Plano physician Tag

Top 3 Summer Health Hazards

It’s summertime and the increase in activity leads to an increase in injuries and medical conditions directly related to summer activities. For many, summer is the best time of year, but it also has some accompanying health hazards that we should know about. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we’ve highlighted 3 kinds of health hazards that spike during the summer months. Keep your family and yourself safe and healthy this summer by paying attention to these three health hazards.

Sun Hazards

Leading the pack of summer health hazards are the ones that accompany increased exposure to sun. Heat exhaustion, for example, occurs when the body overheats in high temperatures and high humidity.

Heat stroke takes heat exhaustion one step further and requires immediate medical intervention since it can be a life-threatening condition. Symptoms include hot skin, red skin, dry skin, confusion, feeling cold, and loss of consciousness.

High heat and humidity also creates a constant battle against dehydration. Staying hydrated will help your body stay cool and keeping electrolytes in balance will help your body use water efficiently and keep blood pressure under control.

Sunburn is also a common summer hazard that can be very painful. Over time, sun exposure can cause skin damage and even eye damage. Using moisturizers with sunscreen, using sunscreen outdoors, and wearing hats, UV-rated sunglasses and long sleeves are important preventative measures.

Finally, food poisoning is among the top health hazards in the summertime. Use best food handling practices to keep your family and guests safe this summer.

“Most sun-related health hazards are preventable with a little forethought and preparation,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “But still, it’s hard to beat the effects of the heat. When you get overheated, sick or injured from sun exposure or food poisoning, come to Medco ER right away for our unique no-wait access to quality medical care.”

Water Hazards

Playing in the water is our favorite way of beating the heat during the summer. But increased water activity greatly increases your chances of experiencing a water-related health hazard. Many of these hazards are preventable, but some are not.

Drowning is the biggest concern with water activities and can often be prevented with the use of a life jacket. Sometimes, boating accidents can be less serious if everyone in the boat is wearing a life jacket. Additionally, respiratory distress from water aspiration can manifest hours after children inhale water at the pool or lake.

Germs are also a concern when going to public pools. A good practice is to check a pool’s health score before going.¹ Also, while swimmer’s ear seems like a minor inconvenience, it can be a painful medical condition that can be easily treated with a visit to the doctor.

Other water hazards include slip-and-fall injuries from running around the pool’s wet concrete, stepping on nails or wood splinters with bare feet, and becoming dehydrated from not drinking enough water. Alcohol can also cause dehydration as well as diminished judgement when it comes to safety. So try non-alcoholic drinks when enjoying a day at the beach or pool.

Kid Hazards

Kids are much more active in the neighborhood in the summertime, which can set the stage for injuries in traffic and on the sidewalk. Make sure your child has a helmet for biking and a helmet and pads for skating and skateboarding.

Outdoor activity can also pose other risks. If your child has never been stung by a bee, watch them closely after a first sting to make sure there are no adverse reactions.

Young workers have a higher rate of accidents than older workers.¹ If your young teen is working a summer job, make sure he or she has the safety equipment and knowledge needed to prevent workplace injuries.

“Kids find a lot of creative ways to be busy in the summer, and sometimes that means a fast trip to the doctor,” said Dr. Khan. “We have appropriate, child-sized equipment and a child-friendly exam room readily available for urgent and emergency situations.”

Get help at Medco ER & Urgent Care

For help with all kinds of health conditions and injuries, the board-certified physicians at Medco ER & Urgent Care are here for you. We’re always open and available to help in diagnostic, treatment and recovery from common summertime health hazards and injuries.

• Plano location:

3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

            Call us @ 469-392-4000¹ https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0517-eight-tips-healthy-summer.html

Is it a Sprain or a Strain?

