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Do You Really Need to Go to the ER? How to Determine the Seriousness of Your Injury

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The next time you are injured or ill, consider going to one of the urgent care locations near you instead of the emergency room. About 85% of all urgent care locations are open seven days a week, making them more convenient than most primary physician’s offices. While walk-in clinics may not be able to offer the intensive care you would receive at the emergency room, these locations are perfectly suited to treat a number of ailments.

The Line Between Emergency and Urgency: What’s the Worst That Might Happen?

There are some health issues that must be treated at a hospital emergency room due to their seriousness. A good basic rule is that if the patient might lose their life or limb, then they must go to the ER. If the health concern might cause lasting damage to one’s health or limbs without a doctor’s treatment soon, then any urgent care locations nearby are suitable.

De-cyphering Children’s Illnesses: Sniffles and Fevers and What to Look Out For.

When it comes to children, the rules are clear: a fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a baby is an emergency, and over 103 degrees Fahrenheit for a child is also an immediate concern. All other ages and temperature configurations are worrisome, but do not require the same immediate action. The reason why has to do with the child’s developing brain, and the damage high internal temperatures can do.

Of course, children rarely fall ill during typical doctor’s office hours, which is what makes an urgent care clinic convenient. Many urgent care locations are open early in the morning, and stay open later at night, which makes it easier for parents to have their child seen before or after work or school. For parent’s whose children’s fever worsens throughout the night, the extra hours can make a difference.

What Does the Typical Urgent Care Clinic Treat?

While these clinics cannot offer the intensive care that a hospital can, they are able to assist with common everyday health problems such as the common cold; influenza; sprains, falls, and trips; and simple problems such as a mild allergic reaction. Between 5% and 20% of people contract the flu each year, while about one billion catch at least one cold. About four out of every five urgent care locations provide fracture care for their patients. These walk-in clinics are therefore a good alternative to a trip to the hospital.

It’s not easy making a quick decision while under stress. That is why planning ahead of disasters is a good idea. In the case of urgent care facilities, do your research before you go. This means doing a bit of research into the ones in your area, and checking their open hours and services offered. By creating a list of the resources available, you’ll be able to make a good decision when under pressure later on.

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Botox chattanooga Home health care Hormone replacement therapy for women

Three Home Health Treatments That Can Change Your Life

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Getting the healthcare you need can be more challenging to some people than others. This is particularly true for senior citizens, who sometimes find leaving home somewhat difficult due to mobility issues. However, you don’t have to be older to look into getting home health care. For those who live out in the country, far away from the nearest town or city, going to get medical care of any kind can be a hassle — and if the health care you want is more elective than strictly necessary, it can be easy to convince yourself that you don’t really need it. Some people also have a problem with leaving their homes at all — due to disability, chronic pain, or even mental illness. Leaving home for medical care can be anxiety-inducing, and sometimes simply impossible. Luckily, getting home health care is very much possible, and in fact simpler than it ever has been before. For that matter, there are many different kinds of home health care, from cosmetic treatments to hormone replacement therapy. Below, we’ll look into the different types of home health care on the market for those who want to look and feel their best, without necessarily going to a hospital or traveling far.

1. Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is something that has captured the interest of men and women alike in recent years, with many incorporating it into their regular lives. There are a number of reasons why people seek hormone replacement therapy. On a more serious level, some people use hormone replacement therapy to aid in the gender reassignment process, while others use it to treat genetic disorders. On a less intensive note, hormone replacement therapy for men and women is often used to help combat some of the harder parts of the aging process. Though getting older is natural, it can come with symptoms that range from unpleasant to — in some cases — outright debilitating. Hormone replacement therapy for women and men can help people look and feel younger. When people need this type of therapy ranges depending on the individual, but for most women menopause begins between the ages of 45 and 55 — and women often begin hormone replacement therapy after menopause. Men may use hormone replacement therapy to help with problems like erectile dysfunction or even simply sexual disinterest. In cases like these, getting home health care doesn’t have to be all that complicated — especially since hormone replacement therapies often come in the forms of pills or injections.

