North Atlanta URGENT CARE

It’s not too late to vaccinate – Get your flu vaccine today

2012-01-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

When you see “Get Your Flu Shot Here” signs and banners after November outside pharmacies and in doctor’s offices, you might think, “Isn’t it too late for that?”

The answer is: “No!”

“Flu season typically peaks in January or February and can last as late as May,” says Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service and Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “We are encouraging people who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated now.”

For millions of people each year, the flu can bring a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and miserable days spent in bed instead of at work or school. However, you may not realize that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized in the United States from flu complications each year.

The flu also can be deadly. Between 1976 and 2007, CDC estimates that annual flu-associated deaths in the United States ranged from a low of about 3,000 people to a high of about 49,000 people.

An annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. It’s available in two forms: shots and a nasal spray. The flu shot options include the regular flu shot, the new intradermal flu shot, and a high-dose flu shot.

While the regular flu shot can be given to just about everyone, the intradermal flu shot is approved for use in adults 18 through 64 years of age, and the high-dose flu shot is for people aged 65 years and older. The nasal spray vaccine is approved only for use in healthy people ages 2 to 49 years who aren’t pregnant.

“We have lower cases of flu in our clinic due to our vaccination of our patient community,” said board certified, emergency medicine physician, Dr. Anthony Ferrara, an owner-physician with North Atlanta Urgent Care in Decatur and Buckhead. “There is no pain involved and it will keep you from getting sick,” he said.

Anyone can get the flu, but some people are at greater risk for serious flu-related complications, like pneumonia, that can lead to hospitalization and even death. For those at greater risk for complications, getting the flu vaccine is especially important. People at greater risk include:

• Children younger than 5 years old, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• Pregnant women
• People with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes (type 1 and 2), or heart and lung disease
• People 65 years and older

It’s also important to get the vaccine if you care for anyone in one or more of these high risk groups, or for babies younger than 6 months because they are too young to get the vaccine. “The flu is not just a cold, said Dr. Pat Meadors, also of NAUC. “You will be sicker for longer and have a higher risk of death. Get your flu shot."

Better Health Resolve in 2012

2012-01-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a believer in annual resolution creation or not, January is a good time to do a bit of healthy living housecleaning. Here's a few items to consider as you enter 2012:

1. Go ahead and schedule any necessary health examinations. Get them on the calendar now and you'll avoid conflicts later.

2. Toss outdated prescriptions; each does have its own shelf life which can affect efficacy.

3. Review immunization schedules. Will you be traveling abroad this year? Some countries have specific, vaccinations required for travel.

4. Create a medical i.d. for both you and your family noting name, address, vital statistics, blood type, emergency contacts and any specific health needs. This can be made (business card size) on your home computer, laminated at your local copy & print store and carried in a wallet, backpack or purse. Medical i.d. "jewelry" is available, at nominal charge, for the active person and should be worn when away from home in case of unforeseen medical emergency or accident.

5. Take more water breaks. Adequate hydration is necessary for optimal body functioning. If you feel thirsty, it's too late.

6. Commit to eating all the colors of the vegetable rainbow.

7. Set healthy sleep patterns.

8. If exercise does not appeal to you, try parking a bit further from your destination; taking the stairs; raking the lawn -- it all counts! 15-20 minutes of daily exercise leads to health improvement.

9. If you're undertaking a new physical fitness regimen, and you're an active older adult, come pay us a visit so you'll have benchmarks from which to mark progress or can receive consult on any potential health concerns.

10. And, as always, don't hesitate to call us with your questions or make a quick visit by to meet with one of our board certified emergency room physicians. Most of all...Enjoy a positive, successful and gratifying new year!

New Flu Virus Found in Limited Cases; CDC Has Developed a Candidate Vaccine

2011-12-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

The following information is designed to bring our patients the most up-to-date and accurate information available on the prevalence and types of influenza virus noted during 2011.

NAUC physicians continue to encourage all patients and their families to receive the current flu vaccine. A recent report of a new swine-related flu strain has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control. This strain is limited in scope and geography and is being actively monitored. The CDC has also proactively developed a candidate vaccine as a health precaution.

Patients and families are urged to continue to guard against the spread of the virus by supporting their health through healthy eating and exercise; routine hand washing; avoiding contact with eyes and mouth and maintaining distance from those who are currently ill.