A sprained ankle, strained wrist, sprained thumb, twisted knee or pulled muscle can be the result of a slip, fall or trip. It doesn’t take much to roll an ankle – sometimes just a misstep off a path or sidewalk, a slip on a wet rock, or a stumble over an obstacle in your path. Falling can injure your wrist, thumb or fingers. Playing sports can strain a hamstring, arm or hand.¹

At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, our board-certified physicians are experienced in diagnosing and treating strains and sprains and making sure the bone wasn’t injured. “Sprains and strains are extremely painful and need medical care to ensure they heal properly,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan.

What’s the difference between a strain and a sprain?

Often used interchangeably, strains and sprains are actually very different because they involve different parts of the joint.

• A strain is an injury to the muscles or tendons around a joint. These can be pulled or torn.
• A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold bones together to make a joint stable. Ligaments can be stretched or torn.

Symptoms of sprains and strains

Sprains can exhibit:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Unable to use the joint

Strains can exhibit:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle cramps
• Painful use of joint or inhibited range of motion

Treatment Options

“Most often, sprains and strains are treated with immobility, rest, elevation, ice, compression with bandages or splints, over-the-counter pain relievers, and anti-inflammatories,” said Dr. Khan. “However, some ligament tears or muscle tears can be so severe they require extensive treatment. Surgery, rehabilitation and physical therapy may be needed to stabilize the joint.”

“When you come in to see us at Medco ER & Urgent Care, we can personalize a treatment plan that’s customized to your injury and ensure your healing has started on the right path,” said Dr. Kahn.

Prevention Tips

Preventing a strain or a sprain is crucial if you are playing sports or do a lot of hiking or biking. Pay attention to body mechanics to make sure you don’t overtax an ankle when running or twist a knee with a sudden turn. Use proper lifting techniques.

Here are some other tips that can help keep your joints injury-free: ²

• Choose the right shoes – wear supportive, properly fitting shoes and replace them often
• Choose the right clothes – wear clothes that allow free movement
• Spend time warming up – before you begin your activity, do plenty of stretches, elevate your heart rate, and warm up your joints
• Use a balanced approach to fitness – cross train with cardio, strength, flexibility and endurance
• Use a daily approach to fitness – rather than doing it all on one day, do a little something each day to improve your fitness level
• Stretching is key – after your muscles are warmed up, do slow and careful stretches without bouncing a joint
• Spend time cooling down – walk off the heat from your exercise or activity and allow your joints to stabilize
• Drink water – water supports good joint health and helps keep you from becoming weak and sick from heat exhaustion or heat stroke which can lead to a fall

Get help at Medco ER & Urgent Care

Don’t just try to tough it out if you’ve strained or sprained an ankle, thumb, wrist, knee or other joint. Come to Medco ER & Urgent Care for the proper treatment to help speed healing and prevent reinjury. You’ll be seen within minutes of arrival and our in-house imaging equipment can aid in rapid diagnosis. We’re here 24/7 when you need us.

• Plano location:

3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

            Call us @ 469-392-4000

¹ https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains#tab-risk

² https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/

Bacterial vs. Viral Respiratory Infections

When a common cold or flu spirals out of control, or when a virus morphs into a secondary, bacterial infection, the sinuses, trachea, bronchial tubes or lungs may become infected with a respiratory infection. Most people have experienced a respiratory tract infection in their lifetime, and springtime often creates conditions that are ripe for the outbreak of these kinds of infections. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we commonly diagnose and treat seasonal respiratory conditions.

“Pollen can be an irritant that sets off allergies and escalates respiratory conditions,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “We also see a lot of colds and flus this time of year, even with our current focus on social distancing, masks and handwashing. Respiratory infections often develop in the aftermath of colds and flus and need medical intervention.”

What is a respiratory infection?

A respiratory infection occurs when a virus or bacteria takes over the sinuses, throat, airway or lungs. As you may have guessed, a viral respiratory infection is caused by a virus while a bacterial respiratory infection is caused by bacteria. This is usually the result of a secondary infection that takes place after a viral infection.

Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics, but there are some antiviral drugs that can be used to treat viruses if the outbreak is treated within the first 24 hours.

