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5 Effective ways to Keep Spring Allergies Away

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Spring time means warmer weather, blooming flowers and longer days but it also brings spring allergies for many people. While dealing with spring time allergies everyone needs to seek doctor’s attention. According to the specialists in urgent care clinics in Houston spring time allergies start as early as February and last until summer. Red eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, headaches, coughing, sinus pressure and sinus pain are some common symptoms of spring allergies but by applying following ways you can overcome the allergies.




Prefer less exposure: Pollen grains trigger allergic reactions, so it is better to avoid going outside especially in the morning hours. While going outside wear glasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. A filter mask can also help you to protect from allergic substances. 

Take medicine
: You can take certain medicines to deal with sniffles and runny nose. Consult your physician for best medications. Renowned doctors in emergency clinic in Houston suggest a nasal spray for more severe allergies.

Make your home allergy proof: If you are prone to spring allergies make some changes to breathe easier. Shut the windows and keep your AC on to keep out pollen.

Go for natural remedies: Consume local honey, Neti pots, black tea, some herbal supplements including spirulina, Eyebright, and Goldenseal to ease allergic symptoms.   Take showering and steam to get rid of allergies.

Start treatment early: Start consuming medicines or apply above mentioned remedies before your eyes get watery. If you are prone to allergy it is better to start taking precautions before the season begins.

5 Great Ways to Prevent Yourself From Seasonal Flu

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Winter season in America is considered harsh as it brings seasonal diseases like Flu. CDC index data says that on an average 36,000 died and 200,000 people are hospitalized every year because of the flue. According to the specialist at West Oak Clinic in Houston, vaccination is an effective way to prevent the flu. However, some good habits of maintaining hygiene can also protect you from getting infected by the flu. They are-




  • Keep distance from sick people to protect yourself from getting sick. On the other hand, when you are sick, stay away from others to prevent spreading germs.

  • Make a habit of washing hands frequently in order to protect yourself from germs. If water and soap is not available, apply an alcohol-based hand rub to clean the hands. Specialists in pain clinics in Houston, TX say that if you come in contact with people who are suffering from such contagious disease, wash your hands over and over.

  • Use Sanitizers to keep clean your hands during traveling. If you use soap and water in the offices and hospitals make sure to scrub hard for 20 seconds to completely get rid of viruses.

  • If you have influenza, stay home. While going in public places cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing.

  • Adopt good health habits like clean and disinfect your floors and home. Get plenty of sleep, eat plenty of nutritious foods and water to build a strong immunity system naturally. 

Cyclobenzaprine - Urgent Care Clinic Houston

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Cyclobenzaprine is the generic name of Flexeril. This is a muscle relaxer that is commonly prescribed by physicians. It does help to relax muscles that may cause spasm in the lower back, neck, or other parts of the body.

This medication has been around for over 20 years and is on the $4 list at Walmart and target pharmacies. It is also approved for use with Worker's Compensation insurance.

Patients can develop muscle spasm after car accidents, lifting something heavy, or due to repetitive motions at work.

Side effects of this medication include drowsiness or dizziness. It should not be taken when driving or working around any type of equipment. Most people use this medication at night.

This medication should not be mixed with alcohol, other painkillers, or use chronically due to significant side effects.

This medication is not available over-the-counter. You should talk with your physician if you are having muscle aches or pains to determine if this medication is right for you.

What are Bloodborne Pathogens?

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Your local urgent care center can perform several procudures that involve needles and other sharp, invasive objects (for example, scalpels).
Most patients will never be exposed to the amount of exposed needles as healthcare workers. However, it is important for them to understand the same Universal Precautions that nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals take when they handle contaminated needs. 
Universal Precaution is the term that the medical field uses to describe the precautions taken with every patient, regardless of their medical status, to protect themselves from bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis.
At home, patients can be exposed to bloodborne pathogens if they:
  • Have a diabetic family member who regularly tests their blood sugar or gives themselves insulin shots.
  • Share shaving razors.
  • Change the trash and are stuck by unprotected needles.
It is important for patients and healthcare workers alike to protect themselves with proper personal protective equiptment if their risk of exposure is high.



Reducing exposure in a home where needles are present

In some homes where a family member has to administer regular blood tests or injections (like Lovenox™, Sandostatin™, or insulin), exposure to possible needlesticks is higher. In fact, the FDA says that “There are 9 million Americans who use needles and other sharps that must be disposed of outside of healthcare settings every year” (FDA.gov, 2014).
Family members can all pitch in to ensure the safety of the househole by placing all used needles in proper disposal containers. The CDC has approved plastic milk cartons, heavy-duty plastic laundry-detergent containers, and coffee tins as approved disposal containers for sharps. Medical facilities may also give the patient a red sharps container.
Never dispose of sharps in plastic bags or trashcans. This can endanger public workers and family members who change the tash liner.

