Bronchitis and pneumonia are viruses that typically happen during these cold, winter months. You want to make sure you spot the symptoms right away in order to prevent a more serious illness. There is no harm in seeing the doctor if any slight symptoms occur, even if you are not sure. Bronchitis and pneumonia have similar symptoms that people often confuse. You’ll want to know how to tell the difference between the two in order to know how to prevent getting sick, and how to treat your illness right away.

Different Types of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that is most often caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, or other organisms. It is easier for people recovering from the flu to get pneumonia because their immune system is weak and vulnerable for bacteria to grow in their lungs. There are many different types of pneumonia that you should be familiar with as you are trying to prevent getting sick this winter:

Bacterial Pneumonia:

This type of pneumonia is caused by bacteria, usually caused when the body is weak in some way by illness, poor nutrition, old age, or decreased immunity. This happens when the bacteria are able to fight its way into the lungs. The most common type of bacterial pneumonia is Strep, short for Streptococcus. Bacterial pneumonia can affect people of any age, but you are at greater risk if you have a weakened immune system, over-consume alcohol, smoke cigarettes, have just had surgery, or have a disease/infection.

Viral Pneumonia:

This type is typically caused by viruses like the flu, and is the most common, and least harmful type of pneumonia. If you have viral pneumonia, you are more likely to catch bacterial pneumonia. Viral pneumonia is more likely to occur in young children over adults because adults have a stronger immune system.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia:

This type can be milder than other types. Another name for it is walking pneumonia. You could have walking pneumonia and not even know it. It is most common in children. It can be a mixture of both viral and bacterial forms.

Other Pneumonias:

There are other, less common types of pneumonia that may be caused by other infections and fungi. People who develop other types also have a weakened immune system.

Different Types of Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up mucus. It is important to know the difference between the types of bronchitis to figure out just how serious it is. There are two main types of bronchitis:

Acute Bronchitis:

This type is often caused by the same viruses that cause colds, usually starting as a sore throat, runny nose, or sinus infection, then spreads to your airways. Acute bronchitis can also be called a chest cold. It may often come after a common cold, or other viral infections in the upper respiratory tract. Most symptoms last for up to 2 weeks.

Chronic Bronchitis:

This type is a long-term inflammation of the bronchi. It is common among smokers. People with chronic bronchitis tend to get lung infections more easily. This bronchitis often happens with other lung diseases.

Other Types of Bronchitis:

Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the most common are acute and chronic.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

The symptoms of pneumonia may include:

*Fever

*Chest pain

*Sweating

*Chills

*Coughing (that will produce mucus)

*Shortness of breath

*Weakness and extreme tiredness

Symptoms of Bronchitis

The symptoms of bronchitis may include:

*Coughing (that will produce mucus)

*Chills

*Sore throat

*Fatigue

*Shortness of breath or wheezing

*Slight fever and chills

*Chest congestion and/or pain

Prevention

To prevent pneumonia and bronchitis, follow these tips:

*Avoid cigarette smoke

*Get vaccinated

*Wash your hands

*Wear a surgical mask if needed

*Stay away from people who have any illness or infections

Treatment for Pneumonia

Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia you have.

*Pneumonia can be treated at home, but if you have a more serious case, then hospitalization might be necessary.

*Antibiotics are used for bacterial pneumonia, and can speed recovery for other types in some cases as well.

*There is no good treatment for viral pneumonia; it usually gets better on its own.

*Doctors will tell you to eat well, increase fluid intake, get some rest, get oxygen therapy if needed, take pain medication if prescribed by doctor, fever control, and maybe cough-relief medication.

Treatment for Bronchitis

Symptoms should go away within a couple of weeks; however, it may take longer for some people. There are a number of treatments once you get bronchitis.

*Antibiotics usually aren’t helpful when treating bronchitis. Antibiotics are only needed to treat whooping cough or pneumonia

*Doctors will typically prescribe medications called bronchodilators if you are wheezing.

*Decongestants may help relieve symptoms of bronchitis.

*Your doctor will tell you to drink more fluids to help thin mucus in the lungs, rest, and soothe your airways by increasing humidity in the air with a humidifier.

Visit Bethel Beyond Urgent Care

Although bronchitis and pneumonia both cause similar symptoms, they are significantly different. Only a healthcare professional can determine which treatment is right for you. If you have any questions about our services, please contact us at 203-617-0319, and if you find yourself with an urgent health issue, please visit us at our Bethel location! We are open 7 days a week. No appointment needed, just walk right in!

