A disease is found in an organ, where it needs to be cured. This could be an infection, an injury, toxic exposure, cell degeneration, and so on. The disease can often cause illness to occur, but there is also somewhere where illness never occurs. When evaluating a patient, the physician will need to not only cure the disease but also find a treatment to help with the illness. Just because one comes with the other doesn’t mean they will be treated the same together. This is why the distinction is so important.

While an illness can also occur without a disease being present, chronic pain is a great example of this. A patient can deal with chronic pain but there is no diagnosable damage of where the chronic pain came from. Illness needs to be managed, dealing with pain, discomfort, distress, weakness, and even fatigue.

Infectious diseases are passed from one individual to another or from an insect or animal to an individual. Finally, you can also get infectious diseases or very ill from ingesting contaminated food or water, or even being exposed to organisms within the environment you are in. It’s often caused by organisms, which could be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Normally, organisms are harmless and helpful, but under certain conditions, they can become harmful and cause disease.

General signs and symptoms of infectious diseases that may be wreaking havoc in your body include:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Coughing
• Muscle aches

It is highly recommended you seek out medical attention if you:

• Are having issues breathing
• Have been bitten by an animal
• Are coughing for longer than a week
• Have severe headaches accompanied by a fever
• Are dealing with a rash or swelling
• Have an unexplained or severely prolonged fever
• Have vision issues come on suddenly

Some of the most common illnesses urgent care deals with include:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Lung cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Depression
• Type 2 diabetes
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Oral disease

While anyone can develop an illness or disease, certain individuals are at more severe risk of disease and illnesses due to their age and other medical conditions.

• Older adults
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions of any age
• Lung disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Dementia
• Stroke
• Individuals who are immunocompromised
• Underlying medical condition
• Taking certain medications that lower the immune system
• Obese individuals showing a BMI of 40 or higher

Healthy habits are taught, learned, and developed at home. Following healthy habits prevents germs as well as infectious diseases from spreading.

• Handle and prepare food safely
• Washing hands often
• Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces
• Cough and sneeze into the elbow of your arm/sleeve, or a tissue
• Do not share your items with others
• Get vaccinated if you can
• Avoid touching wild animals, if you do immediately clean your hands
• Stay home and rest if you are feeling sick

Providing treatment for an illness will depend on the type of illness the patient is dealing with, the treatment may come in many different forms which will include but not be limited to physical therapy, radiotherapy, psychological therapy, medications, and surgery.

Stay safe from illness by managing your health correctly and doing the following:

• Quitting smoking
• Eating healthier
• Exercise often or regular activity
• Limit the consumption of alcohol
• Rest a minimum of 8 hours a night
• Understanding your family’s history
• Making healthier choices each day
• Screened by your doctor annually

Experience prompt relief and compassionate care tailored to your needs, allowing you to recover swiftly and return to your best self at PrimeHealth Urgent Care. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 5660 Fishhawk Crossing Blvd, Lithia, FL 33547. We serve patients from Lithia FL, Balm FL, Keysville FL, Hopewell FL, and surrounding areas.