Central Ozarks Medical Center: March 2019

Friday, March 29, 2019

We Aren't Joking, QUIT The Smoking!

Have you ever heard the phrase, "that is an unattractive habit"? Nothing can be truer when it comes to the habit of smoking. By now, you should know how bad smoking is for your health. As for it being an unattractive habit, smoking can lead to yellow teeth, bad breath, a raspy voice, and that's just barely scratching the surface of how bad smoking can damage your body. It is almost boating season at the Lake, the weather is getting better, and it gets darker later now. There are a ton of things to smile about, so don't ruin that smile by smoking. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips on how to quit smoking. Our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics understands how hard this habit can be to give up. Central Ozarks Medical Center believes in you! If you have been quite the smoker to where it is affecting your health in one way or another, contact your local Mid-Missouri health clinic for an appointment today.

Pick a favorite healthy snack and EAT IT!
Whether you love carrots, celery, apples, bananas, or broccoli, find a healthy snack you enjoy. When you quit smoking, your appetite can increase. Keep your mouth busy with eating your favorite healthy snack, when you start to crave a cigarette.

Exercise is your friend.
Exercising can also help keep your mind off smoking. Get a steady exercise routine going. Stick with it and this can motivate you even more not to start smoking again because you probably aren’t going to want to lose all the progress you’ve made on improving your body.

Why have you chosen to quit smoking?
You probably have a good reason for quitting smoking, whether it be for family, a new baby, or friends; stick by your reasons. Remember it so much that you aren’t motivated to try and start smoking again.

Do something fun.
Finding a new hobby can help keep you busy and distract yourself from wanting to smoke. For example, perhaps try going to the movies, reading a new book, go for a walk, or start doing yoga. The point is to just keep yourself busy. You can also keep your mouth busy by chewing gum. This may make you less likely to smoke.

Avoid triggers.
Throw away all old cigarettes and try to avoid areas where you know there will be a ton of people smoking. If you are serious about quitting smoking, you probably aren’t going to want that temptation in your life.

Our doctors at the Lake of the Ozarks would like to commend you on deciding to quit smoking. This may not be an easy task and you are stronger for choosing to take it on. Again, if smoking has affected your body to the point where you think you need to see a doctor, call Central Ozarks Medical Center today. We have several health clinics throughout Mid-Missouri and our phone numbers and locations can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.317.9200 -- Stone Castle
573.765.2510 -- Dental

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, March 22, 2019

Tips for Avoiding Getting Sick in the Workplace

How often do your co-workers STILL come into work sick? This happens way more times than it should. Whether they feel an obligation to come in, despite their illness or they just have anxiety their work won't get done, whatever the reason may be, some people refuse to stay home when they are sick. Unfortunately, when this happens they could be risking getting their co-workers sick too. As someone who is not sick, but has to work with someone who is, what do you do? Your health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips for avoiding getting sick in the workplace. If you find yourself getting sick, you should give yourself the quality, affordable healthcare at the Lake of the Ozarks you deserve. Consider Central Ozarks Medical Center. Learn more about our affordable, quality healthcare services by visiting our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

Tips for Avoiding Getting Sick in the Workplace

Get Your Flu Shot When You Can
According to the CDC, flu season can last as late as May. You should also note:

"Flu vaccines have been updated to better match circulating viruses [the B/Victoria component was changed and the influenza A(H3N2) component was updated]."

"For the 2018-2019 season, the nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine or “LAIV”) is again a recommended option for influenza vaccination of persons for whom it is otherwise appropriate. The nasal spray is approved for use in non-pregnant individuals, 2 to 49 years old. There is a precaution against the use of LAIV for people with certain underlying medical conditions. All LAIV will be quadrivalent (four-component)."

Sanitize Your Desk and Your Entire Workspace
Wipe down your desk and surrounding work area with a disinfectant. While it may seem obvious to do this when you know a co-worker is sick, you should do it on a regular basis just to be safe. You could have co-workers who are sick but are showing recognizable signs yet.

Wash Your Hands Throughout The Day
Try and prevent yourself from getting your co-workers sick germs and wash your hand s frequently. You can also carry hand sanitizer and use that when you can't get up to wash your hands.

Avoid Biting Your Nails
Avoid spreading the bacteria and keep your hands out of your mouth. Break this habit now and try and avoid getting sick in the workplace.