The following information was released, by the CDC, Dec. 3. For more information, or to have your flu questions answered, don't hesitate to call our office to learn more or to be vaccinated.

CDC Released H3N2 Information

On November 20, 2011, CDC confirmed three cases of swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus infection in children in two counties in Iowa. None of the children were hospitalized, and each has recovered from a mild episode of febrile respiratory illness. All three were in contact with one another, and none had a known recent exposure to swine. No additional human infections with this virus have been detected in Iowa, and no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of this S-OtrH3N2 virus exists; surveillance is ongoing.

Eighteen human infections with swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been identified since 2009. Since July 2011, a total of 10 cases of human infection with S-OtrH3N2 viruses have been identified in the United States, all containing the M gene from the pH1N1 virus. Seven of these 10 cases resulted in mild illness, but three of the infected persons were hospitalized for influenza; all patients have recovered. In all seven earlier cases, exposure to swine was identified in the patient or in a close contact of the patient. The lack of known exposure to swine in the three cases described in this report, combined with the known epidemiologic links, suggests that limited human-to-human transmission of this novel influenza virus might have occurred. Preliminary evidence from the investigation of these cases in Iowa shows no evidence of ongoing transmission among humans. Swine influenza viruses are spread from pig to pig but are not known to spread through human contact with pork or pork products.

Although the vast majority of human infections with animal influenza viruses do not result in human-to-human transmission, each case should be investigated fully to ascertain if these viruses are transmitted among humans and to limit further exposure of humans to infected animals, if infected animals are suspected. Such investigations require close collaboration among state, local, and federal public and animal health officials. As part of routine preparedness measures to counter possible pandemic threats posed by novel influenza viruses in the event that they gain the ability to spread easily from person-to-person, CDC has developed a candidate vaccine virus that could be used to produce a human influenza vaccine against these S-OtrH3N2 viruses and has provided this candidate virus to manufacturers.

The 2011–12 seasonal influenza vaccine is expected to provide limited protection from this virus for adults but none for young children. Additional information about swine influenza is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu

Don’t Let the Summer Heat Take You Down

2011-08-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

by Dr. Anthony Ferrara

We are seeing a number of heat-related illnesses in the clinic with the outdoor temperatures staying between 95 and 100 degrees. Although death from heat stroke is rare, during the Summer, about 175 to 200 people die from heat-related illness each year in the United States. And, if there's a major heat wave, the number of deaths can increase to over 1,500. There are some easy guidelines to follow to stay cool during a heat wave and avoid heat-related illness or catastrophe. Here are some important tips to remember:

1. Schedule physically strenuous activities for cooler times
2. When working outside, take periodic rest breaks in a cool area
3. Relax, slow down, pace yourself – it’s called heat exhaustion for a reason
4. Avoid being outdoors when it’s hot if you can
5. Dress in light, loose, cotton clothing - natural fabrics like cotton are much cooler than most synthetics
6. Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels). You can get painful sunburn even on a cloudy day, so slather on the sunscreen every morning before you start out. Don't forget lips, ears, back of neck.
7. Drink, drink, drink - WATER and Non-Alcoholic drinks!! DON'T wait until you feel thirsty -STAY HYDRATED. In hot weather, as much as 3-4 quarts per day are recommended. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced.
8. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.
9. Never leave children, pets or anyone inside a car when it is hot outside, even if the windows are open.
10. Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
11. Keep cool with fans, air conditioning, and cool baths or showers. If outside, spray yourself (especially your scalp and face) with water. Evaporation and ventilation of air over this water on your body will cool you down. Cold compresses on your neck and underarms also help.

Our blistering heat can be unbearable, but it doesn’t have to take you down. Keeping your cool in during a heat wave is critical if you want to stay out of the Doctor’s office and stay healthy this Summer.

See the report from Fox 5 Atlanta.

