Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Walk In Clinics For Fall Care

Walk in clinics tend to be busier during the fall and winter months. If you are getting sick, it is a good idea to visit a local facility to get the medical care you need. Doing so can help you to avoid some of the more devastating and difficult types of health problems that exist. During this time of the year, the demand for healthcare goes up. However, you do not have to wait in line at your doctor's office or deal with an ER visit that takes too long. Rather, just turn to one of these immediate care providers instead.
For Prevention
One of the main reasons to visit walk in clinics at the start of the fall season is to take steps to prevent illness. These providers can offer you a flu shot, for example. This can help you to ward off the more dangerous and more limiting types of flu that may be present this year. It may also help you to get a checkup so that you are well on your way to being healthy heading into the holiday season.
Sports and School
With the start of the school year, many of these facilities see an increase in the number of students that come in. Did you know that these facilities can provide you with a large list of services? The facility can help you to get the exams and health screenings necessary to enroll in school or sports programs. If you do get injured during a sport, they can help with the diagnosis of the problem as well as the treatment plan. In addition, many children need shots prior to heading into the school year. You do not have to wait for your doctor's office to have time for this. These facilities can do it for you, too.
Handling the Cold
Once people are back to work in closed quarters or in school buildings, the increase in the amount of illness present goes up. You are more likely to become ill during the fall months than in the summer. This is the prime time to go in and see these medical facility professionals for help. You can get medications that you need. You can make sure your child's fever is under control or get strep through cultures to rule out that condition.
Walk in clinics are fast and easy to use. You do not have to have insurance to make use of them either. They can serve as a simple tool to getting you back on your feet, back to school or back to work in no time. If you need medical care, turn to these facilities as a go-to solution that is right near you.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

After Hours Clinic

The proliferation of urgent care and walk in medical facilities has been an undeniable boost to a portion of the population that would have sooner skipped treatment altogether than make a doctor's appointment or go to the ER. These facilities are easy to use, don't require an appointment, and are often much more affordable than either specialist appointments or a trip the emergency room. That said, many of them are only open during regular business hours. This means that those who need to see a doctor at 6:00 PM still have to go to the ER. If you have an after hours clinic near you, however, you might have an alternative.
Work
Not everyone has a flexible work schedule. In fact, most people in the blue-collar world have very little chance of getting off work to go to the doctor. If it is an emergency, then perhaps. But for a cold? A slightly sprained ankle? These kinds of things are fodder for an overbearing employer to tell you to tough it out and see the doctor on your own time. This is unfortunate, but too many people are a single missed paycheck away from being in dire financial straits. This is where an after hours clinic can be unbelievably helpful. Not only are the prices reasonable, but they are also open during times when it is convenient for working individuals to get care.
School
When you combine extraordinarily early start times and after school activities, sports, and even detention, kids today spend a lot of time in school. While any parent has the right to take his or her child out of school to see the doctor, this can create problems in some circumstances. What if your child has to miss an important test? What if missing that day's football practice will mean riding the bench for next week's game? School is of paramount importance in a child's life, no matter how old he or she is. Why not take advantage of an after hours clinic, get your child the care he or she needs, and prevent him or her from missing any work in one fell swoop?
All Around Convenience
Sometimes it isn't work, school, or anything else keeping you from seeing the doctor, but simply the timing of your injury. You break your hand as the sun starts fading in the west, and you have no choice but to spend endless hours in the emergency room. But if you have an after hours clinic near you, you can skip the ER and get excellent treatment in a fraction of the time.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Pregnancy Week 4 Development

What Is Happening Inside the Body
By this time, the journey of the zygote from the fallopian tube to the uterus should have been completed. On the fourth week, the uterus begins to thicken and it continues until the 4th month of your pregnancy. The zygote settles into the uterine lining and divides into two. The first half becomes the embryo and the second half forms a placenta which serves as the baby's lifeline until the delivery.
During this period, the embryo begins to develop. The inner layer develops into the baby's liver, lungs and the digestive system. This layer is known as the endoderm. Also known as the mesoderm, the second layer develops into the baby's kidneys, sex organ, bones, muscles and heart. On the other hand, the outer layer, which is known as ectoderm, forms into the baby's nervous system as well as the eyes, hair, skin. The growth and development of the organs at this stage is impressively rapid.
What Should You Expect During This Period
By this time, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy of your pregnancy might have become more evident. Just like the major changes taking place inside the body, you should also anticipate some changes outside the body. You may begin experiencing some PMS like symptoms. You probably have complained about dizziness, light-headedness, abdominal cramps, pains, morning sickness and feelings of fainting.
Early pregnancy symptoms such as mood swings and cramping may begin to manifest. Bloating should also be expected at this point in time. Blame it to the progesterone. This hormone slows down your digestion in order to allow nutrients to enter into your bloodstream. Your constantly changing mood should also be blamed to hormones. You might have a slight bleeding due to the implantation of zygote into your uterus.
You might even notice a little pressure on your stomach but this shouldn't cause you to worry. It is pretty normal during this stage. Your breasts may become more tender and appear bigger, and as time passes by, you will notice significant change in their size. Also, the breast becomes sore, tingly and fuller. This is due to the surge of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in your system.
By this time, your heart should be beating more rapidly. In fact, you might have an additional 15 beats per minute. And you feel tired most of the time which causes you to fall asleep frequently. By the end of the 4th week of your pregnancy, your baby should be 1/25 inches long which is equivalent to a period (dot).
Appropriate Lifestyle for Pregnant Women
Observing a healthy diet and lifestyle is very important during this stage. Pregnant women are eating and breathing for two, therefore they should be careful in choosing the kinds of foods to take. They should take adequate amount of essential nutrients to optimize their baby's growth and development.
Limit your intake of softdrinks, teas, colas and cocoas, and prefer decaffeinated sodas and brews. Pregnant women are normally prescribed with health supplements during this period. You need to take plenty of iron, calcium and folic acid. Iron is best obtained from cereals, pulses, breads, meat and green leafy vegetables. Folic acid is important in preventing the onset of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
Some pregnant are prescribed with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, potassium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, manganese, magnesium, iodine, copper, chromium and choline.
Oranges for You and Your Baby's Health
Oranges are probably one of the best fruits to eat during this early stage of pregnancy. Oranges are citrus fruits which provide additional protection to pregnant women. According to research, taking at least one orange in a day makes the body less prone to infections. It offers plenty of vitamin C which provides additional protection and resistance against diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
Furthermore, oranges are packed with massive amount of Vitamin B6 which is beneficial during the process of hemoglobin production. In effect, pregnant women are less likely to suffer from hemoglobin deficiency during this very crucial stage.
Oranges are also beneficial to the baby. This citrus fruit contains ample amount of folic acid and Vitamin B which are beneficial in the baby's brain development. The fruit also contains high level of potassium and iron which ply vital roles in protecting the cardiovascular system of the body, especially the heart. Though this citrus fruit is beneficial to the body, pregnant women should not eat more than 2-3 regular size oranges, as it can cause stomach acidity, stomach cramps and heartburn.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Link Between Fleet Drivers And Gastrointestinal Disorders