2. Botox

Many people find that their age shows first in their skin — according to a consumer survey by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, three out of five people are troubled by sagging skin, and nearly 75% of people have considered procedures to tighten or smooth out their sagging skin. Many people like to simply look younger, and Botox is one simple way through which people can have their skin smoothed out and tightened. For that matter, it’s actually temporary, lasting a few months on average; this means that if you dislike the effects of Botox, they aren’t going to last forever. But the majority of patients like the way they look after Botox, and its simplicity and lack of invasiveness makes it easy to get. And yes, Botox is a part of getting home health care — if it makes you mentally feel better, then it’s more than worth it. With 82% of Botox patients seeing improvement within a week of treatment, it could be worth it for you.

3. Weight Loss Treatment

Obesity is a major issue, and it only affects people’s lives more as they get older. There are plenty of weight loss treatments that can be done at home — you can communicate with a nutritionist or trainer over the phone or online, and design a regimen that will be effective and simple to manage. For that matter, some experts can visit you at home, making your weight loss journey as comfortable as possible.

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Knowing The Difference Between Urgent Care And The Emergency Room Could Save You Hundreds

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Your personal health isn’t fun to think about. You have to consider your budget (which may or may not be its own source of stress), dig through your options and stay attentive to changes in the American healthcare system. Just like your parents teaching you how to floss your teeth and wash behind your ears, however, looking after your day-to-day health is a necessity you carry with you for life. It exists in the small actions. This includes knowing when to visit your regular doctor or when to seek out an emergency walk in clinic.

Rather than blow your budget on the wrong visit, become better acquainted with the function of your unique health resources.

Quick Facts

Too many Americans lose hundreds of dollars in the emergency room when they could have instead dropped by an urgent care clinic. The purpose of urgent care is to give you fast and efficient attention for minor to moderate issues, while the emergency room is only for life-threatening situations. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey recently reported that the average ER visitor will pay over $1,300. The average wait time in the ER can also be less than an hour to over an hour. What do you do when you’re not sure which option to choose in a tense situation?

Abdominal Issues

A very common medical condition causing people to seek out an emergency walk in clinic or urgent care facility is abdominal pain. Due to the rather ambiguous nature of these symptoms it can be hard for many to know why they are feeling nauseous, sore or unable to eat. Abdominal issues can be caused by work-related stress, chronic anxiety disorder and poor diet. It can also be caused by an infection, food poisoning or dehydration. Minor to moderate pain is best suited for urgent care. Severe agony, however, should require an emergency walk in clinic.

STD Testing

Family health care needs to cover the basics to ensure you’re prepared for anything life throws your way. This means seeking out fast STD testing regardless of whether or not you’re sexually active. It doesn’t take long to be tested for common strains of sexually transmitted disease. You can also learn about safer methods of sex, such as using hormonal birth control or managing better personal hygiene before and after. STD testing is a private matter and, as such, is confidential regardless of whether or not you see your doctor or go to a community health clinic.

Mental Health

Mental wellness is just as valid as physical wellness. When you feel your mood dipping far more often than is normal and you’re unable to function like you used to, the first step is to seek out a therapist to diagnose your condition. The CDC (short for Centers For Disease Control And Prevention) has seen rates of depression increasing in elderly populations, while anxiety disorder is very common in young adults. Signs you may be suffering include loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, racing thoughts, nausea, irrational fear and mood swings.

When To Visit The ER And When To Visit Urgent Care

Spending too much money on a minor health problem will only cause you more stress. That, in turn, will cause you even more health issues down the road. Save yourself the trouble and parse out the difference now. An emergency walk in clinic will treat symptoms that can’t wait for your regular doctor, such as an allergic reaction, head trauma or a deep wound. An urgent care clinic is often used for cuts, burns, sprains, moderate abdominal pain, flu shots, UTI treatment and STD testing.

Personal health is at its best when you remember conventional wisdom. Rather than completing your journey in a day, start with small steps at a low cost health clinic.

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Are Your Aging Parents in Need of Home Modifications If They Stay in Their Home?

