You can schedule an appointment for the seasonal flu vaccine, as well as COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccinations at your local CVS Pharmacy at CVS.com.

(NAPSI)—While there’s no distinct COVID-19 season like there is for the flu, it’s been shown that COVID-19 can peak during the winter months. To help fight respiratory illnesses, it’s recommended you get a flu vaccination, as well as the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people six months and older, with rare exception, should get the updated annual flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October. The CDC also recommends that everyone ages six months and older should get the updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, unless otherwise noted, to help restore and enhance protection against the currently circulating virus variants.

It’s especially important to protect certain populations. This includes those at increased risk of complications from severe flu or COVID-19 illness, such as adults 65 and older, people with certain immunocompromising or chronic medical conditions, infants, children younger than two and pregnant women.

“Preventive vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself and your family from seasonal illnesses,” said Dr. Sree Chaguturu, executive vice president and chief medical officer at CVS Health. “Access to preventive vaccinations is critical to keeping communities healthy.”

According to Dr. Chaguturu, it’s helpful to understand the science behind vaccines so people feel informed and safe getting vaccinated.

Myth #1: You should wait until flu season peaks to get vaccinated.

According to the CDC, the timing of flu season is difficult to predict and can vary in different parts of the country and from season to season. It’s important to get vaccinated before flu season peaks or outbreaks occur in your area since it takes about two weeks for your body to build up protection after getting vaccinated.

Myth #2: You can’t receive other vaccinations with the flu shot.

The CDC says patients can get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine and other eligible vaccines. At CVS Pharmacy, patients can schedule multiple vaccinations in one appointment.

Myth #3: You don’t need updated vaccinations for the flu.

Getting the flu shot every year is essential because the body’s protection from the vaccine declines over time. Also, flu viruses vary yearly, so receiving the latest vaccine formulation provides optimal protection.

Flu shot appointments (for up to four people in one appointment) can be scheduled at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic by visiting CVS.com or the CVS Pharmacy app.

You can visit CVS.com to learn more about vaccinations or schedule an appointment.

Germs, pollution and allergens can be spread around your house by an ordinary HVAC system.

(NAPSI)—While more than 1.1 million Americans lost their lives due to COVID-19, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, emerging HVAC technology is now available to protect homes from the next pandemic.

The 2020 pandemic blindsided a nation that found itself without a vaccine and preventatives. Scientists warn a similar coronavirus-type event could wreak havoc again.

SARS CoV-2, like all coronaviruses, was easily transmitted via inhaled and exhaled airborne droplets. Home isolation was often ineffective and didn’t offset outside influences, such as returning schoolchildren, parties, or just visitors who can potentially infect unprotected home environments. Air droplets have been proven to move between rooms mainly via the HVAC system’s air distribution.

New HVAC Technology Combats Viruses

The good news is that the HVAC industry’s air filtration sector has introduced new disinfecting technologies to combat airborne biological contaminants, including coronaviruses. Most submicron-sized contaminants, 95% of them smaller than a grain of sand, easily pass through a standard HVAC filter. However, a new third-party-tested technology disinfects airborne pathogens and enhances particulate filtration, which normally would pass through an HVAC system.

One example is Aireshield® by Reviveaire LLC. This patented non-thermal plasma disinfection system resembles the size and thickness of a common HVAC fabric filter used in most home central air conditioning and/or heating systems. It’s easily installed by HVAC technicians or Do-It-Yourselfers.

How It Works

The non-thermal plasma system electrostatically charges the HVAC supply air with an undetectable plasmic cloud of negative and positive-charged ions. The positive and negative ions electrically attach to themselves and submicron airborne contaminants. This agglomeration process enlarges both biological and non-biological submicron particulates, so they easily entrap in standard fabric HVAC filters. The electrostatic field also disinfects pathogens.

The process also prevents bio-slime, a sludge t­hat easily grows in the dark, moist environment of cool HVAC coils. Bio-slime potentially cuts HVAC efficiency (thermal transfer) by up to 30 percent.

Keeping coils clean and efficient can pay back a non-thermal plasma system’s cost in three to five years with energy savings. The system continues providing protection from viruses, as well as everyday concerns such as allergens, flu, common cold and other airborne biological contaminants for 10 years or more.

Protecting a home from everyday airborne contaminants or pandemics requires readiness.

To find contractors who can install Aireshield, call Reviveaire at 908.987.7089 or email info@reviveaire.com.

(NAPSI)—For more than half of her life, 43-year-old Megan Bettor dealt with bouts of excruciating low back pain. She doesn’t remember a specific accident or injury that caused the initial pain – all she knows is that it was a constant part of her life.

Megan knew something had to change and began exploring surgical options, including a disc replacement, an invasive and expensive treatment that may or may not address her pain. That’s when she met Ramana Naidu, M.D., director of pain management, MarinHealth Medical Center and interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist.

This type of pain is a relatively new discovery and caused by vertebral endplates that get damaged due to age, wear, tear and everyday living. While approximately 5.3 million people in the U.S. are living with vertebrogenic pain, this condition did not have an official diagnosis until recently, let alone a treatment.

