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What is Urgent Care and When Should You Use It

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Believe it or not, but many people in the U.S. live so far from a hospital emergency room that it would be too far to travel if a real medical emergency occurred. This is the truth for people who live in farming communities, but it is also true for many people who live in urban areas, too. But for some people, the closest medical facility is a hospital, which actually works to their disadvantage, since not all medical queries or situations require hospital care. Not to mention that many times, hospital emergency rooms are far too busy and crowded to be able to administer quality care on patients — especially if they come in with non-life threatening disorders. That’s where urgent care centers come in. Read on to find out exactly what is urgent care services provide and when you should use them.

What is Urgent Care?
Most of the time, urgent care centers are owned by a physician or a group of physicians (they own 50% of these types of centers). They are designed to provide easy access, quality healthcare. But despite their name, urgent care centers are not where one would go for life-threatening situations. Instead, one would seek urgent care facilities for symptoms such as serve coughs, minor broken bones and fractures, urinary tract infections, eye irritations, fevers or flus, skin rashes or infections, or diagnostics services.

What Are the Advantages of Urgent Care?
There are many advantages of seeking care at an urgent care center rather than a hospital. 57% of urgent care centers have a wait time of 15 minutes or less to be seen — a lot faster than you’d get seen at a hospital emergency room. Plus, they run up significantly less cost, which is important especially because the conditions that one would go to an urgent care center for are much less likely to need further care. If you want advice or consultation of any sort, it is a much better idea to go to an urgent care center than to anywhere else.

For most ailments, it is a good idea to go to an urgent care center — you will get faster, better, and cheaper service. But for real emergency, don’t hesitate to rush to a hospital.

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How Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Work?

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Menopause: Not a word that every woman is ready to hear. But sometimes you have to face the facts. A woman is considered to have entered into menopause after going for one year without a period (that’s not otherwise due to pregnancy, illness, breast-feeding, or medications, of course).

However, the effects and symptoms of menopause can pop up a lot sooner. Hot flashes, decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, headaches, and night sweats are all par for the course during menopause, and that transition can be downright uncomfortable.

There are methods and ways to treat the symptoms of menopause, one of the most common being hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. The effects of menopause happen because as women age, they start producing less of the estrogen and progesterone hormones. As the name suggests, hormone replacement therapy gives you the extra doses of those hormones you need to get you feeling a little more balanced again.


Every woman is different, which means that hormone replacement treatments and options will vary from person to person. In fact, there are more than 50 varieties of HRT available in hormone replacement clinics, so you’ll want to consult with a doctor to determine which is right for you based on your current symptoms and your lifestyle.


Some HRTs are administered as simple oral pills that you take once a day. Others work through transdermal patches or gels that go on top of your skin. They can also be injected as an implant beneath the skin, where gradual flows of estrogen are released throughout the body.


If these sound kind of like birth control options, that’s because they are in fact very similar. Like pills and other contraceptives, a cyclical hormone replacement therapy mimics a normal menstrual cycle by supplying estrogen every day and progestogen (manufactured progesterone) for 12 to 14 days.


While many women report relief from menopausal symptoms through HRT, there are some potential risks and side effects. Talk with your doctor about any other prescriptions or supplements you may be taking, any history of smoking or cancer, and other factors about your health and diet before jumping into HRT.

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More Than 11 Million Youth Attend Summer Camps

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Summer.
A time that children look forward to and a time that many parents have mixed feelings about. Anxious to have their children at home for a couple of months, some parents still struggle with what they will do to make sure that their children are safe, happy, and occupied. And for all the talk about children and teenagers needing more down time, the fact of the matter is if you are a working parent too much down time for your children can mean trouble.
In generations past, when many mothers were always home instead of working away from the house, summers could mean something different. Kids could wander the neighborhood, bike to the public swimming pool, and sleep under the stars on the cooler evenings. Today, however, things are a little more complicated. Not all neighborhoods are made for wandering, not all homes have a public pool close enough to bike ride to, and not everyone has a backyard where the stars are even visible. For parents who both work full time or for students who are trying to stay competitive in their school activities and teams, summer has become a time for practices, workshops, and summer camps for kids.
What Are Your Children Doing This Summer?
Although some families still try to find time in the summer for family reunions and family vacations, many other families try to schedule a summer full of summer day camps and week long events. While the oldest high school students may pend their summers on college campuses trying to see if an East coast school is a good fit, summer camp activities for children as young as preschool provide lessons in acting, swimming, gymnastics, and music. Consider some of the ways that summer camps for kids can benefit your children during their summer months away from school.

