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. James Scott forward, taking care of Pearce ongoing health needs should also be a top priority. When you need care, it’s important to take action right away.
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, an infected toenail 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 important for your overall health to keep up with preventive care, health screenings, vaccinations, medications and treatments
as recommended by your doctor,” said Dr. James Scott Pearce, a primary care doctor at Houston Methodist West Hospital. “Foregoing recommended screening tests could result in more serious health problems down the road.” If you have a chronic condition, you should work with your doctor to improve your health. “You will likely be healthier and better able to fight off an infection in the future if you are tending to current health conditions now,” Pearce 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.
4 LEADING MEDICINE IN WEST HOUSTON/KATY