Dr. Naidu thought Megan would be an ideal candidate for a procedure utilizing Boston Scientific’s Intracept™ Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System, which provides a minimally invasive, same-day treatment specifically designed to address vertebrogenic pain.

The Intracept system targets a specific nerve in the lower back – the basivertebral nerve or BVN – that transmits pain signals from the damaged vertebral endplates to the brain. The Intracept system uses a radiofrequency probe to heat the BVN and prevent it from sending these signals. The procedure is proven to be safe and effective, with patients reporting significant pain and functional improvements at five years after a single treatment.

“Historically, the disc was presumed to be the source of most chronic low back pain, but recent research demonstrates that the vertebral endplates play a significant role in causing pain,” said Ray Baker, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. “By targeting the BVN, patients can achieve durable relief through a minimally invasive procedure.”

After receiving insurance approval, Megan underwent her procedure with the Intracept system in November 2023. Her pain relief was immediate and, as time went on, Megan ramped up her physical activities without the accompanying low back pain.

If you have suffered from chronic low back pain for at least six months and find it gets worse with physical activity, you may have vertebrogenic pain.

Physicians across the U.S. are trained to make this specific diagnosis and to determine if treating your low back pain with the Intracept system may be an option for you. You can also use the Intracept Physician Finder to locate a physician near you to make an appointment and learn more about this diagnosis and proven treatment.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

Keeping yourself well-hydrated is vital for your overall well-being, including ensuring your airways are clear and functioning smoothly. When you don’t drink enough water, your body might produce more mucus, which gets thicker and can challenge breathing. By staying hydrated, you’re doing your respiratory system a big favor, helping it work at its best. Continue reading to see how sipping that extra glass of water can be a game-changer for your airway health, based on scientific facts and expert advice.

Understanding the Airways

Before we explore the relationship between hydration and airway health, it’s crucial to understand the airways and their significance. The airways consist of the nose, throat, trachea, and lungs. They pass air from the external environment to the lungs, facilitating essential gas exchanges.

Why Hydration Matters for Airways

Staying hydrated keeps the mucus in your airways thin and flowing, preventing buildup and infections. Dehydration thickens this mucus, hindering expulsion and increasing the risk of inflammation and respiratory issues. Hydration also preserves the mucosal linings, offering protection against infections.

Practical Tips for Staying Hydrated

● Drink Enough Water: The exact amount of water needed varies from person to person based on factors like age, health conditions, climate, and activity levels. However, most experts recommend drinking around eight glasses (64 oz) of water daily to maintain proper hydration.
● Monitor Hydration Levels: Pay attention to signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, fatigue, and dark-colored urine. One easy way to check your hydration levels is to monitor the color of your urine. Pale or light yellow urine indicates you’re well-hydrated, while darker yellow or amber urine means you need more fluids.
● Incorporate Hydrating Foods: Incorporating hydrating foods into your diet primarily involves incorporating fruits and vegetables rich in water. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, and oranges are excellent choices, as they contain over 85 percent water, making them incredibly hydrating. Similarly, vegetables such as cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, celery, and bell peppers are also known for their high water content.

Help Us Promote the Benefits of Airway Health

Join the Foundation for Airway Health in its mission to ensure everyone understands how breathing impacts health and development. Your donation allows us to spread the word about the importance of breathing for overall health, conduct valuable research, and ensure access to care.

You generally won’t need to see your doctor to be diagnosed with a poison ivy rash. If you go to a clinic, your doctor will likely diagnose your rash by looking at it. You usually won’t need further testing.

Treatment

Poison ivy treatments usually involve self-care methods at home. And the rash typically goes away on its own in two to three weeks.

If the rash is widespread or causes many blisters, your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone, to reduce swelling. If a bacterial infection has developed at the rash site, your doctor might prescribe an oral antibiotic.

Lifestyle and home remedies

A poison ivy rash will eventually go away on its own. But the itching can be hard to deal with and make it difficult to sleep. If you scratch your blisters, they may become infected. Here are some steps you can take to help control the itching:

Apply an over-the-counter cortisone cream or ointment (Cortizone 10) for the first few days.

Apply calamine lotion or creams containing menthol.

Take oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which may also help you sleep better. An over-the-counter antihistamine that won’t make you so drowsy is loratadine (Alavert, Claritin, others).

Soak the affected area in a cool-water bath that has about a half cup (100 grams) of baking soda or an oatmeal-based bath product (Aveeno) in it.

Place cool, wet compresses on the affected area for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day.

You probably won’t need medical treatment for a poison ivy rash unless it spreads widely, persists for more than a few weeks or becomes infected. If you’re concerned, you’ll probably first see your primary care doctor. He or she might refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

How long will this rash last?

Is it contagious?

Is it OK to scratch?

Will scratching spread the rash?

Will popping the blisters spread the rash?

What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?

What can I do to help control the itching?

If the rash doesn’t go away or gets worse, when do you think I need to make another appointment with you?

How can I prevent this in the future?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

When did you begin experiencing symptoms?

Have you had a similar rash in the past?

Have you spent time outdoors recently?

What treatment steps have you already tried?