Many people welcome the new year with new health goals. It is an ideal time to reflect and examine your own health. Taking this into consideration, January is the perfect month to host cervical cancer awareness. Each year, about 13,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite these statistics, cervical cancer is undoubtedly preventable with the right vaccination and proper screening. In this post, we are going to define cervical cancer, and show you the ways you can not only treat this disease, but avoid it as well.

What is Cervical Cancer?

When the cells within your body begin growing at an uncontrollable rate, they become cancerous. These cells can expand to other parts of your body. Cervical cancer begins at the lower part of the uterus, which is called the cervix. The cervix joins the birth canal with the female body. The cervix consists of two different types of cells, glandular cells, and squamous cells.

These two types of cervix cells meet in an area of the body known as the transformation area. This area is where the cancerous cells begin to develop. Normal cervix cells do not just promptly become cancerous. They begin showing pre-cancerous changes, which can potentially turn into full-fledged cancerous cells. However, in most cases they do not turn cancerous at all. Pre-cancerous changes in cells have the tendency to fade away on their own. In certain cases, however, these changes will become cancerous as rapidly as within a year.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is found in 99 percent of cervical cancer cases, making it the leading cause of the disease. While there are 100 different types of HPV viruses, most of them are low risk, making them very unlikely to become cancerous. According to research , by age 50, at least 80 percent of women in the United States had some type of HPV infection.

Most HPV viruses will heal on their own in a very short period of time independent of any medical treatment. While a great number of HPVs are low risk, there are a few HPVs, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, which lead to normal cells developing abnormal changes. These abnormal changes in cells may overtime lead to cervical cancer.

What Are the Symptoms?

• >   Abnormal bleeding, including bleeding after intercourse or after menopause.
• >   Bleeding in between periods.
• >   Longer or heavier menstrual periods than usual.
• >   Abnormally frequent urination.
• >   Pelvic pain during urination.
• >   Pelvic pain during intercourse.

Screening of Pre-Cancerous Cells

Screening is the most effective way to determine if there are any existing pre-cancerous cells in the cervix. Routine health checkups will often screen for the presence of these cells. In order to determine if there are any abnormal cells, medical personnel will administer two different tests.

An HPV test is used to detect any HPV infections, abnormal cervix cells being a part of it. The pap test collects and checks cell samples of the inner and outer areas of your cervix to determine if there are any that are potentially cancerous. If you believe you have any of the listed symptoms, we encourage speaking with a medical specialist.

Ways to Limit Risk

• >   Use condoms
• >   Don’t smoke
• >   Limit sexual activity
• >   HPV vaccines
• >   Wash hands

Treatment

Cervical cancer treatment is tailored to the stage of the disease. Treatment options are referred to patients based on the appropriate needs of each individual. Surgical procedures are used in early stages. Radiation procedures along with chemo are used for further stages. Full blown chemo therapy is used at the most advanced and severe stages of the disease.

Before you decide on any treatment options, it is best to have a full understanding of the procedure, as well as discussing it with family and friends.

At an Urgent Care facility, fully trained healthcare professionals provide health care for urgent health issues that require care within 24 hours. For those who have never been to an Urgent Care before, we have put together this helpful guide.

What to Bring Before your Visit

Health Insurance Information

Patients who do have health insurance should bring their health insurance card and identification, such as a passport, or a drivers license. If your insurance is accepted and your health insurance provider is notified of your visit, there can be a copay fee. Different forms of payment that you can also bring along with you are credit cards, debit cards, and cash.

Important Patient Forms

When visiting an Urgent Care facility, you need to fill out the required paperwork that is provided to you at the office. You can also download this paperwork and fill it out prior to arriving at the care center.

These forms include the patient intake form, which collects your contact information and health history, as well as a minor consent form if the treatment is for an individual under 18.

Urgent Care or Emergency Room?

Severity of Health Issue

It’s important to understand that when you go to an Urgent Care, it must be a non life-threatening illness or injury, such as: infections, vomiting, simple fractures or sprains, minor burns, fever, etc. For this kind of treatment, an Urgent Care will be the most efficient and cost effective option.

Difference in Wait Time

At Urgent Care, there are health physicians that will be able to work with you in a timely pace compared to an emergency room. Most of the time, the wait at an Urgent Care facility is much shorter.

At an emergency room, the costs can costs hundreds of dollars, but at an Urgent Care, there is an affordable fee with high quality care. If you can’t get to the emergency room, or don’t want to wait in a long line, most Urgent Care clinics offer extended hours, and are open seven days a week.

Follow Up Visits

Urgent Care is meant for initial treatment, but for long term care, your Urgent Care health provider will refer you to your primary physician for follow-up visits.

Following your visit at Urgent Care, it is important to notify your primary health physician of the treatment received upon your visit.

