Flu Shots – Get One

 

flu shot

Flu Shot – Many people question whether they should get a flu shot or not. Many will have an excuse why they shouldn’t have the flu shot.

Well let’s clear up those excuses

  • I don’t want the shot because it will give me the Flu

This is not true. The flu shot or nasal spray cannot give you the flu. It takes a couple of weeks for the body to be protected from influenzas after receiving the vaccination. So, there is a possibility that you could contract the flu in that timeframe.

  • It doesn’t really make a difference if I get the flu shot or not.

Again, this is not true. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that vaccinations prevented 79,000 flu hospitalizations and 6.6 million flu-associated illnesses during the influenza season. Complications from the flu can be serious and result in hospitalization, and even death, for some patients. The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated.

  • I am not a candidate for the flu vaccine

With rare exceptions, everyone 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine. Pregnant women, those younger than 5 or older than 65 and people with certain chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for flu-related complications.

  • I don’t need the flu shot because I never get sick

Even if you don’t get sick — or only experience mild illness when you are sick — others might not be as lucky. Infants, the elderly and people with multiple medical conditions or weakened immune systems may not be able to fight off Influenza as well as you do.

Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also helps protect others who may not be able to fight off illness as well as you.

  • I heard the vaccine has side effects

Side effects of flu vaccination are generally mild. If you get the flu shot, you might feel achy or have redness or soreness where the shot was given. If you get the nasal spray vaccine, you could get a stuffy nose or throat irritation.

Talk with your doctor to find out which type of vaccine is right for you and make sure to let him or her know if you get any of these symptoms. Often, we can recommend supportive measures to help you through these.

But most potential side effects of the vaccine are nothing, compared to how bad you’d feel if you had to suffer through the actual flu.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope that this information helped clear up your concerns about having a flu shot this season. If you are not feeling well or had a minor injury and your primary care doctor is not available please remember we are here 7 days a week to help. We have laboratory and x-ray capability at our office, so w can quickly diagnosis your medical issue. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com/ to learn more about all the medical services we offer. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call us at 228 818-5155 7 days a week.

 

Blurry Vision Why?

blurry vision

 

Blurry Vision- Why could your vision be blurry? We at On Call Medical Clinic would like to provide you some information that may be helpful when this occurs.

  • You may need glasses. When your eyeball is shaped more like an egg than round, or your cornea or your lens isn’t curved just so, light can’t focus in the right spot. That can lead to seeing clearly only at certain distances (nearsighted and farsighted) and distorted vision (astigmatism). You can often correct these “refractive errors” with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or minor surgery.
  • Your Eyes may be tired. Have you been staring at a screen or page or focusing on a task for a long time? People tend to blink less often when they’re concentrating like that. And each time you blink, you’re spreading tears across the surface of your eye to keep it lubricated, clean, and refreshed. You may need to remind yourself to blink more often, take breaks, and look around to prevent vision fatigue.
  • Eye Inflammation. Eye tissue may swell because it’s been bruised or something bad was splashed in it. The herpes virus from a cold sore could move to your eye. Sleeping in your contacts, not cleaning them correctly, or not throwing them away when you should can also lead to infections. Immune system diseases that affect other parts of your body, like psoriasis, IBS, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause inflammation in your eye.
  • Low Blood Pressure. Feeling weak and dizzy, too? Your blood pressure might be too low because you’re dehydrated — maybe from too much activity in the hot sun. Things like some medications, heart problems, poor nutrition, and hormone imbalances could also cause low blood pressure and related blurry vision.
  • Fluid build-up around your eyes. That can put pressure on the optic nerve and damage it. If you’re also seeing halos around lights, your eyes are very red and hurt a lot, and you feel queasy, you may have acute angle glaucoma. It develops very quickly, and you could lose your vision within a day if it’s not treated. Open-angle glaucoma is more common, but it doesn’t usually affect your vision at first.
  • Migrate Headaches. About 1/4 of people who have migraines get visual auras, usually before the pain and for less than an hour. These range from shimmering zig-zag lines, sparkles, and flashes to blind spots and tunnel vision. It may seem like you’re looking through water or cracked glass. (You could also have vision symptoms without or after the headache.) If it happens only in one eye, see your doctor in case it’s a serious problem.
  • You may have Cataracts. That’s a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of the eye. They grow slowly, usually in both eyes, after age 55. But younger people, even kids, can get them, too. Colors may seem faded, it may be harder to see at night, and you may be more sensitive to glare. Special glasses and lens coatings can help you see. Surgery can replace the cloudy lens with a man-made one.
  • Or maybe it’s getting Older. Starting around 40, you’ll notice it’s harder to focus on up-close tasks like reading. The clear lens inside your eye isn’t as flexible as younger people’s. It’s a normal part of aging. Your eye doctor can help you with reading glasses, contacts, or surgery.

