Preparing for Flu Season with LiveHealth Online

Fall is officially here, and I couldn't be more excited... it's my favorite season of the year, particularly here in NYC. However, the arrival of cooler temperatures also means that winter will be here before we know it, and that's decidedly less thrilling (for me, anyway).

In a nutshell, when I think cold weather, the words "flu season" almost immediately come to mind. AGH. We were all sick at some point last year, and the memory of fevers, sleepless nights and runny noses is still fresh in my mind. Thankfully, there are steps we can take along the way to reduce the risk of flu and school-borne illnesses. Check out these tips from Dr. Mia Finkelson, a doctor who treats patients through LiveHealth Online:

Rest up: Make sure your kids get between 9.5 - 12 hours of sleep each night to restore their bodies, improve their ability to help fight off germs, and reduce their stress levels.

Hands off: Germs are lurking everywhere during the school year and are transported mostly through our hands. Teach your kids to keep their hands away from their face, and make sure they wash hands often, especially before eating.

Eat for wellness: Stock up on nutritious foods to help kids and parents function at optimum levels. Kids love to snack. Keep it healthy with nuts, whole grain crackers, and fruit.

Don’t skip breakfast: Studies show that eating breakfast helps kids focus better in school, and they are less tired and cranky.

Immunize: Make time to get the flu shot for your family because studies show it safely protects against the most common strains of flu.

photo credit: webmd.com

That all seems perfectly doable, right? I'm pretty sure I'll be referring back to this list time and time again over the winter season, in addition to a new app I discovered by the folks behind LiveHealth Online. I love anything that makes my life easier, and this app does just that, providing a safe and fast way for moms to talk face-to-face with a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment for urgent care conditions that pop up every fall and winter (colds, flu, rashes, pink eye... all that fun stuff).

Hello, convenience factor! Moms can use the LiveHealth Online app 24 hours a day, year-round to talk securely and privately by two­-way video chat with a U.S.-­based, board-certified, primary care doctor. If needed, the doctor you see through LiveHealth Online can send prescriptions automatically to your local pharmacy (in New York and most other states). 

Registering is free and easy; simply download the app from the App Store (or Google Play) and sign up in one quick step. Typically $49 per visit, think of it as a cost-effective alternative to urgent care or retail clinics if you have a high deductible or don't have insurance. If you're a PPO or EPO member of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, a LiveHealth Online visit is covered at the same or lower out-of-pocket cost than a primary care office visit, and claims are automatically filed for a fast and easy experience.

Lastly, I've got some exciting news! I have a custom code for you to use to give LiveHealth Online a try the next time you or your little one is feeling ill (good for 1 free visit):

Code: BabyMeetsCity
Offer dates: 9/10/14 through 12/31/14

Here's to a healthy winter season ahead -- one filled with hot chocolate, snowman building and sledding... minus the flu. And in the meantime, it's comforting to know I have the LiveHealth Online app if I need it.

Disclosure: I was compensated by LiveHealth Online for participating in this campaign. All opinions expressed herein are my own.