Evaluating Ice Injuries

2011-01-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Anthony Ferrara

For most of the Metro Atlanta area, there are only a few lingering patches of snow and ice to remind us of last week’s unplanned weeklong Winter vacation. However, some Atlantans are having to deal with much more than simple ice patches after venturing out last week. The day after the ice storm, at the Clinic, we saw 22 upper extremity fractures, mainly of the wrist and elbow. All of those cases had the same common theme that it was a fracture with pain and swelling from a fall on the ice.
Since Winter is nowhere near over, and chances are good that we could see some more slippery weather, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with handling injuries that occur from falling, regardless of whether the fall occurs on ice or any other surface:

After a fall, DO NOT MOVE UNTIL THESE CHECKS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED:
1. Check for any deformity in the affected area
a. Check for deformity of the bone – does the bone appear to be out of place
b. Check for any breaks in the skin

2. Check for pulses in the extremities to ensure that blood is flowing in the affected area
a. Check fingers and the nail bed color – squeeze the nail bed, and then release pressure – if the color returns to normal in less than 2 seconds, then you have good circulation

3. Check for nerve damage by lack of movement or numbness of the body parts close and far from the affected area – not lack of movement because of pain…lack of movement because it won’t or can’t move

If any of the above checks show a problem, the person should be seen by a medical professional immediately. Call 911 if the person cannot or should not be moved.

If the person can be moved, but the injured area needs to remain immobile, use a splint or a sling. A splint or a sling is an excellent pain reliever and can help keep the injured area stable until you can get to a medical facility for an x-ray and evaluation.

• A splint can be made from common materials such as firm cardboard or a wooden board

• The board should be about 2 inches wide and long enough to span the affected area

• For a wrist or arm injury, you place the injured arm, palm down on top of the board

• The board should be lengthwise along the arm

• Using gauze or other material, wrap the arm and board

• Place the immobile arm in a sling, which can be made from a scarf or other similar material

If all of the above checks show that there is not a bigger problem, and there is pain and swelling:

• Apply ice on the affected every 4 hours for 20 minutes

• Keep the injury elevated and rested

• Use pain relievers in moderation

• See a medical professional if the pain and swelling worsens

Fractures from falling are commonplace at any time, but walking on ice is a sure way to increase your chances of falling and injuring yourself. Whether for fun or necessity, walking around on ice is risky business, regardless of your footwear or athletic ability.

Besides being aware of how to handle these kinds of injuries, the number one piece of advice we can give you is… Stay off the Ice!

Special Hours on Monday, December 27

2010-12-26T09:02:00.000-08:00

We will be open from 9am to 12pm only, on Monday, December 27th. We are closing early so our doctors and staff can be in attendance at the memorial service for Ellen Landsman, our dear friend and a member of the North Atlanta Urgent Care family.

Memorial Service for Ellen Landsman

2010-12-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Services will be held Monday, December 27th, at 2pm at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Rd. Marietta 30062. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Ellen to Hosea Feed The Hungry. H. M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Landsman. Online condolences may be expressed at H.M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill Chapel.

Thoughts and Prayers

2010-12-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

North Atlanta Urgent Care is grieving the sudden loss of our Community Outreach Coordinator, Ellen Landsman. Ellen died in a tragic car accident last night, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family today and in the coming days and weeks. Ellen was a bright light in all of our lives. She worked tirelessly on behalf of our growing clinic, and her sunny disposition, her genuine smile and her thoughtfulness will be missed every day. Please keep the Landsman family and our Urgent Care family in your thoughts and prayers as we cope with this heartbreaking loss.

Staying Healthy This Flu Season ... Just Got A Lot Cheaper

2010-12-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

North Atlanta Urgent Care Offers $5 Flu shots

ATLANTA, Ga. (December 11, 2010)— North Atlanta Urgent Care, a prominent and popular doctor-owned and operated urgent care medical clinic in Northeast Atlanta, is providing inexpensive and easy flu shots for everyone who visits their website, fills out the flu shot form online, prints the form and brings it with them to the clinic. “The CDC has determined that Georgia has been hit first and hardest this flu season, and even though this past week was National Flu Vaccination Week, many people haven’t made the flu shot a priority this year,” says Dr. Anthony Ferrara, one of the Doctor Owners of North Atlanta Urgent Care.

North Atlanta Urgent Care offers their flu shot forms online, at www.nauc.net, so that individuals can read about the flu shot, fill out their form online and print it out to bring it with them to the clinic when they get their flu shot. In addition to the deeply discounted flu shots, North Atlanta Urgent Care has provided over 1,000 free shots to community organizations this year.

Explains Ferrara, “We know that the flu is not a hot topic in the news like it was last year, but the flu vaccine is still important, and we want to make flu shots accessible for everyone. The health of our community is the most important thing to us.”

Flu shots are available 7 days a week inside the clinic.