If you are exposed to a needlestick

The most common way to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens is to be accidentally stuck by a needle. Often, you do not know if the needle is contaminated, and the CDC states that you should implement the following steps:
  1. Immediately wash the site with soap and water.
  2. If the blood splattered and reached contact with other parts of your body, flush them as well.
  3. Seek immediate medical treatment, even at your local Urgent Care Clinic Houston.
Your medical facility will evaluate your risk for bloodborne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS with a blood test. They will also give you instructions for surveillance, and attempt to contact anyone you suspect may have also used the needle to test them for pathogens as well.
References
CDC.gov. (2013). Bloodborne Infectious Diseases: HIV/AIDS, Hepatits B, Hepatitis C: Emergency Needlestick Information. Retrieved on March 4, 2014 from 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html.
FDA.gov. (2014). Needles and Other Sharps (Safe Disposal Outside of Health Care Settings). Retrieved on March 4, 2014 from 

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/Consu
merProducts/Sharps/ucm20025647.htm.
-Carolyn A. Medrano, 2014

Child Car Safety—Buckle Up!

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Basic Child Protection Measures

Although the board certified physicians at your local urgent care center are equipped to follow up you or your child’s minor auto vehicle injuries, it is better to avoid car accident injuries all together by practicing basic car safety.
According to the CDC, “motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States,” (CDC.gov, 2013). Fortunately, most causes of auto-accident related death is entirely preventable. 

Always remember to adhere to the following child safety rules:
  • Infants and children up to age 2 should be buckled into a rear-facing car seat. These seats should be anchored to the car seat attachment within the seats of the car itself.
  • Children age 2 through 5 should be buckled into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the upper weight threshhold.
  • Children ages 5 and up should be buckled into a booster seat until the car’s seat belt fits comfortable over their shoulder.
  • All passengers in a moving vehicle should wear a properly fitting seat belt.
Post-Accident Medical Follow-Up

If the accident did not result in an an immediate trip to the emergency room, medical professionals advise a follow-up with your PCP or local urgent care center to be evaluated for internal injury.
Conditions such as injury from whiplash or airbag deployment may require some basic medical evaluation and follow-up, especially for children. Your local urgent care center has the facilities and board certifiedurgent care physicians to diagnose problems like these with a physical exam, onsite X-ray’s, or lab work. Even if your child is not in visible pain, you are strongly urged to take your children to their pediatrician or to the urgent care center for evaluation after-hours or over the weekend.
Different treatment options are available to treat post-car accident injuries, and your medical record can be released (at your discretion) for legal compensation claims.

Understanding Your Labs: The CMP

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CMP stands for "Complete Metabolic Panel." It is a blood test that can be ordered by your PCP or urgent care physician to evaluate a number of medical conditions, including, but not limited to, dehydration, nutrient deficiency, chemical imbalances, and diabetes.

CMP's are often ordered by the physician during routine physicals, but physicians can order a CMP for any number of reasons during a sick visit or emergency visit.

What tests are performed in a CMP?

According to the medical laboratory, Lab Corp, the CMP includes tests like:

  *   Glucose: This is the amount of sugar in the blood. This test is critical for diabetic patients.
  *   Electrolytes: Potassium, carbon dioxide, and sodium levels are measured in the liquid portion of the blood, the serum. Electrolyte imbalance can cause heart palpitations, brain functions, irregular muscle contractions, and confusion.
  *   Liver Function Tests: There are several different liver panels that can be included in a CMP which can measure liver enzyme levels, bile levels, and bilirubin (the breakdown of the iron component of a red blood cell) levels to help the physician determine if the patient is experiencing liver disease or liver damage.
  *   Creatinine and Calcium: The lab tests the serum of the blood to determine if there are changes in the creatinine and calcium levels. This indicates kidney problems.

It is important to visit your clinic or urgent care's laboratory for routine lab work follow ups. Only your physician can diagnose a liver problem via abnormal LFT results.

Why is Gardasil important?

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Gardasil is a vaccine that was approved by the FDA in 2006.  Gardasil provides protection against four different strains of the human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV. Those strains include 6, 11, 16, and 18.  This is significant because two of these strains are responsible for approximately 75% of cervical cancers.  In addition to preventing cervical cancer, the vaccination also provides protection against 90% of genital warts cases.

In order to better understand why Gardasil  is so important, we must first examine the prevalence of HPV.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV is currently the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.  It is estimated that as many as 20 million Americans currently have HPV and there may be as many as 6 million additional cases each year.

In many of these cases, people may be unaware that they have been infected and are spreading the virus to others through sexual contact.  The virus may resolve on its own, but unlike other sexually transmitted infections, HPV may also lead to several types of cancer including: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal.

Gardasil has the potential to and protect people from contracting this deadly virus, especially adolescents that are virgins.  This is the reason that the current recommendation for the HPV vaccination begins at such a young age. Currently the CDC recommends that  male and female adolescents begin the vaccination series between 11-12 years of age, with catch up vaccinations between 13-26 for females and 13-21 for males.

The vaccination is a three part series with the second vaccination occurring 2 months after initial vaccination and then the third dose occurring 6 months after initial vaccination.  Gardasil has proven to be a safe and effective vaccination.

According to the Vaccine Information Statement by the CDC,  side effects are similar to any vaccination and may include redness and pain at injection site, fever, headache, or fainting. As with any vaccination, watch for serious allergic reaction. With risk of side effects being minimal and potential for protection so great, it is easy to see why this is a very important vaccination to consider.

Talk with your doctor today about the Gardasil vaccine.