When Should I Go To The Emergency Room
You should visit the ER if you have a severe attack that doesnt get better with a rescue inhaler or nebulizer treatment. In the event of a serious asthma attack, you wont be able to talk normally. You might not be able to walk normally, either. In some cases, youll notice your fingernails or lips are turning blue. All of these are signs of a life-threatening situation that needs immediate emergency care.
How Do You Know If You Have Asthma
Youre wheezing and coughing. Is it Asthma? Allergies? Viral Bronchitis? It can be hard to know sometimes. But thats why were here.
Asthma is a chronic illness characterized by episodes of abrupt worsening of symptoms caused by inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes. People with the disease experience asthma symptoms when the airways tighten, inflame, or fill with mucus.
Classic asthma symptoms can vary widely between people and asthma attacks. For this reason, it can be difficult to know if what youre experiencing is really asthma.
Sinus Infection Home Remedies And Prevention
Along with treatment, specific home remedies can help you improve faster and keep the symptoms at a tolerable level for the duration that the sinus infection exists. Also, you can even give yourself a better chance to prevent obtaining an acute sinus infection altogether with proper lifestyle changes in place.
For home remedies, rest and eating healthy is the best way to recover promptly. When the body is fighting off a sinus infection, or any infection for that matter, it needs proper rest and nutrients to do so. With that said, there are several quick, easy things to do while you rest, such as:
- Stay hydrated
- Clean out your nasal passageway
- Elevate your head while sleeping
- Place a humidifier in your home
- Take hot showers
Ultimately, it comes down to the focus on relieving the pressure built up in your sinuses. The best way to do that is to keep your nasal passageway from getting clogged. Using a warm compress, placing a humidifier in your home and elevating your head while resting is all excellent tactic to implement to keep the nasal passageway clear and breathing easily.
So how do you prevent a sinus infection from occurring in the first place? While it is not always possible to avoid, there are precautions you can take to help minimize your risk, including:
- Receiving a flu shot
- Keeping your distance from others who are sick
- Planning for an allergy attack
- Practice good hygiene
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Appendicitis: Early Signs & Urgent Care Treatment
It is a medical emergency that requires urgent care with surgical treatment at the walk-in clinics. If left untreated, the appendix can burst or perforate, discharging infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. Although appendicitis can happen at any age, it is most common among older children and adults between ages 10 and 30.
Asthma Cancer Symptoms Causes And Treatment
Symptoms
Urgent care is appropriate for people with mild to moderate asthma symptoms, such as:
- Bothersome coughing or wheezing
- Mild chest tightness or shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping due to shortness of breath or coughing
These symptoms may worsen in cold weather, during exercise or when exposed to irritants like pollen or certain chemicals.
Emergency asthma treatment is sometimes necessary. Call 911 immediately if you or a loved one are experiencing signs of severe asthma, which may include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, even while at rest
- Little to no improvement in symptoms after using a rescue inhaler
Causes
Multiple genetic and environmental factors can lead to asthma, even though its root cause isnt fully understood. Substances, behaviors and illnesses that cause asthma symptoms are known as triggers. Each persons asthma triggers will vary, but common triggers include: Stress and anxiety
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Come To Fast Track Urgent Care For Asthma Diagnosis & Treatment In Silver Spring & Kensington
When you have urgent care needs, you want high-quality, compassionate medical care in an innovative clinic. We offer these benefits at Fast Track Urgent Care. With convenient locations in Silver Spring and Kensington, were able to serve all of Montgomery County, MD. Let our experienced staff diagnose your breathing problems and begin treatment for asthma if necessary.
Stop by today without an appointment, or you can call Fast Track Urgent Care at 800-417-1164 or contact us online to learn more.
The Role Of Asthma Action Plans
An Asthma Action Plan can help. It has green , yellow , and red zones that help you know how to treat your asthma. You can and fill it out with your doctor.
With my kids, we learned that sometimes it is best to let the hospital take over medical care for our kids. They are fully trained and have all of the equipment to monitor them.
For those of you with small children that have asthma, pay close attention to their symptoms! Have a plan of what to do if your kids have any of the symptoms listed above â whether to call your doctor, call 911 or head to the hospital.
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Causes Of Mucus Production
- Aspiration Inhaling foreign substances like water, dust, powder, pollen, or in the case of babies, meconium can lead to excessive mucus production
- Choking Choking on food, medicine or beverages can people with the condition to experience mucus product that can lead to an asthma attack
- Allergies Seasonal or chronic allergies often encourages excessive mucus to build in the throats, noses, and airways of people who have the disease
Take Control Of Your Allergies Visit A Convenientmd Location In Nh Me Or Ma Today
At ConvenientMD, we understand just how much of a struggle it can be to deal with both seasonal and other types of allergies. All of our locations are staffed with knowledgeable medical professionals who are ready to help you take control over your allergies. Dont let allergies ruin your daywere open seven days a week, so just stop into one of our clinics in Maine, New Hampshire or Massachusetts without ever needing an appointment.
