PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH How to Handle Your Health Care Needs During a Pandemic
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has changed our communities and reshaped how we get health care. While social distancing remains important as we move Dr. Ketti Awad forward, taking care of ongoing health needs should also be a top priority. When you need care, it’s important to take action right away.
4 LEADING MEDICINE FROM HOUSTON METHODIST
Postponing health care visits or treatments may actually hurt your health in the long run. If you delay going to the doctor for small problems like a rash, a headache or urinary tract infection, these issues can become bigger problems and may require urgent attention. Now is the time to be proactive about identifying health risks and following through on treatment plans. “It’s essential to continue with preventive care, health screenings, vaccinations, medications and treatments as recommended by your
doctor,” said Dr. Ketti Awad, a primary care doctor at Houston Methodist Hospital. “Delaying screening tests or ignoring health issues now could lead to more significant problems later on.” If you have a chronic condition, you should work with your doctor to improve your health. “Managing your existing health conditions may help you be healthier and stronger if you need to overcome illness or infection in the future,” Awad said.
PUTTING SAFETY FIRST
As we navigate how to interact within the community, we’re learning that COVID-19 may be with us for a long time. While we wait for answers on vaccines and immunity, we’re finding ways to adjust to a new normal and return to our daily activities in a safe manner. This involves wearing masks in public, keeping 6 feet apart from others and staying vigilant about handwashing and wiping down surfaces. Keeping these social distancing practices in place is essential to our efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