Respiratory infections are classified as upper and lower. Upper respiratory tract infections affect the sinuses, throat, pharynx and larynx. Lower respiratory tract infections affect the trachea, bronchioles and lungs.

Symptoms of a respiratory infection

Different respiratory infections have different symptoms, but most include some of these:

• Fever, chills
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Sinus drainage
• Congestion
• Cough – dry or wet
• Shortness of breath
• Painful breathing
• Sore throat
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Bluish tinge to skin
• Hoarseness
• Fatigue

Is a respiratory infection contagious?

“Many kinds of respiratory infections are highly contagious,” said Dr. Khan. “An example would be SARS that originated in China and spread rapidly to scan the globe. It is a good idea to treat any kind of respiratory infection as contagious and to try to keep it from spreading from airborne particles or through contact.”

Treatment for respiratory infections

Depending on the severity of the respiratory infection, over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers are often the starting point. If your rapid-results lab at Medco ER determines the infection is bacterial, then an antibiotic may be prescribed. Oxygen supplementation may also be used.

Get help fast at Medco ER & Urgent Care

With the convenience of a freestanding ER and little-to-no wait, Medco ER & Urgent Care offers some of the best medical care for respiratory infections. Our board-certified physicians are experienced in diagnosing and treating a range of respiratory conditions. With our help, you can soon be on the path to breathing easy again.

• Plano location:

3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

            Call us @ 469-392-4000

When Anxiety Sends You Running for Cover

If you find yourself flooded with feelings of anxiety, it could be a normal response to your current situation. However, persistent and excessive feelings of fear and worry over common situations could be the sign of a growing anxiety disorder. Fears that turn into panic mode are commonly called panic attacks. If left untreated, anxiety disorders and panic attacks can have adverse effects on your physical health. Because anxiety is linked to number of health conditions, our board-certified physicians at Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano recommend a thorough evaluation to rule out any additional health issues.

“Panic attacks and feelings of anxiety, danger or impending doom can be deeply disturbing to the patient, but they are not always serious,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Tariq Vora. “However, anxiety could be an indicator that something more serious is going on with the body. Therefore, getting a thorough medical examination is an important step to rule out a more serious medical condition before attributing it to a form of anxiety.”

Anxiety disorders are common among adults. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 19% of adults in the United States have suffered from an anxiety disorder in the past year. “Don’t suffer in silence,” said Dr. Vora. “Anxiety is a rather common problem and Medco ER has a friendly staff that is available to help and to provide mental reassurance in times of need.”

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

• Excessive worrying about common things
• Feeling nervous
• Emotional outbursts
• Restlessness
• Tension in muscles, trembling, twitching or cramping
• Concentration problems
• Feeling of doom
• Irritability
• Increased heart rate or palpitations
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Hyperventilation
• Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
• Sweating

What kind of health conditions can be caused by anxiety?

The human body usually responds to anxiety by releasing increased level of Adrenaline & Cortisol. Prolonged exposure to these hormones can lead to certain conditions over the course of time such as:

• Hormonal imbalance
• Elevated blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• Increased blood sugar
• Altered food digestion
• Suppressed immune response
• Heart palpitations
• Heart disease
• Hair loss
• Impaired concentration & memory
• Depression
• Eating disorders

What health conditions can be mistaken for anxiety disorders?

Many types of ailments can manifest with symptoms suggestive of anxiety rather than a more serious health problem. Here are a few underlying conditions that your physician may check for during a medical evaluation:

• Hormone imbalance – thyroid imbalance
• Nutrition deficiency or malabsorption
• Alzheimer’s
• Blood disorders such as leukemia
• Lupus
• Fibromyalgia
• Electrolyte imbalance

Treatment for common anxiety

If your physician at Medco ER & Urgent Care determines you are suffering from anxiety, he/she can prescribe you a medication to treat it so you do not have to fight it on your own. You may be referred to a specialist for therapy or counseling that can help you feel even better. If your anxiety has caused physical symptoms, do not hesitate to receive immediate medical attention. “Whether anxiety is related to a physical condition or not, it is usually treatable,” said Dr. Vora. “So don’t feel discouraged. And feel free to come to us for help any time of the day or night.”

