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Urgent Care Clinics Expanding Across the United States

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When it comes to finding quick and affordable care for the injured and ill, many people have begun to realize that emergency room care may not be necessary for every medical problem they and their loved ones experience. Instead, urgent care centers are becoming a preferred option for many due to their convenience, affordability and quality care for non-life-threatening injuries and illness. Recently, Maine became the latest state to benefit from these medical walk in clinics: the state welcomed its 23rd urgent care facility in late December.

Across the United States, the number of urgent care centers has reached an estimated 7,000 centers, and shows signs of continued growth: from 2009 to 2014, the urgent medical care industry grew 8%, and experts project that it will expand an additional 6% over the next five years. Many urgent care professionals believe that this is because they offer care for the injured and ill which is comparable to what a patient would receive at a hospital: when treating a broken bone, for example, urgent care doctors would splint the injury, perform an X-ray, prescribe painkillers and refer the patient to an orthopedic surgeon, just as a doctor in an emergency room would. The difference is that patients with more serious problems, such as a heart attack, will be transported to a hospital instead of treated onsite. Additionally, urgent care clinics are considerably less expensive and often take less time to treat patients due to shorter waiting times.

Because of these benefits, urgent care clinics have become a popular presence in many states, with Maine becoming only the most recent to take advantage of this new type of medical care. The state’s newest urgent care facility was opened in Scarborough in late December; while the staff says that business has been slow to start, they hope to reach an average of 30 patients a day. With clinics like the one in Scarborough prepared and eager to offer care to the injured and ill, it is no surprise that these medical centers have become so popular across the U.S. Have you ever visited an urgent care center?
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Can Chocolate Cause Acne?

Itchy blisters on feet

If you have acne, you have likely done a lot of research to try to find the best skin care tips and techniques to achieve a better complexion. As part of your research, you have likely found a lot of contradicting information on different acne treatment products, procedures, and above all, foods. Most dermatologists agree that your diet affects the health of your skin, but no one seems to be able to definitively prove that products like chocolate cause breakouts. Now, a French study claims to have found a link between a daily consumption of chocolate and sweets and acne in teenagers. Is this the proof that you’ve been looking for? Should you supplement your dermatologist acne treatment by cutting out chocolate?

Not yet. The study, conducted at Henri Mondor Hospital, has a number of flaws. While the researchers found a link between a daily consumption of sweets and acne in teenagers, they aren’t actually sure what sweets the participants were eating. They also asked few other questions about the participants’ diets and lifestyles, making it impossible to prove definitively that a certain food was causing the breakouts. In the end, the study merely reaffirmed something almost everyone already knows: eating sweets everyday isn’t great for your body.

When it comes to eating a diet that promotes healthy skin, dermatologists typically recommend that patients avoid eating high quantities of foods with a high glycemic index, such as white bread, pretzels and potatoes. Sugars and saturated fats should also be eaten in moderation. No studies, however, have been able to definitively prove that chocolate causes acne, although some dermatologists do say that dark chocolate is healthier for your complexion. If you have acne, don’t try avoiding chocolate: instead, talk to a skin specialist near you about finding the right dermatologist acne treatment for you. For more about this, go here.