Keep Your Germs to Yourself
Do: Wash your hands
Strep throat is a bacterial infection and is very contagious for up to 24 hours after you start taking antibiotics. Use antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer regularly to avoid spreading germs.
Don’t: Kiss
Kissing may be a quick and easy way to spread the love, but it’s also the fastest way to give your love interest strep throat.
Rest Your Voice
Do: Whisper. Better yet, avoid talking.
When you have strep, your throat will feel raw. The only way to let it heal is to rest your voice.
Don’t: Perform at a rock concert
Save your musical debut until after you’re feeling better.
Drink Your Way Back to Health
Do: Drink lots of fluids
Staying hydrated is really important whenever you’re sick. Drinking lots of water and other clear fluids will help soothe your throat.
Don’t: Go to a keg party
Alcohol will only make your throat more dry and painful. It also tends to dehydrate you. The same goes for coffee. Save the kegger for when you’re better.
Eat Foods That Are Easy on Your Throat
Do: Eat lots of popsicles
The kids love this one. Eating popsicles and sucking on candy will help to numb the throat and lessen the pain. Throat lozenges are also good, especially if they are mentholated.
Don’t: Eat spicy foods
When your throat is raw, the last thing you want to do is eat spicy foods. Not only will it irritate your throat, but the burning sensation can be really painful.
Breathe Clean, Moist Air
Do: Use a humidifier
Humidifiers add moisture to the air. This will make it less harsh and will prevent your throat from getting too dry while you sleep.
Don’t: Smoke
Smoking is always bad for you, but it can be especially irritating on your sore throat.
At FastMed Urgent Care, we perform rapid strep testing. Combined with on-site lab work, we can determine if you have strep throat in as little as 10 minutes. If you’ve got a sore throat, visit your neighborhood FastMed Urgent Care. We’ll have you feeling better in no time.
About FastMed
FastMed Urgent Care owns and operates nearly 200 centers in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas that provide a broad range of acute/episodic and preventive healthcare services 365 days a year. FastMed also provides workers’ compensation and other occupational health services at all its centers, and family and sports medicine services at select locations. FastMed has successfully treated more than six million patients and is the only independent urgent care operator in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas to be awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information about locations, services, hours of operation, insurance and prices, visit www.fastmed.com.