Boiling Springs Pharmacy

09/04/2025

Is It Flu, COVID-19, Allergies, or a Cold?
Feeling sick can be especially concerning these days. Could your sniffles be caused by COVID-19? Or the flu? A cold? Or maybe allergies?

Determining the cause of an illness can be tricky because many share some symptoms. They can leave you sniffling, coughing, and feeling tired. But there are important differences.

Figuring out what’s making you sick can help you recover and prevent spreading sickness to others.
“Distinguishing COVID from flu can be difficult because the symptoms overlap so much,” explains Dr. Brooke Bozick, an NIH expert on respiratory diseases that affect the lungs.

Flu and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses that can be spread among people. Flu is caused by the influenza virus. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2. Both can give you a fever, cough, headaches, and body aches.

Feeling sick? Learn the difference between COVID-19, allergies, and other viruses.

09/03/2025

What are vaccines?
Vaccines are injections (shots), liquids, pills, or nasal sprays that you take to teach your body's immune system to recognize and defend against harmful germs. For example, there are vaccines to protect against diseases caused by:

Viruses, like the ones that cause the flu and COVID-19
Bacteria, including tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
What are the types of vaccines?
There are several types of vaccines:

Live-attenuated vaccines use a weakened form of the germ.
Inactivated vaccines use a killed version of the germ.
Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines use only specific pieces of the germ, such as its protein, sugar, or casing.
Toxoid vaccines use a toxin (harmful product) made by the germ.
mRNA vaccines use messenger RNA, which gives your cells instructions for how to make a protein (or piece of a protein) of the germ.
Viral vector vaccines use genetic material, which gives your cells instructions for making a protein of the germ. These vaccines also contain a different, harmless virus that helps get the genetic material into your cells.
These vaccines may work in different ways, but they all spark an immune response. The immune response is the way your body defends itself against substances it sees as foreign or harmful. These substances include germs that can cause disease.

Vaccines protect against life-threatening diseases. Follow a recommended immunization schedule to protect yourself and others at all stages of life.

08/29/2025

Boiling Springs Pharmacy will be closed Monday, September 1, 2025, in observation of Labor Day. The pharmacy will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from 9am-6pm. We look forward to taking care of you and all the families needs. Give us a call at (864)-515-2600 with any questions and a friendly staff member will happily assist you with your needs.

08/29/2025

Happy Labor day weekend from Boiling Springs Pharmacy. If you and your family would like to get your flu shots or any other vaccinations before or after the holiday you are most welcome- no appointment needed. All vaccinations are covered fully by most insurance companies. We make it as quick and easy as possible- no long lines. come see us today! call us with any questions at (864)-515-2600 and speak with one of our friendly pharmacy staff.

08/25/2025

What are viruses?
Viruses are very tiny germs. They are made of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) inside of a protein coating. There are a huge number of viruses on earth. Only a small number of them can infect humans. Those viruses can infect our cells, which may cause disease. Some of the diseases that viruses can cause include the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and HIV.

How are viruses spread?
Viruses can be spread in different ways:

Through droplets and particles that are breathed out by someone who has the infection. You might breathe in the droplets or particles, or they could land on your mouth, nose, or eyes.
By touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
From the pregnant parent to the baby during pregnancy.
Through contaminated food or water.
By being bitten by an infected insect or animal.
Through s*xual contact (usually vaginal, a**l and oral s*x) with someone who has the infection.

Viruses cause familiar infections such as the common cold, but they also cause severe illnesses. Learn more about viral infections and their symptoms.

08/22/2025

What causes the flu?
The flu is caused by flu viruses that spread from person to person. When someone with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks, they spray tiny droplets. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person may get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

What are the symptoms of the flu?
Symptoms of the flu come on suddenly and may include:

Fever or feeling feverish/chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue (tiredness)
Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. This is more common in children.

08/20/2025

What is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus. It usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But it can cause serious lung infections, especially in infants, older adults, and people with serious medical problems.

How is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spread?
RSV spreads from person to person through:

The air by coughing and sneezing
Direct contact, such as kissing the face of a child who has RSV
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
People who have an RSV infection are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days. But sometimes infants and people with weakened immune systems can continue to spread the virus for as long as 4 weeks.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes cold-like symptoms in adults and healthy children, but can cause serious problems in babies. Read more.

08/19/2025

What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs. It causes the air sacs of your lungs to fill up with fluid or pus. Pneumonia can range from mild to severe, depending on what caused it, your age, and your overall health.

What causes pneumonia?
Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can cause pneumonia.

Bacteria are the most common cause. Bacterial pneumonia can occur on its own. It can also develop after you've had certain viral infections such as a cold or the flu. Several different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia, including:

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophila; this type of pneumonia is often called Legionnaires' disease
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Symptoms of pneumonia vary to mild to severe. Read about the signs of pneumonia.

08/18/2025

Boiling Springs Pharmacy have the 2025-2026 flu vaccinations available, at your earliest convenience! No long lines and we are the preferred pharmacy for most insurances. No appointment necessary, walk-ins are most welcome! Call us today if you have any questions (864)-515-2600.

The flu shot causes your body to develop antibodies against influenza viruses. Know more about getting vaccinated against getting the flu.

08/12/2025

Boiling Springs Pharmacy now have your annual flu vaccines 2025-2026 in stock! Come see us at your earliest convenience. We also keep other vaccines in stock and are fully covered by most insurances. At Boiling Springs Pharmacy you can expect fast, friendly, and cost effective service. we are located at 2528 Boiling Springs Road, Boiling Springs, Sc. No appointment needed, walk-in welcome! Call us at (864)-515-2600 if you have any question!

06/27/2025

What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Antibiotics can be taken in different ways:

Orally (by mouth). This could be pills, capsules, or liquids.
Topically. This might be a cream, spray, or ointment that you put on your skin. It could also be eye ointment, eye drops, or ear drops.
Through an injection or intravenously (IV). This is usually for more serious infections.
What do antibiotics treat?
Antibiotics only treat certain bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and E. coli.

You may not need to take antibiotics for some bacterial infections. For example, you might not need them for many sinus infections or some ear infections. Taking antibiotics when they're not needed won't help you, and they can have side effects. Your health care provider can decide the best treatment for you when you're sick. Don't ask your provider to prescribe an antibiotic for you.

Do antibiotics treat viral infections?
Antibiotics do not work on viral infections. For example, you shouldn't take antibiotics for:

Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green
Most sore throats (except strep throat)
Flu
Most cases of bronchitis

Used properly, antibiotics can save lives by fighting bacterial infections. Read about how to use antibiotics and about when not to use antibiotics.

06/26/2025

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much of it in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries and narrow or even block them. This puts you at risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.

Cholesterol is made by your liver. It travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. One type of lipoprotein, LDL, is sometimes called the "bad" cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Another type, HDL, is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Then your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.

What are statins?
Statins are a type of cholesterol medicine. Your health care provider may prescribe them if you have high cholesterol and making lifestyle changes does not lower your cholesterol enough. Statins are the most common medicines used to treat high cholesterol.

If diet and exercise don't reduce your cholesterol levels, you may need to take medicine. Often, this medicine is a statin. Learn more about statins.