Prescription Medications

Your Urgent Care physician can prescribe you any needed medication during your visit, which you can acquire at a local pharmacy. However, for long term prescriptions, your primary care physician is the proper source for refills.

If you have a life-threatening injury, then a trip to the hospital’s emergency room will be your best bet. However, you will run into problems like big bills, long wait times, and insurance not being accepted. This is where Urgent Care might be a more optimal choice.

Urgent Care facilities are more affordable and have primary health care providers at more flexible hours than a hospital might offer. Urgent Care providers will take most patients in without an appointment and often if the patient doesn’t have insurance. Most Urgent Care providers take patients at a first come first serve basis, not by the severity of the case. (Emergency Rooms vs. Urgent Care Centers)

Why Choose Urgent Care?

Urgent Care is the best choice around for treating non-lethal injuries. We offer primary care options, and we are much cheaper compared to a hospital. Also, we accept all forms of insurance. 

Medical Bill Debt

One reason so many Americans are in debt is that they go to hospitals for care when an Urgent Care facility would’ve treated them just as well and for a much lower cost. Most people think the hospital is the only place you should go for emergencies which is not the case.

Downside of Using Urgent Care

One drawback of Urgent Care is that a life-threatening injury might not be treated as well as a hospital would treat it because of minimal access to sophisticated equipment and professionals on staff at the time. You might want to choose an urgent care facility if your illness is not life threatening such as:

• Fever without rash
• Ear pain
• Painful urination
• Persistant diarrhea
• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Minor Trauma
• Flu symptoms

If none of these symptoms apply to you then a hospital might be a better choice.

More Advantages

Another great advantage of Urgent Care facilities over hospitals is that there are more of them which means they are more convenient in the case of an emergency. Going to a hospital might not guarantee you the immediate care a hospital should give. Of course, if you have serious injuries that require a more invasive procedure, the hospital is always a better choice. Many insurance providers offer lower copays for Urgent Care patients as well.

Tips to Help Pay off Bills

If you do need to visit a hospital but don’t know how you’re going to pay the bills, here are some tips on the best ways to do that:

• Ask for Itemized accounting: Mistakes happen in hospitals from time to time so it’s important to make sure you are not being charged for a procedure that was never done or for medications that were not given.
• Talk to the billing department: Often times there are different costs for different procedures. You should see if the billing department is overcharging you for a procedure that another hospital might be charging less for.
• Ask for a payment plan: Most hospitals will allow you to break up your hospital bill into smaller payments monthly so you’re not paying a lump sum.
• Crowdfunding: Many people ask for other people to help pay their bills on websites such as Giveforward.com, Fundly.com, and Youcaring.com that are specifically meant for medical debt.

Deciding What’s Right for You

Knowing when to choose a hospital over Urgent Care can be a big decision when you don’t have a lot of time to decide. You should know the following guidelines for when an emergency happens, such as:

• When to go to the ER
• When to call 911
• When to choose Urgent Care
• Be prepared

Please talk to your healthcare provider and/or your doctor in order to find which option is right for you based on your current situation.

Choosing Urgent Care

If you have a medical issue that you would like addressed at a reasonable rate, choose Urgent Care. Our doctors will take care of you, and you can rest assured your bills will not pile up. Stop on by to get treated. 

As spring begins, unfortunately so does allergy season. Testing for what kind of allergies you have and seeking treatment is your best option to manage your allergies all together.

For people with mild allergies these remedies can give you some quick relief. Here are a few tips on how to suppress seasonal allergy symptoms.

Stay Hydrated

Seasonal allergies put a strain on your body’s ability to stay hydrated. If you keep up with the proper amount of water every day, then your body can react better to your allergens and fight them off. By staying hydrated, you’re essentially thinning out the mucus in your nasal passages and helping with sinus drainage. If you cut down on other fluids such as juice, soda, and coffee it will be very beneficial to your health.

Get Steamy

Allergies can make it difficult to breathe from all the congestion you’re experiencing. Inhaling steam is a simple trick to help you breathe easier. Taking a hot shower or holding your head over a warm bowl of water will definitely give you some fast relief. Showers also offer an added benefit for springtime allergy sufferers. A quick rinse after spending time outdoors can help remove allergens from your skin and hair.

Probiotics

Probiotics or “good bacteria” can help relieve your allergies by breaking down food for digestion. The purpose of taking a probiotic is to to help you contain a healthy gut. When our bodies take in this healthy bacterium, we’re able to develop a healthy immune system which is vital to the prevention and treatment of allergies.