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Can I Go To Urgent Care For Allergies In 2018
For some people, spring is a lovely time. The frigid temperatures of winter are fading and, in their place, blooming flowers and sunshine abound. Great, right? Unless you have seasonal allergies, that is.
If pollen makes you sneeze and ragweed makes you itch, spring may not be as pleasant for you. In fact, the constant exposure to allergens may wreak havoc on your health. Youre not alone. The Centers for Disease Control found that about 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies. Researchers at The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology found that allergies are increasing and affect about 30% of adults and 40% of children. In the last year, over 8% of the U.S. population was diagnosed with hay fever .
As with all medical conditions, prevention is the best way to protect yourself. With 2018 allergy season already upon us, you may be wondering: can I go to urgent care for my allergies? Keep reading to find out more information about the 2018 spring allergy season, symptoms of seasonal allergies, and which allergy symptoms and reactions you can be treated for at urgent care.
What Services Does Urgent Care Provide
The role urgent care plays in your community is very significant. Just as emergency care handles emergency health situations and primary care handles general health, urgent care handles urgent but minor health situations like common illnesses and injuries. But urgent care does more than that they also provide many of the same primary care services your physician provides, including immunizations and physical exams. X-rays and lab testing can be done at urgent care too. Workers comp, motor vehicle accident claims, allergy care, and any other kind of non-emergency care can be found at urgent care.
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An Urgent Care Treats A Variety Of Conditions Such As Minor Illnesses & Injuries Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries Seasonal Allergies Colds Stds Sprains Strains And Minor Breaks Our Urgent Care Also Provides Services Such As Physical Exams Laboratory Services Occupational Medicine Family Practice Dot & Sports Physicals Flu Vaccinations And Pediatric Urgent Care Call Us Or Simply Walk In
Its really nice to have an urgent care clinic in your community. You can go there for any common health condition you have or even for a physical exam. The clinic will help keep you, your family, and the community healthy and happy.
Health conditions can affect individuals, families, and even entire communities, so its important for us all to stay healthy. To help with this in your community, Quick Family Urgent Care provides treatments for any common conditions. Heres what we can do to help!
When Should You See A Dr For Asthma
While it is essential to see your doctor at least once a year if you have asthma, it is not always clear whether you should see a doctor for specific symptoms you may be experiencing! For your convenience, here are a few signs to look out for which indicate that you should seek the medical attention of a doctor as soon as possible:
- Abnormal wheezing whenever you breathe in or out
- Difficulty performing day-to-day tasks, such as cooking, laundry, or taking out the garbage
- Dizziness, faintness, or weakness
- Persistent that cough that won’t go away
- Wheezing that worsens after you have taken medication and given time for it to start working
While the above are signs that an asthma attack may be imminent, the following are symptoms that an asthma attack has already begun, for which you must receive medical attention immediately, either at an urgent care clinic or the emergency room:
- Bluish color in the face, lips, or nails
- Collapsing or fainting
- Rapid breathing, coughing, or wheezing
- Straining chest muscles while trying to breathe
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Whats An Asthma Attack
When you breathe normally, muscles around your airways are relaxed, letting air move easily. During an asthma attack, three things can happen:
- Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways constrict . When they tighten, it makes the airways narrow. Air cannot flow freely through constricted airways.
- Inflammation: The airway linings become swollen. Swollen airways dont let as much air in or out of the lungs.
- Mucus production: During the attack, your body creates more mucus. This thick mucus clogs airways.
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See If There Are Any Ways To Make Your Medication Cheaper
Once you have a prescription, Dr. Chinthrajah recommends looking up drug assistance programs that help the uninsured and underinsured. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America lists examples here, including toll-free numbers to call. I know its hard, and you might spend hours on the phone, but it is worth it, she says. You can also compare drug prices on sites like Costco and GoodRxthose are just two examples. Often there are coupons that can make the drugs cheaper.
Another website to try is the online pharmacy Honeybee Health, which tries to sell medication at close-to-wholesale prices and, as a result, doesnt accept insurance. Many hospitals also offer ways to get subsidized medications through their pharmacies, Dr. Cohn says.
Once you have the medication , the CDC advises that you take it exactly as prescribed. That includes not substituting long-term medication for rescue medication, or vice versa.
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First See If You Can Get A Prescription For Asthma Medication
The most effective way for people with asthma to avoid the emergency room is by managing the condition with medication so it doesnt escalate to emergency status. Experts are even recommending stocking up on a three-month supply if you can. Even if its hard for you to get affordable asthma medication in normal times, it may be somewhat more accessible during the pandemic.