National Influenza Vaccination Week

2010-12-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FightTheFlu/. Although flu is not a major topic in the news like it was this time last year, Georgia is leading the nation for significant seasonal flu cases, and the CDC is urging everyone to get a flu shot to prevent the spread of flu and to keep Georgians healthier this Winter. More on that Atlanta Journal-Constitution story can be found here: http://www.ajc.com/health/georgia-leads-the-nation-765839.html. With that in mind, North Atlanta Urgent Care is offering discounted flu shots at their clinic. Flu shots are now only $15. To find out more information about the flu shots available at North Atlanta Urgent Care, visit www.nauc.net.

North Atlanta Urgent Care's Dr. Rodon Gains International Attention

2010-07-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Raul Rodon was recently featured in Carta Nautica, a prominent South American magazine. In the article, which focuses on successful people in Venezuela, Dr. Rodon discusses his work here with North Atlanta Urgent Care and Drs. Ferrara and Van Horn.

Raúl Rodón Bracho
“Mi mayor satisfacción, ayudar a un ser humano” Raúl Rodón Bracho, un hombre seguro de sí mismo, un hombre que confía a plenitud en sus capacidades y que se define, como una persona apasionada, entusiasta, que le gustan los retos y le emocionan los desafíos. TEXTOS / MARIEL MONTIEL GALUPPO FOTOGRAFÍAS / CASSANDRA STUYT Durante los años que vivió en Maracaibo, contó con un soporte familiar increíble y con el mejor grupo de amigos. “Creo que muchas de nuestras virtudes y defectos se forman y esculpen en esta etapa de la vida”, agregó Raúl. En su tiempo libre, aprovechaba para ir al Club Náutico, del cual guarda muchos recuerdos. Los interminables Campos de
Verano, los juegos InterClubes, los campeonatos internos de futbolito, las clases de natación con Paco.

“En esa época, estábamos adictos al deporte, el cual me permitió formar amistades muy duraderas, paratoda la vida”, afirmó. Raúl, estudió en la Escuela Bella Vista, pues sus padressiempre quisieron que tuviera varias alternativas para su futuro y bien estaban en lo cierto, pues el hecho de estudiar allí le permitió aprender la lengua que hoy, es piedra angular para lograr desarrollar su proyecto de vida practicando la medicina en los Estados Unidos. “A veces al mirar atrás, me asusta pensar lo correcto que están nuestros padres al saber que es lo mejor para nosotros, sus hijos, aún cuando en ese momento no entendamos y hasta confrontemos sus decisiones” añadió Raúl.

Luego estudió en el Colegio Claret, donde se graduó de bachiller. Siempre a gusto con el deporte, formó
parte del equipo de fútbol y fue presidente del colegio. Luego de graduarse Cumlaude como Médico
Cirujano en la Universidad del Zulia (LUZ), Raúl realizó sus estudios de Post-grado en Medicina de
Emergencia en la Emory University de la ciudad de Atlanta en los Estados Unidos. Para Raúl, estudiar medicina siempre fue una prioridad y contó con importantes personas que lo apoyaron en su camino. “Mi familia fue clave para mi desarrollo profesional, no solo mis padres, sino también mis
hermanas Cristina y Emy y mi abuela Carolina. Siempre conté con ellos, más que su influencia fue su apoyo.

Los padres de Raúl, son médicos, lo cual tuvo cierta influencia, pues según nos comentó, “El hecho de que los dos fueran médicos influyó en cierta manera mi elección de profesión, seria injusto decir que ver a mis padres estudiar y trabajar no tuvo influencia en mí, sin embargo aún hubiera elegido Medicina si ellos tuviesen una profesión de un ramo totalmente distinto a las ciencias médicas”, expresó.

Para Raúl, la medicina es una ciencia, pero a la vez un arte que requiere de imperturbabilidad, ecuanimidad y sabiduría, no se puede concebir un médico netamente técnico o un mero aplicador del conocimiento, sino, requiere una integración de ambos elementos, un profundo sentido de humanismo y sobretodo, de una gran capacidad de decisión frente a las distintas situaciones que se van presentando. No solo se debe ser responsable e integro y tener una buena formación científica, es necesario tener la vocación de servicio, corazón y sentimientos para ayudar, tanto a los pacientes, como a la comunidad donde se vive.