Add More Fiber to Your Diet

Fiber has many health benefits because it works as an all-natural detox. It helps eliminate toxins from your body. Fiber can help food passing regularly through the digestive system. Also, increasing your daily intake of grains and vegetables improves detoxification and helps to prevent chronic disease later on in life.

Exercise Daily

Allergies often bring out congestion and sinus pressure. When you exercise, you’re naturally smoothing your body by helping to open the blood vessels in your nose and easing your congestion. Honestly, sweating is one of the best ways to exert toxins. Exercise will also help improve sleep quality, stamina, and mood—even when all that sniffling and sneezing has you drained.

Honey

Believe it or not eating honey produced in your local area can help relieve allergies. Taking a tablespoon of local, raw honey every day will help your body build a tolerance to the local pollen that is attacking your sinuses. The main reason honey is so powerful in fighting allergies is because it contains bee pollen, which is known to fight off infections, allergies and boost your immune system.

Get Allergy Tested Today

It’s important to know the safest way to fight your allergies is to get properly tested and figure out a treatment plan that works best for you. DOCS allergy test can provide a service to help you with your allergies such as allergy shots (immunotherapy). This is an effective treatment for a broad range of allergens. Call us today to schedule your appointment. In the meantime, use these quick tricks to give you some relief!

All types of injuries are painful, but the more serious your injury is the more extensive your treatment will be. It all depends on what’s happened inside your body. Have you torn a ligament? Have you fractured your ankle? The signs might not be as obvious as you may have thought. Depending on the severity of your injury, you might want to pay a visit to the Fairfield Urgent Care center to be checked out.

Defining the main differences between fractures, sprains, and strains isn’t an easy task. We’ll guide you through what each type of injury is, the symptoms pertaining to each and what treatment you should seek.

What Causes Breaks, Sprains & Strains?

Every now and then our bodies work overtime. We put pressure on ourselves in ways that we shouldn’t which can cause the occasional strain or sprain or the unfortunate fracture. Here are some common reasons for injuries:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Tripping or falling
• Exercising (running or jogging)
• Overexerting your body

The most obvious kind of broken bone or fracture is when a bone is protruding from the skin, which is called an open fracture or compound fracture. During your injury if you happen to hear a pop or grinding sound, this is also an indication.

This is not an easy injury to diagnosis just from looking at it. The best way to know if you have fractured a joint is to receive a proper x-ray.

Signs of a Fracture:

• You may hear or feel a pop, snap or grinding noise during the injury
• Swelling, bruising, tenderness of the area
• Pain when pressure is applied. Either by walking, touching, or pressing
• Deformity: A joint facing the wrong way

What Happens During a Sprain?

A sprain is basically the stretching and tearing of a ligament- bands of tissue that hold your ankle together. Most of us will confuse a sprain with a break because the pain level is comparable. More often than not, a sprain will occur in the ankle.

Symptoms of a Sprain:

• Pain, Swelling, Bruising,
• A possible “pop” during the injury
• Limited range of motion

What Happens During a Strain?

A strain is an injury that occurs in a muscle or tendon (fibrous cords of tissues that connect bone and muscle). Strains come in three grades depending on the damage that has happened. A Grade 1 strain is the stretching of a few muscle fibers, Grade 2 is when more muscle fibers have been damaged or torn and Grade 3 is when the muscle completely ruptures.

Symptoms of a Strain:

• Pain, swelling, muscle spasm
• Limited mobility and flexibility in the injured area
• Limited ability in moving the joint’s full range of motion

How Do I Tell A Sprain from a Strain?

If you experience a sprain or a strain, you will have pain and swelling. Both of these injuries will happen because your body is under physical stress. During this time, muscles and joints are performing movements they normally wouldn’t be.

The big difference between the two is that a sprain will have bruising while a strain will bring on muscle spasms. Both types of injury will also affect your mobility.

Treatment for Sprained or Strained Joints

If it turns out that you have a sprain or a strain, there’s a simple method you can followed called the RICE method, which can also be followed for any type of injury.

Start out by resting. Instead of putting weight (on an ankle) or the affected area, try not to move too much. Next, put some ice on the area to help with any swelling. Do this in 15 minute intervals and at least 3-4 times per day. You will also want to have compression on the area. The best way to do that is to wrap the affected area, but not too tightly. You don’t want to restrict any blood flow from the area causing further damage. Your last step is to elevate. If you raise the injured area above your heart, you can increase blood flow and minimize swelling.

Treatment for a Broken Joint

If you are concerned that you have broken or fractured a bone, you will have to meet with your doctor for an examination. The most common way to determine a fracture is by having an x-ray. This will show if your bone is still intact or if it is actually broken. Your doctor will also be able to tell what kind of fracture you have and how to prepare you for the next steps.