These are some of the causes of blurred vision that you may be witnessing. This information was obtained from the WebMD website. We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information is helpful. We are here 7 days a week to help when minor illnesses or accidents occur. Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about us and all the services we offer.

  • You may need glasses. When your eyeball is shaped more like an egg than round, or your cornea or your lens isn’t curved just so, light can’t focus in the right spot. That can lead to seeing clearly only at certain distances (nearsighted and farsighted) and distorted vision (astigmatism). You can often correct these “refractive errors” with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or minor surgery.
  • Your Eyes may be tired. Have you been staring at a screen or page or focusing on a task for a long time? People tend to blink less often when they’re concentrating like that. And each time you blink, you’re spreading tears across the surface of your eye to keep it lubricated, clean, and refreshed. You may need to remind yourself to blink more often, take breaks, and look around to prevent vision fatigue.
  • Eye Inflammation. Eye tissue may swell because it’s been bruised or something bad was splashed in it. The herpes virus from a cold sore could move to your eye. Sleeping in your contacts, not cleaning them correctly, or not throwing them away when you should can also lead to infections. Immune system diseases that affect other parts of your body, like psoriasis, IBS, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause inflammation in your eye.
  • Low Blood Pressure. Feeling weak and dizzy, too? Your blood pressure might be too low because you’re dehydrated — maybe from too much activity in the hot sun. Things like some medications, heart problems, poor nutrition, and hormone imbalances could also cause low blood pressure and related blurry vision.
  • Fluid build-up around your eyes. That can put pressure on the optic nerve and damage it. If you’re also seeing halos around lights, your eyes are very red and hurt a lot, and you feel queasy, you may have acute angle glaucoma. It develops very quickly, and you could lose your vision within a day if it’s not treated. Open-angle glaucoma is more common, but it doesn’t usually affect your vision at first.
  • Migrate Headaches. About 1/4 of people who have migraines get visual auras, usually before the pain and for less than an hour. These range from shimmering zig-zag lines, sparkles, and flashes to blind spots and tunnel vision. It may seem like you’re looking through water or cracked glass. (You could also have vision symptoms without or after the headache.) If it happens only in one eye, see your doctor in case it’s a serious problem.
  • You may have Cataracts. That’s a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of the eye. They grow slowly, usually in both eyes, after age 55. But younger people, even kids, can get them, too. Colors may seem faded, it may be harder to see at night, and you may be more sensitive to glare. Special glasses and lens coatings can help you see. Surgery can replace the cloudy lens with a man-made one.
  • Or maybe it’s getting Older. Starting around 40, you’ll notice it’s harder to focus on up-close tasks like reading. The clear lens inside your eye isn’t as flexible as younger people’s. It’s a normal part of aging. Your eye doctor can help you with reading glasses, contacts, or surgery.

These are some of the causes of blurred vision that you may be witnessing. This information was obtained from the WebMD website. We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information is helpful. We are here 7 days a week to help when minor illnesses or accidents occur. Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about us and all the services we offer.

Women Vitamins Health

women vitamins health

Women are always concerned about what are the best women vitamins to take for women’s health needs. Mother Nature’s blueprint isn’t exactly high-tech, and no matter what sophisticated gadgets we use, certain age-old processes are going to continue, both monthly and over the course of a woman’s lifetime. Fortunately, we’ve evolved nutritionally and learned that along with a clean diet, rich in non-starchy veggies and lean protein, the right supplements can help smooth out the bumpy road of life.

Here are three important women vitamins that women should take.

  • B Vitamins

They’re essential for healthy metabolism of sugars and starches and for hormone production. They help turn hormones into active or inactive forms, make sure hormones reach the correct destination within a woman’s body, and help eliminate excess hormones to prevent toxicity.

B vitamins are vital for the production of neurotransmitters. “B vitamins also help combat sugar cravings and fatigue.

You should eat whole grains, lean meat, fish and eggs as well as take a B-complex supplement with 25 to 50 mg of vitamins B1, B2, and B5. Also 1,000 mcg of B12. You should always start your day out with these supplements.