  • Fiddle Camp. Billed as nothing but fun, some Suzuki violin students take a break from the classical pieces and memorize fiddle tunes for a week every summer. Complete with a end of week celebration that includes a hotdog roast and a performance at a retirement center, these musically inclined students learn how to make their basses sound like trains and their violins sound like fiddles. With an emphasis on scales and theory part of the day, the progressively difficult play list started with Old MacDonald and finishes with Ashokan Farewell, even the youngest of fiddlers can join in with animal sounds and yee-haws!
  • Intensive High School Writing Camp. Summer camps for kids take on a more mature theme when students decide to pursue their interest in writing. Although high school classrooms during the school year do not always have time to linger on likes of script writing, horror writing, and poetry, high school writing camps give students a chance to practice their craft away from the ink of a red pen. Understanding the two ways to create suspense, students take a stab at horror stories but also have the opportunity to try slam poetry. Without the threat of a five paragraph essay prompt to stifle their creativity, high school writing camps give students the chance to write a variety of genres for a variety of audiences.
  • Montessori Day Camp. You may not be able to afford an expensive private Montessori environment during the school year, but that does not mean that you cannot take advantage of this proven philosophy in the summer. With exciting science experiments, hands on math activities, and time to explore important pieces of cultural history, Montessori summer camps for kids can help students reignite their passion for learning. In mixed age groups and with schedules dictated by a student’s interest these academic camps make learning seem like a great way to spend the summer.
  • Sports Camps. In a nation where fewer than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity a day, sports camps get kids of all ages in the habit of staying active. And in a time only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week, gymnastics, swimming, and baseball and softball skills are great habits to get started.

With more than 12,000 day and resident camps in the U.S., parents should be able to find something that is a good match.

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Are you Looking at a Month of Doctor’s Appointments and Medical Tests?

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Patient A Exactly one month after being released from the hospital after a stroke, Patient 1 is free from a heart monitor that she has worn 24/7 since the event that caught everyone off guard. Fortunately, she was aware that something was wrong and she was volunteering with a group of people who knew her well. Her first symptom was a loss of vision in one eye followed by lapses in being able to talk. The friends who were with her insisted that the paramedics on site immediately take her to the closest hospital. The friends knew this was no heat stroke, it had to be something bigger. The patient still cannot believe she had a stroke and every doctor she has seen is shocked to discover that she has no side effects. in fact every physician says she should have some residual effects from a stroke in the part of the brain that was affected. There is still no cause and she will continue to have check-ups with a few doctors to try to figure that out, but she is so very grateful for her complete recovery. She will forever be grateful that she got such quick care and was immediately administered the clot busting drug that likely saved her life.
Patient B My endocopy today showed that my esophogial ulcers from May, 2015 are healed, but I have developed a pre-ulcer (I think that is what she said) in my stomach. Switching meds for that. My colonoscopy also went well, and several biopsies were taken for polyp and other testing. With fingers crossed, she realizes that this is actually an improvement. Another doctor diagnosed her with Crohn’s almost 11 years ago, based in tests and a previous surgery. A second doctor said he did not think it was Crohn’s and diagnosed her with Celiac’s, but the final DNA test said no to that as well. Knowing for certain that she is allergic to wheat and possibly gluten intollerant, the doctor just yesterday said if she has to give up wheat, she should probably give up all gluten. Pollups were found previously, but they were all benign. She is stronger than ever, and on her way to being healthier!
Medical Concierge Services Can Make Complicated Medical Conditions More Convenient to Treat
Many patients find themselves diagnosed with puzzling conditions that can require a number of follow up tests and lengthy appointments. And while some patients still find themselves traveling between various locations and having to juggle appointments, others have been fortunate enough to work with medical concierge services that help manage services and patient schedules. As the nation continues to deal with the increased number of Americans with healthcare coverage, it is likely that medical concierge services will be needed to help streamline what can be a complex system of appointments, tests, and pharmaceutical prescriptions.
And as a nation prepares to deal with the increasing number of seniors who need help at home services will also need the assistance of medical concierge services to help them and their caregivers manage their care. In home nursing care with the help of senior helpers includes monitoring daily vital signs and administering daily medications, in addition to other basic elder care needs.
Current research indicates that as many as 65.7 million informal and family caregivers provide some level of care to someone who is ill, disabled, or aged. And while some of these caregivers are trained, others are simply doing their best to care for a loved one. Before they reach the stage of needing care, advice from doctors and advisers can help seniors understand what they can do to keep themselves as healthy as possible. And while some of the advise is directed at health concerns, other advice is more simple. For instance, research indicates that the happiest retirees engage in three to four activities regularly. On the other hand, the least happy seniors only engage in one or two.
Being able to stay at home as long as possible is a combination of staying active when able and getting the necessary care when needed. A recent survey showed that 81% of retirees say that good health as the most important ingredient for a happy retirement.