On average, a fracture will need several weeks to several months to heal. In order to properly heal, you must follow your doctor’s advice and keep pressure off of the affected joint. If you have a fractured ankle or leg, you will most likely need physical therapy to follow the removal of a cast.

Need To Be Seen Immediately?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms for fractures, sprains or strains, you should seek medical attention immediately. Here at DOCS Urgent Care (located in many towns including Fairfield, Bethel, and Norwalk) our walk-in clinic experts can help you with our x-ray imaging services. It’s best advised that you don’t leave any injury untreated. Seek help today to prevent further damage from occurring. Come in for a no-wait consultation or call us beforehand to schedule an appointment: 203-617-0319

We’ve all experienced a fever at some point in our lives; they make us feel groggy and uncomfortable. But do you know how to handle a fever with your child? Are you a new parent that has no idea how a fever can affect your baby? These are questions you should be asking yourself to take the necessary steps in ensuring your child gets the proper care they need. Many of us at DOCS Urgent Care located in Fairfield, and various other locations in Connecticut, have been there too. With all that said, let’s start with the basics.

Fevers 101

People get fevers when their body temperature rises above what it should be (around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The reasoning behind this is usually because the body recognizes a potential virus so it wants to create an unfavorable environment to kill off that bacteria. It’s your body’s way of fighting infection.

Some of the symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Forehead is warm to the touch
• Shivers
• Cold sweats
• Lack of appetite

When Is a Fever a Sign of Something Serious?

If you notice that your child may have a fever, it would be a good idea for you to act. Some of the symptoms for children normally include fussiness, high temperature, sore throat, coughing, vomiting, etc.

Here are some of the more severe signs you should look for:

• Your child under 3 months old has a rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Your child under 2 years old has a fever that lasts over 24 hours
• Your child doesn’t seem like him/herself
• Seizures occur
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea occur

If you notice any of these severe symptoms, call a doctor immediately. If left untreated, these symptoms could get worse and/or they could result in more medical problems down the road. Here is an article to read if you are wondering if your child is too sick for school.

How Can I Help?

Most fevers are easy to treat and won’t require any care from a doctor, unless your child is extremely uncomfortable. There are several ways that you can help treat a simple fever:

• Medicine (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) if the child is over a certain age
• Dress your child in lightweight clothing
• Provide plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Sleep, sleep, SLEEP

Unfortunately, some children may experience more intense fevers than normal. If this is the case with your child, call your doctor. They will be able to provide the right information and treatment based on your child’s symptoms.

How Can I Prevent Fevers in The Future?

Since fevers occur because of bacteria and viruses, the most effective thing to do would be to look at personal and household hygiene. Simple things such as washing your hands after going to the bathroom and cleaning the counter before and after cooking a meal can go a long way in preventing illness in your family.

Here are more tips on how to prevent fevers:

• Maintain a healthy and balanced diet
• Get the proper amount of sleep (around 8 hours)
• Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing
• Fully clean your house at least once a week
• Make sure your child has had their flu vaccination

No one wants their child to end up in the emergency room because of a fever. Make sure you know and understand the symptoms of a severe fever and seek medical attention ASAP! The last thing we, Fairfield DOCS Urgent Care, want is for you to have to make a visit in the middle of the night to treat the flu.

The winter weather does more than making you wear an absurd amount of layers or letting your kids stay home from school occasionally. The combination of the cold weather and the dry environment do not make hands happy. And as you turn the temperature up indoors your skin starts to dry up weather you know it or not.

Keeping your skin in good condition is important as dry skin can flake and crack causing your skin to bleed. Here are several tips from DOCS Urgent Care of Fairfield, Norwalk, & Bridgeport on how to counteract the cold weather and keep your skin in top condition!

Use moisturizing lotions properly

Contrary to common belief, moisturizing lotions don’t actually make your hands moist. The lotion just provides a protective barrier to seal the moisture on your skin. So applying lotion to dry hands that are covered in dead dried up skin cells won’t do much good.

Instead, use lotion right after taking a shower or washing your hands well in warm water, your hands will be in the best condition to be protected. Feel free to apply lotion after washing dishes, it works miracles!

Wearing the right clothing

Hands and faces tend to be the most exposed body parts outdoors during winter but they have the least amount of skin covering those areas. That’s why it’s common for hands and faces to dry up so quickly during the winter.

Wearing the right gloves can be the best way to avoid skin cracking and flaking. Besides who would want to freeze their fingers off? Make sure to wear dry cloth including your gloves. The chafing from wet socks, gloves or jacket could cause irritation which leads to dried up skin, cracking or even eczema over time.