  • Vitamin D3

Low levels of vitamin D, quite prevalent among women. This is linked to greater odds of PMS, death from breast cancer, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, difficult pregnancies, uterine fibroids, rheumatoid arthritis, impaired sugar metabolism, gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart disease, postmenopausal loss of bone and muscle. Optimal liver health is necessary for vitamin D absorption.

You should have your vitamin D levels checked and take the proper supplement for your particular needs.

  • Magnesium

Last magnesium is essential for many processes for a women’s body. Your magnesium can be deleted by too many sodas, caffeine and certain medications. Also, stress can delete this needed vitamin.

You should start with 100 mg daily and increase to 200-800 mg daily. You should cut back if you have loose stools.

If you don’t like the idea of the pill, you can take a bathe in Epsom salts: 2 cups in a warm tub soaking for 15 minutes 3 times a week will work.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope that you enjoyed this information. We are here 7 days a week to help when you have minor injuries or sicknesses. We also preform several skin care services here as well. Please visit our website, www.oncallclinic.com  to learn about all our services.

 

Holiday Safety Is Important

holiday safety is important

 

Holiday Safety-With the holidays here and the colder temperatures, there are steps you should take to stay healthy and safe. By doing so you should be ready to enjoy the holidays. You can brighten the holidays by making your health and safety a priority. Here are some helpful steps to take.

  1. Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
  2. Bundle up to stay dry and warm. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.
  3. Manage stress. Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control.
  4. Get Plenty of Sleep, do your best to avoid that late-night Christmas wrapping.
  5. Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. Choose not to drink and drive and help others do the same.
  6. Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
  7. Fasten seat belts while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to their height, weight, and age. Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip.
  8. Get your vaccinations. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives.
  9. Monitor children. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, and other objects out of children’s reach.
  10. Practice fire safety. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so don’t leave fireplaces, space heaters, food cooking on stoves, or candles unattended. Have an emergency plan and practice it regularly.
  11. Prepare food safely. Remember these simple steps: Wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures and refrigerate foods promptly.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope these tips will help you and your family to have a safe and happy holiday season. Remember when minor accidents or illnesses occur, we at On Call Medical Clinic are here for you 7 days a week. Please visit our website at https://oncallclinic.com to review all the services we offer, including our skincare treatment services/

Dry Skin when the Weather gets Cooler

dry skin

Dry skin when the Weather gets Cooler-The temperatures are dropping, and we are all excited about the Fall Season with not only cooler weather but also the change to show off our Fall wardrobe and enjoy some Football. The weather however changing will bring colder air, harsh winds, and other seasonal factors can lead to issues with your skin.

We at On Call Medical Clinic would like to share some helpful tips that may help you protect you from dry skin with the changing temperatures.

  • Apply skin moisturizers daily to help prevent the colder air from drying out your skin
  • Strong winds can strip the skin of its natural lipids, which is the most important part of the skin barrier and helping the skin from drying out. Wearing a hat and applying skin moisture is important when going out doors when the wind is chilly and strong,
  • The heat in your home can also dry out your skin. A humidifier can help keep moisture in the air.
  • When lighting a fire in your fireplace, remember to stay far away from the glow and don’t sit in front of the fire too long. The heat from the fire can toast your skin, dead skin builds up quicker in dry heat.
  • We all like to take a hot shower when coming in from a cold dry air all day. But hot water is actually bad for your skin. Try using lukewarm water instead so to help prevent your skin from drying out. It is best to keep a shower around 10 minutes.
  • On a cold day, we oven turn to Coffee or Hot Chocolate to warm us up. We probably never realized that it is drying our skin from the inside. Even a Hot Toddy has the same effect, alcohol is a diuretic and has a dehydrating effect on your body. A good solution is to always stay hydrated; with every glass of wine or cup of coffee, it is good to have a glass of water.
  • Winter clothing can also sometimes be an issue. Wearing wool may make you feel warm and cozy, but it can cause irritation and make you skin itchy. Choose fabrics made with cotton or silk that are softer on your skin.
  • We all are aware of the damaging effects of the sun in the Summer, well they still exist in the Winter as well. Also insure that you have the correct sunscreen needed when exposing your skin to the sun’s rays.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope that this information was helpful to you when having dry skin when the weather turns cooler. Please remember that we offer many skin care services like Juvederm and Ultherapy. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com/ to see all the skin care services we offer. Also remember when minor illnesses or accidents occur, we are here 7 days a week to help.