“Una de las cosas que más me atrajo a la medicina, es que, no solo se trata de atender una enfermedad en particular, se trata de atender las necesidades emocionales de los pacientes, no podemos ignorar el sentir de ellos y el de sus familiares. Cada relación medico-paciente es distinta y es importante hacer de cada una de ellas, una experiencia única que nos deja un aprendizaje”, explicó Raúl.
Hoy en día, dedica su tiempo a su clínica, El North Atlanta Urgent Care, un proyecto ambicioso y bastante estudiado en el que no solo Raúl, sino sus socios, confiaron en ellos mismos, demostrándose
que cuando se quiere, se puede. “En la construcción de nuestra clínica encontré a los sospechosos habituales que me apoyarían: mi familia, mis amigos y mis socios.”, comentó.

A Raúl y a sus socios el proyecto de la clínica les tomó 2 años en terminar. Recuerda los días en que estaba de guardia en el hospital y luego sin descanso debía ir a la clínica, pues estaban empezando. Fueron momentos difíciles, pero momentos que lo llenaron de mucho orgullo al haberlos vivido y sobretodo de haberlos superado.

Raúl, puede afirmar que le encanta lo que vive, sin embargo reconoce que algunas veces es difícil y es en esos momentos es cuando recuerda sus satisfacciones. “El llegar a tu casa y saber que marcaste una diferencia en la sociedad, es un sentimiento invaluable. La recompensa de mi trabajo son los agradecimientos de los pacientes y de sus familiares, al revivir todo esto me doy cuenta que sí valió la pena”, explicó.
Actualmente, el y sus socios están enfocados en construir una segunda clínica el próximo año, pero sin lugar a dudas desea alcanzar algunas metas en Venezuela. “Vamos a ver….El entusiasmo y la alegría están allí. No hay nada imposible”, expresó. “Para mí la medicina es más que estudiar muchos años, es mantenerte actualizado día a día, es despertarse temprano y acostarse tarde, es comer rápido y a veces mal, es, estar apartado de tus seres queridos en días importantes. Pero, más que eso, es estar en el momento, es tratar a todos por igual
sin discriminación, es entender que por mucho conocimiento que tengamos, nunca lo sabremos todo. Es llenarte de fuerzas para anunciar a la madre la muerte de su hijo, pero al mismo tiempo es salvar una vida, es marcar una diferencia entre la vida y la muerte. Lo importante de ser médico no esta en que tanto hagamos, o ganamos, sino en cómo lo hagamos, sin perder de vista la conciencia social de quienes somos y a quienes nos debemos. Cada día se nos presentan nuevos obstáculos y al igual que nuestro país Venezuela en nosotros esta la misión de no dejarnos llevar por la apatía y el conformismo y seguir luchando, planteando soluciones y siguiendo hacia adelante con nuestra cabeza en alto. En medicina, a veces curarás, frecuentemente ayudarás y siempre confortarás” expresó Raúl. Quisiera que mis hijos sean lo que quieran ser, si los hace felices, contando con mi apoyo en lo que quieran y que cuando miren su vida retrospectivamente al final de cada día sientan la satisfacción personal de haber alcanzado sus sueños. Una de las preguntas que le hicimos a Raúl, fue si él alguna vez, imaginaría lo exitoso que sería fuera del país que lo vio crecer, y estas…. sus palabras.

Don’t Let the Summer Heat Take You Down

2010-07-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Childhood Obesity Prevention

2010-05-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Anthony Ferrara

I visited my family over the weekend, and as Italians, of course we cook and eat well.

I was proud that everyone enjoyed my mother’s cooking, and she was happy that everyone finished their plates and were full at the end of the meal. But, I also noted that my nephews were enjoying that cooking a bit too much since they are all overweight.

So, I spent the weekend trying to figure out why? Was it a family gene or an unhealthy behavior pattern causing this problem?

After observing everyone for a couple of days, I concluded that it was bad behavior on the part of adults and the children themselves that contributed to the unhealthy eating patterns.The children would get their usual meals, but they were also allowed to snack, before, during and after their meals. When I asked the adults about this, they answered me that the kids were always hungry and needed to be fed. I do agree that growing children need a lot of nutrition, but there was no control over what they would eat, the amounts or what type of snack they would eat. I noted that this pattern of overfeeding, and feeding non-nutritious food to, the children was the same in other families who also had overweight children.