Ski & snowboard gear are a great choice as they keep you very warm and are water proof/resistant. If you can’t afford to get those, making your coats or leather gloves water proof  is the way to go.

Just as a general back to school health tip make sure to dress your child/children appropriately. Such a simple precautionary step can make a big difference and prevent irritated rashes and children.

Invest in a humidifier

As we mentioned before, the winter weather naturally causes the air to dry up quickly and does not give your skin a way to naturally moisten. That process only speeds up when we keep our homes warm throughout the season.

Humidifiers get more moisture in the air which our skin so desperately needs. Make it a habit to use a humidifier as often as possible. It’s pointless to only use it once in a while when your hands dry up, as dead skin cells will only get in the way of the parts that needs to be cared for.

Having a few small humidifiers throughout your house will keep the amount of moisture in the air consistent. Humidifiers are all around great and are good for your health. They help fight against the cold and the flu keeping a good environment for your house.

Drink water

It seems like this tip always ends up in any type of health article regardless what the issue is. Skin is no different, you need a way for your body to hydrate your skin from the inside out. If you don’t have enough water to sweat, your body will overheat at a rampant rate and you not be able to sweat.

Avoid face masks & facial cleaners

As tempting as it is to pull out those face masks during a cold winter day being indoors all day, it will cause more harm than help for your skin.

All the moisture’s and oils on your face protect the moisture on your face and keep it in place. And as you may have guessed using a face mask will rid your face of the essential oils keeping you from having a dry face.

Reject saunas

So you just finished shoveling or just came back from a freezing commute and the first thing you want to do is jump into a super hot bath or a sauna. As heartbreaking this may be, it is probably the worst thing you could do to your skin.

Your skin will already be dried up at that point and a hot bath or sauna will only further damage your dried skin, drying up the moisture in it even further. Opt for a warm bath which will do good for your skin and moisten it. On the other hand if a sauna is your only option, make sure to spend time in a room with a humidifier.

Choosing the right moisturizer

When looking for a lotion or moisturizer opt for an oil based product as it is more effective than a water based product. Oil based products hold the moisture in the skin better compared to water based lotions. Water based lotions may even dry your hands further overtime as it will only cover dry hands and not retain the moisture well.

If all fails seek a walk in office

Setting up habits and environments to keep your hands moist is important. There will be times where you may not be able to practice these habits because of work and as a result always end up with dry hands.

Leaving dry skin as it is can be dangerous because certain skin diseases can become permanent like eczema and cutaneous candidiasis if not treated immediately. The best option would be to seek an available physician as soon as you can.

Calling us at DOCS Urgent Care and asking a trained professional is sometimes the best course of action. There will be many suggestions we will be able to make so moistening your skin will be simple and become routine. Knowing all of these signs to these symptoms are a good way to steer clear from serious disease.

We all know the horror of food poisoning: what looks like a delicious meal ends up sending you straight to bed for a day. Just the same, shaking the wrong hand can knock you down for a week with a “stomach bug”. But what’s the difference between the two? The answer seems pretty obvious, given their names… but when you’re bedridden and fighting waves of nausea, it can be hard to tell what your body is fighting.

What is a “Stomach Bug”?

“Stomach bug” is actually a nonspecific term we use to refer to any sort of condition involving vomiting or nausea. In reality, the “stomach bug” we’re dealing with is a common infection called Gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis involves the inflammation and irritation of the stomach and intestines, which causes its tell-tale symptoms.

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting or Nausea
• Stomach Pains
• Cramps
• Fever
• Headache

When suffering from a Stomach Bug, it’s common to find yourself dehydrated. As you can guess, this is due to the amount of purging your body is doing to fight the virus. If you experience symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, extreme thirst, lightheadedness, or dry skin, we advise you call a doctor or visit DOCS Urgent Care of Fairfield, Norwalk, or Bridgeport  for immediate attention.

What causes Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis can be caused by:

Contact with someone suffering from Gastroenteritis

Consumption of contaminated food or water

Unwashed hands after using the bathroom, or changing a diaper

There are three viruses known to cause Gastroenteritis, known as adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus. Rotavirus is known as the most common cause of Gastroenteritis in children. Infants can be vaccinated to prevent this particular strain.

How is Gastroenteritis treated?

Unfortunately, a viral strain of Gastroenteritis cannot be treated with common antibiotics. In the case of a viral infection, the sickness will typically pass within 10 days without medication. To help your body fight the virus:

Drink lots of fluids. The biggests danger of Gastroenteritis is dehydration. While vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, your body is disposing of fluids more frequently than it can take them in. The most important thing you can do to prevent dehydration is–as the name implies–hydrate. Drinking water is good but, however, will not supply your body the electrolytes it needs. To best hydrate, it is best to drink 

electrolyte solutions (oral rehydration solutions). These can be purchased at your local pharmacy. Pedialyte, Gatorade, or other common sports drinks are cost-effective alternatives.