Get the Quality, Affordable Healthcare at the Lake of the Ozarks You Deserve

You can't make the sick co-worker go home, but you can do everything in your power to avoid getting sick yourself. If you haven't already, consider getting a flu shot at your local Lake of the Ozarks health clinic. Central Ozarks Medical Center offers a discounted fee to patients based on their household size and household income. The Sliding Fee Program includes fees for medical, dental and behavioral health services. To determine eligibility, COMC will need to ask you to bring in personal financial information. Any information we ask you for will be strictly confidential. None of your personal information, financial or medical, can be released without your written consent. The information we are asking for is used solely to determine household size and household income. Applications are effective for a one-year period. To learn more visit, http://centralozarks.org/financial.html.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, March 15, 2019

Fight Spring Allergies with COMC!

Spring technically starts March 20th, but you may already be experiencing spring allergy symptoms. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks understand how annoying spring allergy symptoms can feel. You most likely have a full-time job or kids take care of, other responsibilities keeping you busy and have no time for allergy symptoms to get in the way. Allergy symptoms can include a runny nose, scratchy throat, sneezing, or swollen eyes. This is absolutely no fun, so our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics are here to give you a few tips for fighting spring allergy symptoms. If you think you may have something more than spring allergies, call your COMC Central Missouri health clinics nearest to you. Our locations and phone numbers can be found on our website at www.Central Ozarks.org.

Keep your windows and doors shut as much as possible.
You are letting the allergens in your home by leaving your windows and doors open in the spring. We understand that it’s tempting to do so with it being so nice outside, but if you are trying to beat spring allergies, closing your windows and doors helps.

Drink hot tea.
The steam from a hot cup of tea can help open your nasal passages and clear your sinuses.

Consider starting to take your over-the-counter allergy medicine now.
It can be a good idea to start taking your allergy medicine about 2 weeks before your symptoms would typically start. Doing so can cut down on having a runny nose and reduce your chances of inflammation.

Drink plenty of water.
As they say, you should drink half your body weight in ounces when it comes to water. Water can help flush out your system and can prevent your body from creating as much mucus.

Take a shower after you have been outside to remove allergens from your body.
Shower after you’ve come in from outside and wash off all of the allergens you may have picked that landed in your hair or on your skin.

Don't go outside any more than you have to.
You have a larger chance of either getting allergy symptoms or worsening your current symptoms by going outside. For example, look at the following activities you may do outside in the spring, such as Swimming, Running, Walking, Sports, Fishing, Easter Egg Hunts, or Gardening. Do everything you can to limit your time outside. For example, host an indoor Easter egg hunt or choose to run on your treadmill or go to the gym. Doing so can keep you away from the pollen outside a little more

Here at Central Ozarks Medical Center, we truly believe it is not just about what we do, but HOW we do it that makes a difference. We enjoy helping our patients in any way we can. For information on all the services we offer or on the several providers we have, visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Thursday, March 7, 2019

5 Tips for Determining If You Should Take Your Child to the Doctor When Coughing

We want the best for our little ones and nothing feels worse than seeing them suffer from an illness and feeling like you can't do anything about it. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks understand. We know how hard it can be to know whether or not to know if you should be bringing your kid to the doctor when they have a cough. On one hand, you may be thinking it is just a cough, it will go away soon, on the other hand, you may be thinking what if this cough turns into something worse? If you are ever in doubt, take your kid to the doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks, just in case, better safe than sorry. Central Ozarks Medical Center is here to give you 5 tips for determining if you should take your child to the doctor when they are coughing. If you still need to establish a Lake of the Ozarks Pediatrician for your little one, consider Central Ozarks Medical Center. Check out our website at www.CentralOzarks.org to learn more.

5 Tips for Determining If You Should Take Your Child to the Doctor When Coughing

1. The cough is very persistent.
If your child is coughing quite a bit, as in more than every 5 minutes, you should contact their doctor. This frequent cough could be caused by mucus and could be causing them breathing problems.

2. There is a green or yellow mucus.
If your child has developed a green or yellow mucus, there is a possibility they may have a respiratory or sinus infection. In this case, you should absolutely contact your Pediatrician.

3. The cough sounds like a bark.
A bark like cough could be a sign of an illness called croup. Croup involves the larynx and trachea in a child being inflamed. This illness is much more popular in children under the age of 8. Again, if your child is experiencing this, you should contact your Pediatrician.

4. There is a whistling sound when your child breathes out.
If your child is experiencing a high-pitched whistling sound when they breath out they could be wheezing. If this is the case, you should contact your Pediatrician immediately.

5. Your child has a fever.
If your child has fever of 102 degrees or over in addition to a cough, there is a possibility they could have pneumonia and you should absolutely contact your Pediatrician.

Again, whenever in doubt, take your child to your local Pediatrician at the Lake of the Ozarks. It is better to be safe than sorry. Central Ozarks Medical Center knows you want the best for your child, including healthcare. Get the best healthcare at the Lake of the Ozarks for your child at COMC. To learn more about our Pediatric providers, visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. To make an appointment call the clinic of your choice listed below.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties