach defensive driving. It is not enough to drive in such a way that you do not cause an accident; it is also important to pay attention to other drivers and anticipate potential problems.
• Insist that your teen focuses on the road and traffic. Texting should be absolutely forbidden, because it can be a fatal distraction.  However, that is just the beginning, and it is highly important that your teen is tuned into whatever is going on around the car.
• Make sure to teach maintenance. Knowing how to check the oil and other fluids, and how to check tire pressure or change a tire, are basic skills that will be a lifelong benefit to your teenager.

While these safe teenage driving tips cannot prevent every accident, they are a good start. For more tips and resources designed to help keep your family safe and healthy, visit the First Choice Emergency Room website. Additionally, you can join in the online community on Facebook and Twitter.

• First, pick the right changing table. The March of Dimes recommends changing tables with a sturdy, flat top, a barrier on all four sides, a pad, and a restraining strap. It should be sturdy, not wobbly, and if it has wheels, it must have locking brakes. You may choose to use a dresser as a changing table, and that is fine, as long as you purchase a topper with sides and a strap, and the dresser is stable. You might consider securing the dresser to the wall.
• Use the restraining strap. This may seem like a hassle sometimes, but it is well worth it if it prevents a wiggly baby from flipping off a high surface. Babies change so quickly, you never know when yours might try out a new move and get away from you!
• Never leave a child unattended. This may seem obvious, but when you are in a situation with a big mess and a screaming baby, rational thought can seem to leave your mind. Even if a child is strapped in, never leave his side.
• Plan ahead, in order to have everything you need within reach. This is the key to staying with your child. You should be able to have one hand on the baby at all times, yet be able to grab diapers, wipes, lotions, powder, or a change of clothes.
• Keep supplies away from baby. A disposable diaper can be hazardous, if a child tears off a piece and swallows it, and even powder can be harmful if inhaled. Arrange things for your convenience, but always be aware of potential dangers to your child.
• Do not use the changing table for an older child. By the time your baby hits two years or thirty pounds, he or she is too large to safely use a changing table. Children that age are much more likely to get away from you and injure themselves.

Changing table safety is only one part of keeping your child out of harm’s way. For more resources to help keep your baby safe and well, visit First Choice Emergency Room’s website. For helpful tips, or to join the online community, check out the Facebook page as well.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 06, 2011 – First Choice Emergency Room, the leading operator of freestanding emergency rooms in the state of Texas, today announced the opening of its newest location in the greater Houston area.

Opening on Friday, December 16, the new 24-hour emergency room is located in Cypress, Texas, at the southeast corner of Barker Cypress and Tuckerton Road.

The location serves residents of Cypress and northwest Houston, including the neighborhoods of Copperfield and Barker Cypress.

“We’re thrilled to be opening this facility,” said Rick Covert, Chief Executive Officer of First Choice Emergency Room. “It really does reflect a further evolution in the state of the art in emergency rooms and in focus on world class customer service while providing medical care that exceeds expectations.”

First Choice Emergency Room offers a level of emergency care equal to that seen in hospital ERs, but without the wait times. Patients are seen within minutes of arrival and are examined with advanced diagnostic equipment, such as CT scanners and digital X-rays. First Choice Emergency Room’s staff is also fully trained to provide the highest level of emergency care. All of the company’s physicians are board-certified, emergency medicine physicians, and all of its nurses are trained in emergency care.

“Our goal is to take the ER out of the hospital and put it closer to your home,” Covert said. “That means you get real emergency care, quicker, when it can make the most difference in outcomes.”

The facility’s address is 9740 Barker Cypress Rd., Suite 108, Cypress, TX. For more information, visit the Barker Cypress ER page at http://www.fcer.com/locations/houston-map/barker-cypress/.

For more information, locations and hours, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778).

About First Choice Emergency Room
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board certified, emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With seven locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without delay as commonly experienced in hospital ER’s.