Obesity in some cultures might be a sign of prosperity and health, but in reality it’s not healthy and will lead to many problems later on in life. The more years children go on being overweight, the much harder it is for them to lose it later in life.

The prevention should come from home and the parents on a daily basis. Here are some simple steps that parents and caregivers can take every day to help prevent childhood obesity:

1. Control the portions
2. Provide quality food and healthy options
3. Monitor a child’s overall calorie and fat intake
4. Do not let children get in a pattern of eating anytime or any type of food they want to eat
5. Limit fast food and “junk food” (remember, there is a reason it’s called “junk” food).

We should all work harder to keep America healthy by preventing the diseases that are within our control.

Childhood obesity is one of those preventable diseases, and each of us has a responsibility to our children to teach them how to be healthier in every aspect of their lives.

Haiti Relief Efforts

2010-01-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

The NAUC family extends our heartfelt sympathy to the residents of Port Au Prince and those with loved ones in the Port Au Prince area and beyond. We applaud our country for taking the lead in humanitarian global response to help the people of Haiti. The United States has always been there for other countries at times of need and continues to do so now. NAUC is comitted to contributing to the relief effort. One easy way that you can make a donation to the Haiti Red Cross Relief team is by texting 90999 and typing Haiti. This will result in a $10 charge being added to your cell phone bill. Using this simple way, to make a difference, will provide far reaching and much appreciated emergency aid to the people of Haiti.

Tips for Cold Weather

2010-01-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

At our clinic, we see a lot more patients in severely cold weather for a number of reasons. Many of those patients could avoid potential problems by paying attention to some simple tips in the Winter. Here are some easy rules to follow when the temperature is dropping:

1. Dress warmly, in lots of layers of clothes. Try long underwear beneath pants and a turtleneck underneath a sweater and coat.

2. Avoid cotton clothing – it doesn’t keep you as warm as wool, flannel or other “winter fabrics.” Waterproof pants and jackets are excellent choices for a top layer for snow activities because they don’t let the wetness reach your other clothes.

3. No matter what fabric you choose, or how many layers you pile on, no cold-weather ensemble is complete without warm socks, boots, gloves and a hat. Most of the heat of the body is lost through the scalp, so a hat is very important. Having gloves on will also help avoid heat loss.

4. Make sure to feed your kids a snack before they go outside in really cold weather. The calories will give their bodies energy to stay warm in the cold weather.

5. If you are playing in the snow, watch out for sledding hills that are too steep, are covered with trees or rocks and those that are too close to busy roads. Sledding accidents can cause broken bones, head and neck trauma and internal bleeding.

6. Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards with indoor heaters.

7. Teach children the warning signs for frostbite and frostnip. Kids can sometimes ignore the warning signs when they’re having fun.
a. Frostbite occurs mostly on fingers, toes, ears, noses and cheeks. The area will become very cold and turn white or yellowish-gray. If you notice frostbite, go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
b. Frostnip is an early warning sign of frostbite that leaves the skin white and numb. If you notice this, remove any wet clothing and immerse effected body parts in warm (not hot!) water until sensation returns. Never use hot water!

8. Going on a road trip into potential snow? Make sure you pack a first-aid kit, as well as extra blankets and gloves for everyone in the car.

9. Whether or not you’re going out, make sure you wash your hands regularly throughout the winter. Respiratory ailments and viruses, like the flu, spread easily in the winter because people stay indoors – in much closer contact than the rest of the year.

What You Need to Know About Narcotics

2009-07-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

by Dr. Anthony Ferrara

As of this entry, no one is sure as to the exact cause of singer Michael Jackson's death. A narcotics overdose has been mentioned as a possible cause. Many of his friends have come out and said he had a narcotics addiction for years. Some media reports state that he stopped breathing after an injection of a narcotic called Demerol. Some reports point to the powerful sedative Diprivan that was found at Jackson's home. This suggests that narcotics could have been the cause of death since cardiac and respiratory arrest are common side effects of all narcotics. If this was the case, why the reversal agent antidote called Narcan was not given immediately has not been explained yet. Michael Jackson's Doctors, friends, family and associates will have a lot of questions to answer in the coming weeks and months.

What is the point of all of this talk about Michael Jackson and Narcotics?