Avoid acidic drinks and milk. Milk is known to exacerbate stomach problems, and acidic drinks such as orange juice or coffee can cause stomach aches.

Don’t drink too fast. Every hear of the saying “too much of a good thing”? When suffering from Gastroenteritis, drinking too much water can actually induce vomiting, as the body may reject too much liquid at a given time. For children, we recommend a teaspoon of your chosen beverage every 4 to 5 minutes. Or, advise them to take small sips over time.

Introduce food slowly. Once you are able to keep down liquid, you are able to introduce small portions of bland food. Bananas, bread, rice, applesauce, and toast are good options for beginning the introduction to food again. And, once you can keep those foods down, you are able to slowly introduce meats and cooked vegetables–but be sure to keep portions of these small, until you’re certain they will not cause problems

Avoid fatty foods. Foods with too much fat, acid, spice, or fried foods are known to exacerbate symptoms.

Avoid over-the-counter medications. Time is the best medicine. When you or your child are sick, your best bet is to avoid medications. OTC medications, despite what you may believe, are not effective in treating Gastroenteritis and may worsen symptoms. It may be hard or uncomfortable to purge your body during the course of the illness, but it is your body’s way of rejecting the virus, and medication will only impede that process.

Medication has one exception: to combat fever. If your temperature is rising, acetaminophen or ibuprofen are good for bringing it back down. Other than that, avoid medication.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disease and contract Gastroenteritis, or experience any of the following symptoms, please seek immediate medical help:

• Sunken eyes
• Lightheadedness
• Extreme thirst or dry mouth
• Lack of normal skin elasticity
• Fewer tears
• Infrequent or less urination

How do I prevent Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is preventable in infants and children through two early Rotavirus vaccinations. In adults, it’s best to mind our habits to avoid getting ill:

Frequently wash your hands, especially after using the restroom and before handling food. If you are unable to access soap and water, hand sanitizer is a great substitution.

Don’t share utensils, plates, or towels. This one is sort of a no-brainer: if someone in your household is suffering from Gastroenteritis, avoid sharing common items with them. If necessary, wash and disinfect them before usage.

Don’t eat raw or undercooked food. Washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly also plays a part in preventing Gastroenteritis.

When traveling, avoid unbottled water. This includes tap water and ice cubes.

What is Food Poisoning?

While the symptoms may seem identical to Gastroenteritis, the condition itself is different. Food Poisoning is a food-borne disease caused by the ingestion of food containing a toxin, chemical, or infectious agent.

Symptoms of Food Poisoning include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches
• Mild fever

Like Gastroenteritis, sufferers of this disease are prone to dehydration. If you experience symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, extreme thirst, lightheadedness, or dry skin, we advise you call a doctor or visit DOCS Urgent Care for immediate attention.

What causes Food Poisoning?

Unlike Gastroenteritis, Food Poisoning is restricted to the ingestion of contagens. However, it can be caused by a wider range of sources. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are all known to cause Food Poisoning.

• Ingestion of poorly cooked or stored fish (Scombroid or Ciguatera)
• Poorly cooked or raw rice (Bacillus cereus)
• Meat stored in an environment that is too warm (Clostridium perfringens)
• Handling of food without washing hands (Shigella)
• Poorly cooked chicken or eggs (Salmonella)
• Contaminated saltwater shellfish (Vibrio parahaemolyticus)
• Contact during travel (E.coli)
• Contaminated drinking water (Vibrio cholerae)
• Or any number of parasites (Giardiasis, Amoebiasis, Trichinosis, etc.)

Food Poisoning can occur due to the presence of Bacteria, a Parasite, Viruses, Protozoans, or Prions. You are least likely to contract Protozoans or Prions, but they are contagens to be aware of.

How is Food Poisoning treated?

Food Poisoning can usually be treated at home. Most cases will resolve themselves within 24 hours. Much of the treatment for Food Poisoning is the same as Gastroenteritis. The crucial difference, however, comes from when you’re best advised to visit your nearest DOCS Urgent Care or the ER.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disease and contract Food Poisoning, please seek immediate medical attention. Food poisoning can be considered life threatening and requires immediate treatment when:

• Blood in stool or urine
• Fever higher than 101.5°F
• Diarrhea that lasts longer than 72 hours
• Severe dehydration (dry mouth, passing little urine, etc.)
• Difficulty speaking or seeing
• Repeated vomiting preventing replacement of fluids

How do I prevent Food Poisoning?