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The Convenience of Urgent Care Centers Cannot Be Beat

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Most sports activities take place after business hours. Sports games and practices usually fall outside of school and business hours to ensure that people can actually make it to them. However, this is also when more sports injuries occur. People are injured during sports practices or games and are left with finding medical care outside of their business hours only physician?s office. Most regular doctor?s offices carry only regular business hours and are not even available after these hours. If you try to call their office, it will likely direct you to 911, or to visit the local emergency room. Fortunately, you have other options besides an emergency room visit.

There are many different injuries that can occur from sports. Sports put a lot of stress on the body and it puts the body at risk for many injuries. Some of the injuries occurred from sports can be minor, while others are more serious. The extent of the injury is what will decide what type of medical care is appropriate for you. For example, if you have severely injured your back and are having trouble feeling your legs or arms, you will need an ambulance and a hospital visit. If your injury is more minor than that, such as a sprained ankle or a minor lower back pain, the emergency room may be too busy, too expensive and too much of a hassle.

Up to 69% of Americans say that low back pain affects their day to day lives. When lower back pain is serious, a hospital visit is often needed. When the pain is more minimal and less of a complaint, a visit to your local primary physician or an urgent cares is likely sufficient enough. It also matters if the lower back pain is chronic or short term pain. Chronic pain is often not brought on by sports related injuries and requires more extensive medical care. A study published in World Neurosurgery showed that, among 96 patients treated for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), there were no significant differences in the outcomes between the 53 who were treated with lumbar fusion and the 43 who chose to pursue non operative treatment (i.e. physical therapy). However, regardless of the treatment options, more chronic back pain issues, like Degenerative Disc Disease requires more testing, more treatment plans and more physician monitoring.

If the lower back pain is from a sports related injury, it is likely that it just needs minor testing, anti inflammatory medications and rest or physical therapy guided rest. These things can be done in an urgent cares type setting.
Urgent cars are located all over the country. There are currently 20,000 physicians who practice Urgent Care Medicine today. Urgent cares are great alternatives to regular medical offices because of their convenience. Most people do not experience injuries or illnesses during business hours. It is normally after work or school that they realize a doctor is needed. Sometimes waiting until the next day to see your regular physician is not an option, if they are even able to fit you in. After hours urgent care has the best doctors available at all hours of the day. You have the ability to visit these clinics and ask the doctors any medical questions or concerns that you might have. The urgent cares doctors are just as qualified as regular medical office doctors. You also have the ability to follow up with your regular physician after receiving urgent care.

The traditional medical type setting does not work for many people, because it is not convenient enough. Most people work or go to school during medical office hours and if an injury occurs, such as during a sporting event, their medical office is not available. Emergency rooms are pricey and have long wait times. They also tend to see more serious of conditions and may not be appropriate for your sports related injury. Urgent cares centers provide a great alternative and have qualified medical professionals who have convenient medical hours.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Home Health Care Agency

Are you looking for assistance with finding elder care services to meet the needs you or a loved one have? Do you have questions about home care aide and assisted living at a nursing home? Are you looking for aide home health care services that can make it easier to keep your loved one well cared for? If you said yes to these questions, or if you want to know more about all home care services, your local elder care facility is your best place to get started with your search.

When looking at facilities, you will want to find one that has a team of skilled and experienced nurses and staff members who can take care of your loved one. You will want to talk to someone about all day home health care services that they can provide to a loved one who still is living home. Talking to staff and management is a great way to learn about all home health care amenities and services that can be taken advantage of to ensure your loved one stays safe.

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Many adult children are left with the responsibility and the tasks of caring for their senior parents. More often than not, a care plan is not established prior to the senior parent needing additional assistance. In fact, some people are rejecting retirement all together and continuing to work into their 90s. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, there are 1.2 million people 75 and older who work full time or part time. By 2019, more than 40% of Americans 55 plus will be working, making up over 25% of the U.S. labor force.

Chronic health conditions or a sudden health concern can require more assistance and more medical care, either in the home or in an assisted living home. The adult parent is often left feeling burdened and responsible for this additional care, many times it may not be possible. Most adult children have their own careers or their own children to care for. It then comes time to make the decision is the senior parent would function better in a nursing home type setting or in their own home with home health care. Home health care allows the seniors to keep their independence, while still receiving the additional assistance they require.

There are different types of home health care companies that provide different elder care services. Each home care company has a variety of caregivers, as well, each with their own skills and experiences. One caregiver may fit perfectly with one senior, whereas they are unable to provide the necessary elder care services to another. A specific example of this is with Alzheimer?s care and dementia care. Some caregivers are more experienced in the specialized care of diseases like Alzheimer?s and dementia. Those with these types of diseases often require a little more assistance and might require activities to slow down the progression of the disease. Also, almost two thirds of U.S. Alzheimer?s patients are women. These women suffering with Alzheimer?s might prefer a specific gender when it comes to their caretaker.

