6 Common Illnesses and How to Avoid Spreading Them

As summer winds down, we look ahead to the fall and winter seasons, which are also the prime-time seasons for spreading contagious diseases. 

From common colds to COVID-19, these respiratory viruses tend to make their rounds as people head indoors and gather for the holidays, so now’s a good time to protect yourself and others.

The team here at Macomb Medical Clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan, under the direction of Dr. Mark S. Rosenberg, and places great emphasis on preventive care. After all, the best protection for you and your loved ones is not getting an illness in the first place.

Here, we look at six common and contagious illnesses and what steps you can take to protect yourself and others.

The illness headliners each year

Each year, both here in the United States and across the globe, you can count on certain illnesses making the rounds. They include:

1. The common cold

First up is the common cold, which affects almost everyone. To put some numbers to this bold statement, adults get 2-4 colds each year, usually between September and May. And kids get even more.

2. Influenza

The next most common illness is the flu, which affects a whopping 1 billion people around the world each year.

3. COVID-19

We’ve established that COVID-19 is likely here to stay and, just like the flu, will keep returning with new strains. As of August 2024, COVID-19 was growing in 27 states, including Michigan, and this trend is likely to continue as we head into fall and winter.

4. Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis, which is a contagious respiratory infection, targets about 5% of adults in the US each year.

5. Pneumonia

Each year in the US, about 1 million adults are hospitalized because of pneumonia, and it’s the No. 1 driver of hospitalization for kids.

6. Strep throat

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CC) reports that strep infections in the US have been increasing over the past decade, and they mostly occur between December and April.

Stopping the spread

What each of the infections we outlined above share in common is that they can easily be spread through respiratory droplets and close contact.

Just a few years ago, we all got a crash course on how to prevent being infected and how to stop spreading these viruses, and we want to review some of what we learned here.

One of the most effective ways to contain these illnesses is through vaccination. While we can’t vaccinate against the common cold, strep throat, or bronchitis, we do have vaccines for COVID-19, the flu, and pneumonia. We also want to point out that flu vaccines help to protect you against bronchitis.

Outside of vaccinations, you can take other steps, such as:

• Washing your hands frequently
• Staying home when you’re sick
• Avoiding touching your face; the virus can go from your hands to your eyes or mouth
• Not shaking hands
• Getting tested

We want to expand on this last point a little. One of the best ways to avoid spreading these common illnesses is to get tested if you suspect that you’re sick. We offer comprehensive testing here and, if you test positive, you can then take steps to isolate yourself so you don’t spread the virus.

Another great way to avoid spreading these illnesses is to stay healthy, so you reduce your risks for infection and illness. Through a healthy diet with loads of vitamins C and A, as well as exercise, you can strengthen your immunity.

We also recommend that you come see us for a more tailored plan to avoid respiratory viral infections, especially if you’re worried about at-risk loved ones.

To get started, we invite you to schedule an appointment at our Sterling Heights office. You can call 586-315-2393 or visit us online.