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Finding a way to help your parents stay in their home is not impossible, but it certainly can be a challenge. The fact that platform lifts for homes and modular wheelchair ramps are available, in fact, can make the difference between your parents getting to stay in their home for at least a few more years and the difficult decision to move them into a nursing home right now.
If you are facing the difficult task of adapting your parent’s home so that your loved ones can stay where they are most comfortable, you likely know some of the changes that need to be made. Power lift chairs and platform lifts for homes, for instance, can help you devise ways that will allow your mother, your father, or both your parents stay in a place that is both comfortable and familiar to them. Without the needed modifications, however, it is important to realize that many aging parents simply will not safe in their current home.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the mobility issues that many elderly Americans face, as well as the transition options that are available:

  • Nearly 235,000 people experience injuries in the bathroom every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
  • 2 million senior citizens visit the emergency room for injuries caused by a fall every single year.
  • 48% of homeowners over age 55 say the bathroom is the top area in the home that they have considered modifying for as a way to help allow aging in place, according to HomeAdvisor’s 2016 Aging in Place Report.
  • Home service professionals say the top aging-in-place projects they have been hired to do include installing grab bars. In fact, 71% have requested these grab bars, while 54% have asked for advise in adding entryway wheelchair ramps, according to HomeAdvisor’s 2016 Aging in Place Report.
  • 6.8 million Americans use assistive devices to aid their mobility.
  • 53 million Americans live with a disability, and according to a recent study, the most common disability involves limited mobility.

From wheelchair lifts for homes to a number of other modifications that can be made, it is important to at least research all of the possible options that may be available as you try to find a way to make sure that your parents can stay at home as long as possible.

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Transitioning to Memory Care for Your Elderly Parent

Memory care

Are you the adult child of a senior that is dealing with dementia? Has your senior parent?s dementia made it unsafe for them to live at home alone? The solution for many adult children is to move their parent into their own home. This way, they can provide them with the assistance and monitoring that they require, without having to move them to local nursing homes. However, it will take a period of adjustment to provide your senior parent with a safe and comfortable memory care home.

Consider home care services
Even with your senior parent living in your home, you cannot realistically watch them 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. If you have a job, children to take care of, or a social life, you will find that there are still many hours that your senior parent spends at home alone. Instead of worrying about them or changing around your daily schedule to increase check ins throughout the day, consider using home care services. These are drop in caregivers that will assist with cleaning, meals, and other daily needs of your senior parent. This can also take some of the burdens off of your family.

Choose a first floor bedroom
You may have to move around some things, but your elderly parent is likely to be most comfortable in a first floor bedroom. It can also be helpful to give them a bedroom that is close to needed amenities, including the bathroom, kitchen, and main living area. If they also require mobility assistance, make sure they are near open hallways and that they have easy access to these needed rooms. Try to avoid stairs and you will feel safer when you are not home with them.

Equip their bedroom for optimal safety
Even the ablest of seniors can slip and fall. One of the most common times of the day for dangerous falls is in the middle of the night. Using foam rollers and side bed bars can prevent falls from occurring. It can also be useful to install an automatic light in the room. It can be troublesome for some seniors to get out of bed safely and reach the light switch. An automatic light can also notify you when they are getting out of bed and might require additional help.

Hire memory care workers
Although dementia and Alzheimer?s cannot be entirely cured, some believe that it can be slowed in progression. Currently, there are over 100 different types of dementia, but Alzheimer?s is the most common, accounting for 60 to 80% of dementia diagnoses. Memory care tasks include crossword puzzles, reading, and recalling memories. In addition to providing memory care for your elderly parent, the memory care workers will also serve as entertainment when you and your family are not at home.

Know when an assisted living facility is safer
Dementia can progress quickly and it can affect your elderly parent?s ability to live safely in your house. If safety becomes a primary concern, it might be time to consider an assisted living facility. Assisted living facilities can give your parent a safe and secure living environment. Many facilities even have specialized memory care programs. According to data from the American Health Care Association, there are 15,655 skilled nursing care centers in the United States. Additionally, almost 40% of residents living in residential care facilities in 2010 received assistance with three or more activities related to daily living.

Dementia is extremely common for today?s seniors. Adult children often become the primary caregiver for their elderly parent. While moving your elderly parent into your house is an option, it may not always be the best option. Ensure that your house is safe and conducive to their memory care. If safety becomes a concern, it might be time to consider an assisted living care facility that can better meet their needs.

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Top Four Reasons to Get a Hair Transplant

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Whether or not you should get hair transplantation surgery is something only you can decide for yourself. That should go without saying, of course, but the social pressure–especially on men–to have a full head of hair can seem somewhat overwhelming to many.