Compared to employees from other occupational groups, professional drivers are at a greater risk of suffering from a wide range of illness due to their job's nature and unfavourable working environment. In fact, higher mortality and morbidity rates associated with these conditions have been recorded in professional drivers.
Professional drivers are more likely to experience high levels of occupational risks than employees in other working groups. In fact, they are more at risk of suffering from blood vessel and heart disease, musculoskeletal problems as well as digestive disorders.
Long term driving which normally elicits unhealthy lifestyles which trigger the development of many serious health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cancer and even gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
Gastrointestinal Disorders and Their Nature
Gastrointestinal disorders, commonly known as digestive diseases, are a group of diseases which affect the digestive system composed of the mouth, esophagus, gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, anus, liver and the pancreas. These organs are responsible for the digestion of food.
The most common symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders include inflammation in the lining of small and large intestines, rectal bleeding, weight loss, chronic diarrhea, cramping and abdominal pain. Other symptoms include persistent fever (low-grade), unexplained weight loss, bloody stool, tarry, black and foul-smelling stool, bloated-feeling every after meal, vomiting blood, reduced heart rate and inability to have bowel movement.
The most common forms of GI disorders include Crohn's disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, secretory diarrhea, gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastric ulcers. According to studies, people diagnosed with any gastrointestinal disorder are at higher risk of suffering from anorexia due to the condition's unpleasant symptoms which causes them to eat less.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Functional disorders are a group of health conditions wherein the bowel seems to look normal but they don't actually function properly. The most common causes of these disorders include inadequate physical activity, frequent travelling, a low-fibre diet, stress, excessive intake of dairy products and resisting the urge to have a bowel movement.
They can also be caused by excessive use of laxative, resisting the urge to have a bowel movement due to painful haemorrhoid, intake of iron pills, antidepressants, narcotic s and antacids which contain aluminium or calcium.
Gastrointestinal Disorders in Professional Drivers
Professional driving is a type of work that demands optimum vigilance and is associated with long irregular hours of sustaining a sitting or reclining position. Professional drivers are actually prone to suffer from gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcer and other digestive problems.
The irregular driving schedules and strenuous working conditions are considered as the major causes behind the gastrointestinal complaints of many drivers. Other causes include poor eating habits and irregular meal hours. Some scientists believe that prolonged sitting posture negatively affect breathing and digestion process.
Also, occupational stress can bring adverse impacts to gastrointestinal health of patients. In fact, there are gastrointestinal disorders which do not have any apparent physical cause but are strongly linked to stress. High levels of stress can actually slow down the digestion rate, which in the long run, can trigger the development of gastrointestinal disorders. Stress is mostly derived from constant time pressure, traffic congestion, social isolation, irregular work schedule and even insufficient amount of sleep or rest.
Professional drivers are less likely to eat their meals in appropriate hours but are more likely to eat unhealthy snacks while driving. According to research, eating while under a stressful situation may cause indigestion especially when the digestive system is not in a relaxed state.
What Professional Drivers Can Do To Prevent the Occurrence of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Professional driving is a stressful job that requires high psychological demands but gives people less control in making decisions. In the long run, this can result to high level of stress which can trigger the development of gastrointestinal disorders.
Adequate Intake of Healthy Foods
Intake of healthy snacks and meals are high recommended to professional drivers. It is one of the most effective ways in keeping the body nourished enough to deal with stress while driving. Drivers should take less of fatty foods. Meanwhile, their diet should be composed of high amounts of fibre, whole grains, fruits and vegetables for better digestion.
Stress Avoidance
Stress is one of the most important factors which you need to deal with to prevent the development of gastrointestinal disorders. Refrain from eating while under a stressful situation as it can trigger indigestion.