The simplest answer is to be mindful of what you eat, and how you prepare your food.

Wash your hands often. Wash hands before cooking or cleaning, and always after handling raw meat.

Clean dishes and utensils frequently, especially if they have had contact with raw meat, poultry, fish, or eggs.

Use a thermometer when cooking. It’s good to be mindful of the temperature you are cooking meat at, to avoid under-cooking. If you are using frozen foods, be sure to cook them for the full recommended time on the package.

Beef requires at least 160°F (71°C).

Poultry requires at least 165°F (73.8°C).

Fish requires at least 145°F (62.7°C).

Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours. Keep your fridge set to around 40°F (4.4°C), and your freezer at or below 0°F (-18°C).

Drink treated or chlorinated water. Do not drink water from streams or wells that are untreated.

Do not use foods that are: outdated, have a broken seal, unusual odor, or “bad” taste.

So what’s the difference?

The difference between the two is simple: time. Similar to a cold and flu, the major determining factor in what you’ve contracted lays in how long you have it. Typically, Food Poisoning will resolve itself within the span of 24 hours. Conversely, a “stomach bug” will span about 3 to 5 days.

In short, you’d be taking more time off of work from a stomach bug than food poisoning.

Medical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease in patients. If a patient routinely submits to lab testing, this may allow doctors to respond swiftly with preventative treatment, which could save the patient time, money, and possibly sickness in the future. In other words, lab testing is one of the first lines of defense to protect a patient’s general well-being.

An estimated 60 to 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient’s diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory results, and so much of a patient’s experience in the health care industry depends on these tests. In this article, laboratory testing procedure will be made clear to you, so that you may understand one of the most important parts of the health care industry, and why it is important to participate regularly in lab testing.

Lab Technicians

Medical Laboratory scientists, also known as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, perform most laboratory tests. These medical professionals analyze test results such as blood and urine tests, and relay them to physicians. They conduct chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic and bacteriological tests which require keen analytical and independent judgement.

The ASCLS, or the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, connects these scientists so that they may be regularly updated on new testing procedures, and techniques. They often hold free seminars and informational discussions regarding new developments in their field, some are even open to public participation. It is crucial to the integrity of the Lab Testing Industry, for these medical professionals to be regularly updated and supported by one another. 

Everyday Functions of a Lab Technician

Medical Laboratory Scientists perform a variety of duties which ensure accurate, timely results which are then relayed to your personal physician or doctor for interpretation. These duties include:

• Make microscopic examination and analysis of blood, body fluids, tissues and cells
• Identify fluids for chemical analytes, such as glucose and cholesterol
• Cross match blood for blood transfusions
• Monitor patient outcomes (how patients respond to treatment)
• Perform cell counts looking for abnormal cells to aid in the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and anemia
• Utilize high-precision laboratory equipment such as microscopes and cell counters
• Write standardized operating procedure, and establish quality assurance programs to monitor and ensure the accuracy of test results

The Life Cycle of a Lab Test

No matter which doctor you see, or which lab is utilized in the testing procedures, the same standardized system is used to test and provide results to the patient and the doctor:

1. Patient goes to the doctor
2.  Doctor orders the lab test
3. Specimen is taken from the patient
4. Specimen is transferred to a nearby clinical laboratory
5. Tests analyze specimen and produce results
6. Clinical lab provides results to doctor
7. Doctor interprets results
8. Doctor informs patient of results and implications
9. Diagnosis and treatment decisions are made by doctor and patient

Types of Lab Testing

Although there are countless kinds of lab tests, such as DNA testing, breast cancer screens, pregnancy testing, drug screens, lab cultures, blood tests and so on, there are only 4 legitimate reasons to order a laboratory test:

• Diagnosis (to rule in or rule out a diagnosis)
• Monitoring (the efficacy of a drug or treatment)
• Screening (to discover active substances/variables)
• Research (to understand the pathophysiology of a particular disease)

In Conclusion

Lab Testing is the premier tool in a doctors toolkit to identifying, preventing and treating sickness and disease. That is why it is important to you, the patient, to understand what it is, who is performing it and why you should want it performed.

The laboratory testing procedure is a massive part of the healthcare industry, yet, because much of it is unseen, and highly complex, it draws little attention from the mainstream. The truth is, our doctors and physicians couldn’t function without these labs up and running. Every single day, doctors and patients deal with these results, and so laboratories across the nation are working constantly to research, monitor, diagnose and screen patients, keeping us healthy and informed. We offer laboratory testing in Bethel and New Milford office. Contact us today to learn more about our diagnostic testing.