Narcotics addiction is a major medical problem worldwide. According to U.S. statistics, on the same day that Michael Jackson died, there were around 500 people in our country's morgues who died due to narcotics abuse. Narcotics cause death by eating away at the muscles in the body such as the heart. Eventually it leads to cardiac arrest after years of use. There is also a fine line between the proper dose and respiratory arrest. In an altered mind, a dosage mistake is not that difficult to make.

The World Health Organization lists narcotics addiction as the number one health concern in modern industrialized nations. It's a problem that has been created by physicians. Yes, you read that correctly. No one sets out to get purposely addicted to prescription drugs. It starts out innocently. After a surgery or injury, the patient is prescribed appropriate narcotics for their pain. However, the dangers of addiction are typically not communicated effectively to the patient so that they can be more aware, and the dependence is not properly monitored early on in the course of treatment by medical personnel.

You may be surprised to know that studies have shown that it takes about one day of being on Morphine, Dilaudid, or Demerol IV for the mind to get dependent on the narcotic. It takes as few as 20 tablets (taken consistently every 4 hours) of oral narcotics (such as Vicoden or Percoset) to become dependent. The dependence masks itself in the form of pain, meaning that when the narcotic effect has run out, the patient will experience pain. Pain is the major withdrawal symptom of narcotics.

This is how the patient gets hooked on the drug. The patient comes in for a follow-up and reports pain. The doctor investigates the pain and tries to address it by taking care of the complication that could be a cause or by simply prescribing more pain pills. However, neither the patient nor the doctor address the possibility of narcotic withdrawal as being the cause of the pain. The patient then leaves with a prescription of narcotics, and the cycle of pain and dependence continues.

Let me be clear, narcotics are the number one cause of pain. Yes, initially they are good drugs to relieve the pain in acute situations and in cancer patients. However, they soon are the promoter of the pain in chronic use. The mind communicates the need for the narcotics by transmitting the sensation of pain. An analogy to this is a baby crying to communicate that he or she is hungry. I firmly believe that, other than in cancer patients, chronic pain is caused by extended narcotics use. It's interesting that all patients who have had chronic pain for years, magically and miraculously had total pain relief once the narcotics were discontinued and had full detoxification.

At North Atlanta Urgent Care, we are committed to comforting and treating acute pain. However, we do not treat chronic pain, refill narcotics or benzodiazepines (i.e. Valium, Xanax) of chronic users because we do not want to further harm the patient. In fact, we encourage these patients to seek medical help to treat their illness and their dependence on these drugs. Also, our doctors never prescribe narcotics, for short-term and acute pain relief, in amounts that could cause dependence issues.

If there is anything I can teach you from all of this, I hope that you remain mindful of how narcotics use can affect you and remind you to discuss this with your healthcare provider if you have chronic pain and are on narcotics. It is very likely that your pain is being caused by the narcotics withdrawal cycle. This should always be a consideration by you and your provider. Unfortunately, if you do not bring it up, most physicians will not either.

So many people surrounded and supported Michael Jackson over the course of his life. So many Doctors treated him for various procedures and ailments. If he did die of complications from narcotics use, clearly his death could have been prevented.

Wound Care - First Steps: Soap and water

2009-07-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

by: Dr. Anthony Ferrara

Last week, a young man came to NAUC for treatment of a laceration. He had cut his leg while working in his yard. He stated that he had immediately put pressure on the wound, and then went inside, got into his shower and cleaned it, using soap and shower pressured water. I told him "bravo". He did everything correct for proper wound care.

As summer comes around, people experience more wounds. Fortunately, most are minor scrapes. The key to all wound care is infection prevention. We at NAUC recommend to apply pressure first if there is any bleeding. Second, clean the wound as soon as possible. Use soap and fast running water, from a shower head or faucet. Antibacterial or plain soap will work. Despite what you may have heard in the past, the lowest infection rate of wounds happens when cleaned with soap and water. Yes, plain tap water is perfect! (The key is running the water at a fast rate, since this creates enough pressure to wash the germs away.) Hydrogen peroxide does not clean a wound as well as good old fashioned soap and water. In fact, it actually kills the cells that allow the tissue to heal best. After you have thoroughly washed the injured area, you will need to apply an antibiotic ointment and a dressing, such as a band-aid. This routine should occur daily, until the wound is healed.

If you are uncertain as to whether stitches are needed, see a medical professional as soon as possible, after the wound has been cleaned.

