No doubt someone in your family has been ill, and you wondered about the best place to take them. Maybe you even considered an ER at a hospital if something happened in the middle of the night. Knowing the best choice can be confusing. Let’s consider why urgent care is the best option for minor illnesses.
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Should I go to urgent care for a sore throat? That depends on the severity, frequency, and some specific symptoms. In many cases a sore throat is not that serious, but an urgent care can give you the treatment you need rather than waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Let’s explain in more detail.
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Any member of your family can suddenly have a persistent cough. Most of the time this is nothing serious or of concern. However, under certain circumstances, a cough can be more than the common cold. If you are unable to see your primary care physician, an urgent care will give you the answers and treatment you need.
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If you have ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know those distinctive signs—the constant urge to pee, the pain and burning, and feeling like your bladder is still full. That’s why you search for immediate treatment to catch the UTI before it gets worse. We are here to explain why seeing an urgent care is a great option for immediate care and faster relief.
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When you are injured, ill, or a child is sick with fever, it is best to seek care as soon as possible. When to go to primary care vs urgent care is dependent on several factors. The severity of the illness, how immediate is care required, and of course, availability of that care should all be included in your decision. Let’s go deeper into this question with some examples.
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All you know right now is that your ankle hurts like the dickens. Is it sprained, strained, or fractured? All you want is for the pain to go away. Understanding the difference between sprains, strains, and fractures can help you know the appropriate measures to relieve the pain before seeing the doctor. The only way to know for certain is to visit Premier Health Urgent Care for an evaluation and X-ray.
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The advent of more urgent care centers has been a boon not only for busy hospital emergency rooms but for patients as well. It relieves the emergency room from seeing less than serious conditions, and it provides patients a more timely diagnosis and treatment. The question remains of when to go to an urgent care vs. the emergency room.
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Many of us have had the experience of feeling lightheaded when getting up from a sitting position too quickly or maybe after skipping breakfast or lunch. Usually it passes quickly, and we forget about it. Feeling lightheaded may be nothing serious, but let’s look at these 6 frequent causes, and when you should be concerned.
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Remember when Mom would chase after you, insisting you put on your hat and scarf before you headed out into the frigid weather? Remember how you would protest, and maybe even leave that hat and scarf behind?
Our bodies lose copious amounts of heat from our heads, which can affect core body temperature, but that’s not the whole story. Failing to keep your ears protected from cold weather can contribute to, or even cause, hearing loss.
Ears, like your nose, are comprised mostly of cartilage, so there is no insulation (fat) to keep them warm when the temperatures drop. You probably figured that out when you were last in the cold: your nose and ears are usually the first body parts to feel the chill.
Our hands and feet are also susceptible to conditions such as frostbite, but that is usually avoided by wearing gloves, socks, and shoes.
In fact, once the temperature hits 59°F, you need to make sure your ears are protected. In many parts of the country, 59°F is hardly bundle-up weather. But at this temperature, your hypothalamus (a small portion of the brain that is responsible for multiple body functions, including temperature control) begins to conserve heat for your internal organs, moving blood away from your extremities (that means your ears).
Cold ears are annoying, to be sure, but unprotected ears in cold weather can actually be dangerous. When your ears are exposed to cold, bone spurs, also called exostosis, can result. This happens when excess bone grows in the ear canal to protect the ear. This condition is sometimes called surfer’s ear, since surfers who frequent cold water wear wetsuits, but they do not usually protect their ears.
Excess bone growth can be incredibly painful. When that bone growth occurs in the ear canal, it can lead to a host of other problems. Water, dirt, and bacteria can become trapped in the ear and lead to recurring ear infections. The only treatment for exostosis is surgery.
For more information on how to protect your ears this winter, contact Premier Urgent Care at (773) 891-2890.
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The holiday season is here, and while it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also one of the most stressful. Schedules are full, it’s cold and flu season, and everyone is trying to accomplish a lot in a short period of time.
All the bustle and stress of the holiday season can easily cause some people to overlook disease prevention, and cutting corners during daily tasks and chores can easily lead to the spread of infectious diseases and put a damper on your holiday celebrations. The following tips can help you and your loved one stay healthy this holiday season.
Winter weather means lots of snow and ice. Staying dry is one of the best ways to prevent illness. When the temperature drops and it’s snowing outside, wear a heavy coat, gloves, a hat, and waterproof shoes or boots. While it’s a myth that being cold causes a cold, staying outside when you’re cold and wet taxes your body and can lead to poor immune system function.
Germs and disease-causing bacteria thrive on dirty surfaces and spread easily. Make sure to wash your hands before and after all meals and after personal contact with others. Use warm running water and soap, washing for at least 20 full seconds. Be sure to keep your fingernails trimmed to reasonable lengths and clean under them as well every time you wash.
Make sure you and your family are up to date on your vaccinations. Try to get them out of the way before the winter weather starts if possible, and pay close attention for any signs of adverse reactions.
The holiday season is a great time to enjoy home cooked meals with friends and family, but be careful not to overdo it. Eating too much is taxing on the body and can cause an upset stomach and other gastrointestinal issues. Foods with high levels of sugar can trigger inflammation and other issues.
When serving holiday meals, use instant-read meat thermometers to ensure all prepared meats are cooked to appropriate temperatures. Undercooked meat can carry diseases like salmonella and may lead to serious illness.
You might be very busy over the holidays, but you shouldn’t neglect sleep. Aim for at least six to eight hours of sleep each night and adjust your schedule accordingly. Burning yourself out and tackling your holiday errands without adequate rest is not only stressful for your body, but also leaves you more vulnerable to illness and more prone to accidental injuries.
When these health issues do arise, Premier Urgent Care in Chicago can provide safe and timely treatment. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for immediate care.
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