Other elder care services might include assistance with household chores, errands food and meal preparation, medication management, activity assistance, dressing and hygiene assistance and even transportation to medical and personal appointments. Some home health care agencies will only offer some of those tasks. It is important to figure out what tasks will need assistance and which home health agency is the best fit.

Another important factor to look for when choosing a home health care is the availability of schedules. Some home health care agencies will only provide elder care services during regular business hours. Others may provide elder care services around the clock, even offering overnight caretaking duties. It is important to figure out when assistance is most needed, and then search for a home health care agency that fits those hours. It is likely that you will find all options when searching within your home city. As of 2010, approximately 12 million individuals receive care from more than 33,000 providers (for causes including illness, long term health conditions, permanent disability or terminal illness). There are home health care agencies available for all types of assistance.

It can be a stressful situation when a senior adult requires additional assistance. Adult children may feel responsible for the care of their parent, but may not have the time or the money to do so. Nursing homes are an option, but require a huge change in living conditions for the parent. An ideal option tends to be home health care in the home, allowing the parent to hold onto their independence. It is important to figure out what type of assistance is needed, if any specialized care is needed and what hours assistance will be needed in order to find a home health care agency that fits your personalized needs.

 

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The Truth About the Flu Vaccine

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Despite the concerted efforts of medical practitioners, many Americans go every year without getting a flu vaccination. They take the extended period without infection a proof that it is not a necessity for their health. By this flawed logic, however, that same person could say point to years of being alive and not dying as proof that they are immortal. Here is the reality of the flu vaccine.

How It Works

Influenza, or the flu, is a dangerous disease that can cause a person to become so I?ll they must be hospitalized. Some strains are potentially, or have been previously, fatal on a large scale. One such was the strain that killed vast numbers a century ago.
Each year, medical researchers determine the strains of flu that will most likely be prevalent and create the vaccine in response. The result is a shot that protects against three or four influenza strains.

Who Should Get It

Everyone. There is no safe age, especially when a person can transmit the disease to a sensitive person without experiencing many symptoms themselves. Every year, make that appointment with your doctor and keep it. For those that lack insurance and regular health care, many urgent care facilities can assist as well.
A small segment of the population cannot receive the flu vaccine due to complicating health issues such as allergies or certain pre existing conditions. However, there are many types of the vaccine designed with varied individuals in mind. Do not assume you are one of the few that cannot get the shot, always talk to your doctor to be certain.

Timing Issues and Clarification

Many people complain at great volume about the fact that the flu vaccine must be readministered each year. Some even believe this to be proof that it is a hoax and not needed at all. The reality is that this vaccine loses its effectiveness over time. Also, the various strains mean that the most dangerous flu type of last year may not be what most requires protection.
Hopefully, when the new influenza vaccine become available this year, probably in October,e very reader will immediately get one for the sake of themselves and the herd immunity that protects those who cannot get the vaccine. It takes 2 weeks to be effective in the body, so make that appointment early and keep it no matter what. See this reference for more.

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How Telemedicine Can Help You

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Getting the help you need when you have a medical ailment can be difficult and expensive. Almost 50,000 preventable deaths every year could be avoided if people had insurance. Cost is not the only factor that limits Americans’ ability to seek treatment or get medical help. Some people do not feel comfortable going to see a doctor or nurse or may feel that their disorder is stigmatized in some way. Ninety percent of men with low testosterone, for example, do not get any help, and more than 80% of those with some form of depression do not seek out help or treatment. Given that as many as a quarter of all Americans have suffered from pain that lasts longer than 24 hours and acute pain impacts millions more, the need for accessible, easy to use healthcare is even more vital. Telemedicine can be the answer to this.

The telemedicine definition states that telemedicine is the use of technology to deliver medical services remotely. While telemedicine cannot address every type of ailment, it can provide a useful means to access health services at a lower cost both for the medical service provider and the patient. Through such remote doctor consultations, patents can find support and peace of mind. Doctors can monitor conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and mental health conditions.

According to a trends in telehealth white paper, almost three quarters of American patients would use a telemedicine service and a similar number say they are comfortable with communicating with their doctors using technology instead of seeing them in person, according to TrendWatch. Human interaction is rated less highly than access to healthcare for more than 76% of those surveyed and only just over 15%of patients would opt for an emergency room visit if they had the choice of a telehealth service.

The telemedicine definition quoted earlier points to the core benefits of telehealth services: flexibility and accessibility regardless of location. For monitoring and diagnosis, telemedicine offers significant benefits and cut down on over-subscription of general practitioner services and emergency room visits. Qualified, dedicated healthcare practitioners can offer solid, evidence-based advice, monitoring and diagnosis remotely. This can be especially good for those who are anxious or unable to go to the doctor and may increase the number of people seeking help or advice for stigmatized ailments.