Health care professionals are doing their best right now to help make essential medications more accessible so we can keep people out of the E.R., Dr. Chinthrajah says. As Dr. Chinthrajah points out, in early April, the Food and Drug Administration approved a generic form of an inhaler to help make this in-demand medication easier for people to get.
So the first thing you need is a prescription for asthma medication. You may be able to get one online. The telemedicine service Galileo has waived its fees for people who need prescriptions in hard-hit COVID-19 areas like California, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington State.
You could also try calling a local pharmacy. Dr. Cohn explains that many pharmacists are more likely to refill a past prescription for asthma medication during the pandemic, or at least coordinate with a doctors office to make it happen. Everything is very different right now, she says.
What Are Symptoms Of Seasonal Allergies
If you have hay fever, seasonal allergy symptoms can feel a lot like symptoms of a cold. A tip for telling the difference is to note if you have a fever or body aches. Since allergies dont cause either of these symptoms, you probably have a cold.
Seasonal allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common seasonal allergy symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Tight chest or pressure in the chest
- Sweating
- Difficulty talking
Since seasonal allergies are typically inhaled, they can be particularly problematic for people with asthma. If you have asthma, its a good idea to have a rescue inhaler ready to use during allergy season.
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Take A Shower After Spending Time Outside
Obviously, you cant avoid going outside completely. If you do spend an extended period of time outdoors, take a shower as soon as you can after coming inside. If you cant take one right away, make sure to do so before you get in bed. Rinsing pollen off your skin and hair can make a big difference in how you feel.
Assessment And Management Of Asthma Exacerbation In Urgent Care: Part 2
Urgent message: The second part in a two-part series offers expert guidance on short and long-term management of the disease in the urgent care setting through the use of pharmacotherapy, protocols for treatment, and a written asthma action plan at discharge. BRADLEY M. TURNER MD, MPH, MHA, FCAP, FASCP and JANET M. WILLIAMS, MD, FACEP
Introduction Once the suspicion of an asthma exacerbation exists, short term management is focused on reducing the severity of the exacerbation, with the hopes of discharging the patient home for outpatient follow-up. This can be achieved through pharmacotherapy that reduces inflammation and relaxes the airway musculature, in hopes of reversing airflow obstruction. Long-term management is focused on prevention of future exacerbations through pharmacotherapy and education at discharge. Understanding the rationale behind short and long-term management of a suspected asthma exacerbation will lead to more efficient assessment and effective discharge of patients presenting to an urgent care center.
Pharmacotherapy Pharmacotherapy for asthma generally can be divided into quick-relief short-term medications , and long-term controller medications . Complementary and alternative medications comprise another fast-growing subset of pharmacotherapy . In the urgent care setting, quick relief medications are the mainstay of treatment.
References
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Treatment Options To Control Asthma More Effectively
Asthma is a long-term, chronic respiratory disease, caused by the chronic inflammation of the airways. It narrows and inflames your airways which produces extra mucus, causing difficulty in breathing. This condition can be controlled with effective asthma treatment.
Read more to learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of asthma.
When To Seek Urgent Care For A Sinus Infection
Most minor sinus infections get better on their own without the need for medical treatment. More severe sinus infections, however, require urgent care.
First and most importantly, it is important to seek urgent care for a sinus infection if the symptoms begin to worsen or last for an extended amount of time. In the event you have severe trouble breathing due to your sinus infection, then be sure to come in for a visit as soon as possible to have your sinuses cleared out. Also, keep a close eye on your symptoms and seek medical attention if they do not improve after a week.
Additionally, urgent care is highly encouraged if your child develops a sinus infection as they have less of an ability to fight off the infection quickly. Also, it can be much more challenging to diagnose the cause of the sinus inflammation in children. In some cases, the reason could be due to an underlying allergy that you were not aware about.
When you visit, expect us to thoroughly examine you or your childs symptoms and document any information that is relevant to make a proper diagnosis. It may be helpful for you and your child to make a list of all of the symptoms that you or your child has been experiencing, any medications that are currently being taken and any allergies that may exist. Also, consider any questions you may want to ask the doctor at your visit.
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What To Take With You When Going To Hospital With Asthma
If youre at home when you have an asthma emergency and need to go to hospital, it would ideally help if you could take a few things with you. These include:
- Your asthma inhalers
- Your spacer, if you use one
- Any other medications you currently take, for your asthma and other conditions
- A copy of your asthma action plan this will help medics see your asthma triggers, your peak flow and other relevant
Taking these items with you will help the medics to treat you. However, they are not essential, so dont worry if youre not able to take them with you.