When should I go to the ER?

If you feel like your worrying is out of control, if you are experiencing difficulty breathing, palpitations or chest pain, or if you feel depressed or suicidal, come to the nearest ER immediately. At Medco ER & Urgent Care, we offer some of the best medical care in the region and we are open 24/7 to help you start to feel better again.

• Plano location:

3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

            Call us @ 469-392-4000

What Your Doctor Knows About Lacerations

Whether you’re fishing on your day off, enjoying a hobby, building something new, playing outside or even just preparing a meal, cuts, scrapes or lacerations can happen unexpectedly. The board-certified physicians at Medco ER & Urgent Care are experienced in treating wounds of all kinds and are standing by to help.

“When you experience a deep cut or laceration, or a scraped area of skin, the sooner you can get here, the better we are able to fight off infection that could be settling in the wound,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Regional Medical Director, Dr. Tariq Vora. “We can treat it quickly and relatively painlessly. We use topical anesthetics to help reduce the sensation during treatment and we can make sure all the dirt and foreign bodies are removed properly before creating a proper seal.”

Do I need stitches?

When a laceration occurs, most people wonder whether or not they really need stitches. Sometimes it is very obvious that medical attention is needed, but other times it is not as clear. As a rule of thumb, if you can see layers of fat, muscle, tendons or bone in the wound, you will probably need stitches by a medical professional.

“Having one of our physicians treat your laceration can accomplish three things,” said Dr. Vora. “One: it will reduce the possibility of infection by properly sterilizing and sealing the wound. Two: it will stop severe bleeding. Three: it will speed healing by keeping the wound closed and stabilized. Treating a deep laceration at home is not advisable because of the risk of infection and inefficient healing. A wound may heal unevenly and leave a rough area that has reduced or deadened sensation.”

What about afterwards?

After you’ve received stitches, we can remove them in 5-14 days, depending on the location and size of the wound.

What about road rash, scratches or bites?

If your wound was caused by a skidding motion that peeled or scraped away a patch of skin, it is important to make sure all the dirt is removed from the area. “Scrapes or abrasions caused by falling off a bike or skidding across pavement are notoriously hard to clean at home,” said Dr. Vora. “Plus, they are extremely painful because they involve a large area of pain receptors. We can reduce the pain with topicals and can make sure all the dirt and gravel is removed to speed healing.”

If you had trouble with an animal and have scratches or bites, it is important to receive medical attention even if the wounds don’t appear to be too deep. Animal-related wounds are notorious for becoming infected, and a tetanus shot may be needed. Be prepared to identify the animal so your doctor can discover if there is a risk of rabies and so the animal can be contained, if necessary.

Do I need a Tetanus shot?

It is extremely important that you are up to date on your Tetanus booster anytime you experience a laceration or open wound. Tetanus is caused by bacteria and is almost always fatal if contracted through the skin. A Tetanus booster is usually good for 5-10 years.

If you don’t remember your last Tetanus shot, it’s crucial to get one in case of an open injury. At Medco ER, we can provide you a Tetanus booster in order to avoid a potentially deadly infection.

What to do on the way to the ER

Apply a clean cloth to the laceration and keep pressure on it to slow the bleeding. A gentle pinching pressure to pull the sides together could stem the bleeding on the way to Medco ER. Have someone else drive you so you can keep the wound elevated above the heart. If the wound is severe and blood loss is prominent, call 911 immediately or have someone take you to the nearest ER.

Get help fast at Medco ER & Urgent Care

At Medco ER, we have the imaging equipment, IVs, labs and supplies needed to treat any lacerations or wounds that you or your loved ones may experience. We are open 24/7 to provide you with some of the best medical care available to speed you on your way to healing.

• Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road.

            Call us @ 469-392-4000.