If you have been thinking about visiting a male hair loss specialist at a hair transplant clinic, then you already know and understand what hair loss can do to a person’s psyche. By the time the average man is 35, he will experience appreciable hair loss. This is nothing new.

What is new is the science and technology that has advanced dramatically over the last several years. Follicular Unit Strip Surgery, or FUSS, enables the surgeon at a hair clinic to take a strip of scalp from a non-balding area and place it into incisions that have been made in the area that needs new hair.

If you have been wavering between getting hair transplantation surgery and not, here are four reasons why you absolutely should.

1.) Get a natural looking head of hair.

Honestly, this is probably the one thing that gives men who need hair transplantation surgery the most pause. Nobody wants to spend the money at a hair clinic for a surgical procedure that only makes things worse. Modern hair transplant techniques use individual follicles, which means they grow into a natural looking head of hair for every unique individual. A typical Follicular Unit Extraction, or FUE, only takes around eight hours to perform. It can all be done in a relatively short time, making it well worth it.

2.) Get rid of your hat.

Most guys hide their hair loss underneath a hat. There is nothing wrong with a hat, but you might ask yourself whether the hat is in support of your favorite sports team or a not so clever disguise. Why go on hiding when you don’t have to?

3.) Get rid of the stigma.

Like it or not, there is a stigma attached to men who are balding. Actually, it might be the other way around. Meaning, men with full heads of hair seem to be seen more as heroes and the ideal version of the species. Why does Superman have a full head of brilliant hair while Lex Luther, the arch villain, is bald? Women love a full head of hair. Why not lose the stigma? Find a hair clinic and make your plans.

4.) Get some new confidence.

People who have not experienced hair loss really have no idea how much confidence you lose along with every follicle that falls away. Men who suffer from hair loss can become reclusive, not wanting to venture into the outside world if they can help it. Getting hair transplantation surgery can restore confidence when nothing else seems to work. The hat certainly didn’t.

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Knee Physical therapist arlington wa Puyallup physical therapy

You Don’t Have To Live With Chronic Pain The Benefits Of Physical Therapy

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Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Are you one of them? Perhaps you haven’t given it all that much thought during your busy week. You have kids to take to practice! Projects to finish, deadlines to meet and places to be. When you have a sore neck or stiff back you pop a few painkillers and consider it a job well done. When that pain doesn’t go away, though…you may just be in for the long haul. Physical therapy is the resource you tap into when those aches and pains don’t go away after a hot bath, delving into the root of the issue to provide you relief that lasts.

Rather than get used to hip pain or knee pain, give yourself a refresher on physical therapy so you can live the life you deserve.

Chronic pain is just as varied as the people it afflicts. It can be minor to moderate, able to be tempered but not removed through painkillers and heating pads. It can be so severe it requires physical surgery. Knee pain has been found to be the second most common source of chronic pain in the United States and can manifest as stiffness, burning or significantly reduced mobility. Physical therapy for hip pain has also been on the rise, particularly with America’s aging population and the increasing awareness of what physical therapy can do for chronic pain sufferers.

Other common contributors to chronic pain are sports injuries. The National Center For Health Statistics has reported over five million sports related injuries happen on a yearly basis, with some even causing people to have to retire from sports altogether if they don’t seek treatment. Hip pain affects around 7% of the American population, to boot, and is starting to see a resurgence in physical therapy for hip pain. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that’s characterized by minor wears and tears in the joints that results in swelling, stiffness and, in many cases, extreme pain.

Lower and upper back pain are incredibly common and as many as 31 million Americans suffer from this condition at any given point in time. These are usually caused by years of poor posture, constant strain from work, age and any combination of the above. There are ways to reduce the possibility of lower back pain, such as lifting heavy objects with weight on your legs rather than your shoulders, as well as resources for relaxing sore muscles. When the agony doesn’t go away? It’s time to look into physical therapy for hip pain.

Physical therapy treats any number of conditions. Physical therapy for hip pain, knee pain, lower back pain, you name it. Even better? The industry is starting to see more and more new workers. By the time 2022 rolls around the Bureau Of Labor Statistics projects that physical therapist employment will grow by an impressive 36% — in other words, you won’t have to look very far to find a physical therapist practice that can diagnose your symptoms and start delivering on a slow and steady recovery. Where can you get started on the way to a healthier and happier life?

