Posts by Stevi Swift

A sick day rarely arrives with an empty calendar. Flu season in Oregon is already here! There may be school drop-off, a work shift, a grocery order, and someone asking whether you need a note. Before you have decided what to do about symptoms, you are already rearranging the day. A practical flu-season plan can…

Halloween planning can quickly become a collection of small decisions: which costume works, who is going with whom, what time to leave, and what to do if someone isn’t feeling well. You do not need an elaborate plan to make the evening easier. A few checks before you leave—and a little flexibility about how the…

The school bags are packed, work is waiting, and someone wakes up with a sore throat. By lunchtime, there is a cough, too. Is it a cold, flu or covid and what should happen next? For Oregon parents and adults, the useful starting point is a short list of decisions: what to notice, what to…

Someone sick at home? Get practical household illness prevention tips, questions to ask, and ways Oregon Telemed may help with non-emergency concerns. You finally put the tissues away. Then someone else starts sniffling. When people share a home, illness can interrupt everything from school drop-off to work meetings. It can also leave you with questions:…

Noticed a health change and not sure what to say? Maybe something feels different. Maybe a symptom is new, changing, or not improving. Maybe you are worried, but you do not know the medical words to explain it. You do not need to diagnose yourself before asking for help. You also do not need the…

Breast cancer awareness starts with two practical steps: knowing which breast changes deserve attention and understanding when your next screening is due. October’s pink ribbons are a helpful reminder. But between work, family, and everything else on your calendar, it can be easy to put off an appointment or wonder whether a change is worth…

Stomach bug or something else? When nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea interrupts your day, it can be hard to know what to do next. You may be canceling dinner, staying close to the bathroom, and wondering whether you should get checked. You don’t need to figure out the cause before asking for help. Start with three…

When your child wakes up sick before school, the morning can feel stressful fast. Everyone is trying to get out the door. Backpacks are packed, lunches are ready, and then your child says, “I don’t feel good.” Now you are trying to decide whether they should go to school, stay home, wait it out, or…

Getting sick over Labor Day weekend can feel extra stressful. Regular routines are different. Offices may be closed. Pharmacies may have adjusted hours. Families may be traveling, camping, visiting relatives, or trying to enjoy one last long weekend before fall schedules get busy. When symptoms start during a holiday weekend, it can be hard to…