I hope this post finds each of you well and that everyone had an amazing (Arizona) PRIDE 2022 this past month. Hopefully, each of you was able to take part in some or all of the festivities over the Phoenix Pride weekend and were able to embrace each of the attributes that make you all the beautiful, amazing people that you are
As we all know, large community gatherings can increase our risk of exposure to different viruses and bacteria, so please do your best to take care of yourself and stay healthy. If you are feeling sick in any way, please stay home and rest.
Although Monkeypox and COVID have lost the attention they were once getting, both are still affecting our community. For this reason, it is imperative to watch for any flu-like symptoms, swelling in any of lymph nodes, or any open sores/lesions anywhere on the body.
We are also entering cold/flu season, so make sure you are aware of different cold or flu-like symptoms.
Flu-like symptoms include:
Fever
Chills
Swollen lymph nodes
Exhaustion
Muscle aches and backache
Headache
Respiratory symptoms (sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
Remember to practice proper handwashing, use disinfectants for cleaning, and stay home if you are feeling ill. If you are having symptoms of the flu or COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask if you must be out in public to protect others. We have plenty of influenza, COVID booster, and Monkeypox vaccines available at Southwest Center, so please call us at 602.307.5330 to schedule an appointment if you wish to receive one or all.
In good health,
Taylor Piontek, MSN, APRN, FNP-C (he/him/his)
Director of Clinical Services, Family Nurse Practitioner