Chronic pain is easy to spot. If you have constant stiffness, soreness, burning, aching or mobility issues that occur multiple times per week and last longer than three months it’s possible you have untreated chronic pain. Visiting a physical therapist and getting a simple check-up will determine the root of your pain as well as the various treatment methods needed to get you back up to speed. Try to create a schedule or list of when your symptoms are at their worst as well as any outlying factors, such as age or illness, that could be contributing.

Your chronic pain doesn’t have to be just another thing to live with. See how Belleuve physical therapy or Lake Sammamish physical therapy can have you feeling your best in the Pacific Northwest.

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Methadone center chicago Methadone centers chicago Methadone treatment centers

Myths Shrouded Around The Effectiveness Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Methadone treatments chicago

Methadone has been the most effective replacement drug used for more than 50 years to treat individuals with opiate addiction. Examples of these opiates include morphine, codeine, and heroin. When properly administered, methadone help to reduce the effects of these drugs by managing the often severe withdrawal symptoms. The treatment is effective as it helps individual tame their cravings and minimizes their chance of relapse with time. Methadone treatments can be administered in two phases: Short term or long term. For severe opiate addiction cases, patients may need to be subjected to addiction treatment over a long period of time, it could be months or even years. Methadone treatment, however, can be used for short term purposes. The duration of this treatment can take up to 2 weeks and it’s ideal for opiate addicts under detox program. It helps them to get over withdrawals symptoms, which usually ranges from mild to serious ones.

To ensure favorable results, doctors recommend comprehensive methadone treatments that incorporate social support and guidance and counseling. Research indicates that methadone treatment programs have had success rates of about 60% to 90%. Further improvements have been exhibited by patients who stay longer in the program. However, with such outstanding statistics and many success stories, there have been a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding the effectiveness of methadone therapy. The program has been heavily criticized, but most of the critics stem from lacking a proper understanding of how the treatment works. You’ve probably heard few false stories about methadone. To help clear your fears, the following are some of the most common methadone rumors you need to know.

1. Methadone offers similar “highness” to heroin
Provided you get the right dosage, methadone doesn’t have the same euphoric feeling as you’d get from using opiates. Instead, this drug functions by controlling the opioid receptors in the brain, which has been occupied by heroin or other narcotics. This helps you to have normal brain functions minus the sensation of being high. Methadone drug is administered as a prescription drug so it’s unlikely to overdose. With its effect lasting between 24 and 36 hours, patients can get constructive and handle responsibilities normally.

2. Methadone is more dangerous just like heroin
Another misconception about opiate treatment is that the drug is as risky as other opiates. Well this remains to be a myth because just like any drug in the market, it’s bound to have side effects. For instance, you may experience difficulty breathing, hives or rash, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations among others. But you should note that, however much the drugs have its own side effects, proper dosage is safer and effective. And again, the treatment is conducted under professional supervision, so there is nothing to worry about.

3. Methadone is harmful to your body
As mentioned earlier, methadone treatments are under strict medical supervision, hence the chances of them affecting you are very minimal. Methadone is not harmful to your organs, nor does it pose risk to your body. The same way your liver processes other medications, it’s the same way it works on methadone. So it’s perfectly safe. There is a myth also that methadone damages teeth. While that’s not true, it’s important to know that this drugs may have varying side effects on different people. For example, some people may experience dry mouths, which can cause to tooth decay due to lack of saliva. To avoid this, ensure you’re constantly on chewing mode to stimulate saliva production and if the condition persists, you should see your doctor for an expert solution.

4. Methadone Treatments are costly
Most people often fear to seek this treatment citing cost reasons. Perhaps that’s just a rumor they’ve heard which has influenced their decision not to go for methadone treatment. But in reality, you the option of either going to a private or a public methadone clinic. The public is more affordable, although you’ll have wait for long periods to receive treatment. Private clinics, on the other hand, are more convenient in their services but costs more. You could also try other methadone rehab centers that offer flexible payment plans or consult your health insurer to see if they’ll help you foot the methadone treatment cost.