Signs of infection, one should look for daily, are pain, redness, swelling, warmth over the wound, and fever. Should you see any of these signs, seek immediate medical attention.

We welcome your questions.
Send email to physicians@nauc.net

Summer Pool Safety

2009-06-05T11:02:00.001-07:00

When Memorial day comes around, the Summer activities start. One major Summer activity for families in the South is playing in the water. Whether that water is a pool, a waterpark, a river or a lake, there are many safety issues for parents to take into consideration. Common sense prevails when taking your child(ren) swimming:

* First of all teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in water.

* Never leave your children alone in or near the water, even for a moment. A recent pool drowning occurred while adults were by the pool and not paying attention to the children in the pool.

* Practice "touch" supervision with children younger than 5 years in the water. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.

* If you have a pool or are visiting a house with a pool, there should be a fence to separate the house from the pool. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool.

* Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.

* After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.

* A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) may add to the protection of your children but should not be used in place of the fence between your house and the pool. Even fencing around your pool and using a power safety cover will not prevent all drownings.

* Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool. Know where those items are when you are visiting another pool or waterpark.

* Learn CPR.

* Always use approved life vests.

Again, common sense and caution are the important factors in your Summer water fun. As ER Doctors, your health and safety is very important to us. So, enjoy your Summer activities, and be safe.

Understanding the News about Swine Flu - Dr. Anthony Ferrara

2009-04-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Swine Flu has become a major topic on the news in the last week. So, I wanted to make sure that our patients and community members have some good and useful information on it.

The main point to make is that so far, it is well contained in the US, the majority of people infected by it are doing well, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are on top of it along with state and local health agencies.

Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person also. The CDC has determined that this version of Swine Flu is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people. In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation. There have been under 20 confirmed cases so far in the U.S.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. These symptoms come on fairly quickly within a few hours. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with this strain of Swine Flu as well. Like seasonal flu, Swine Flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. Like seasonal flu, Swine Flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through the coughing or sneezing of the airborne virus particle from infected people.

The CDC recommends the use of Oseltamivir ( Tamiflu) or Zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these Swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

People with Swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following the onset of illness. Children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against Swine Flu.

There are actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Regardless of what's happening in the news around the world, you should take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* See your Doctor regularly and make sure you get a Flu shot in the Fall to help fight off typical Human influenza.

If you get sick with influenza, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

If you become sick with any illness and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care immediately.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting

All of the news about Swine Flu can leave you feeling nervous or overwhelmed. The best thing you can ever do is keep yourself educated, keep you and your family healthy and rest assured that your medical community is looking out for you.

Pelvis Injuries, X-Rays and CT Scans by Dr. Anthony Ferrara

2009-04-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

We had two cases last week that showed how pelvic fractures can be missed by simple X-Rays. Both patients had unfortunate accidents where they fell to the ground. They were able to get up but had pain when they walked. They were able to bear weight but complained of hip pain. X-Rays showed no obvious fractures. So, we continued to investigate by ordering a pelvis CT or CAT Scan. In both cases, the CT scan revealed hair line fractures. By making this diagnosis by CT scan, we were able to get the patients the correct physical therapy to treat their injuries effectively and alleviate their pain. I saw one of those patients yesterday, and she was already walking with a walker with no hip pain. Thanks to the CT scan, next week she should be walking with no walker and no hip pain.

Seasonal Allergies in Disguise - Dr. Anthony Ferrara

2009-03-21T07:40:00.001-07:00

I have been seeing many patients who are coming in with their yearly sinus infection and leaving North Atlanta Urgent Care with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies). Most of these patients had no fever, sinus pain, or enlarged lymph nodes. While I was examining them, they all were sniffling and had clear nasal discharge. They also complained of watery eyes, and sneezing. These symptoms are indicative of allergic rhinitis. Antibiotics are not the answer for these symptoms since it's not an infection causing the problem but pollen in the air in the spring instead. Atlanta is notorious for seasonal allergies. I have noted that it takes someone who has moved into the Atlanta Metro area about 3 to 12 yrs to develop the allergies. The good news is that their allergy symptoms can easily be treated with prescription steroids, a good nasal spray (recently, a pharmaceutical company representative pointed out how we can get these free for our patients) and a good anti-allergy medication (many over the counter antihistamines don't help with this issue). I encourage everyone in the Atlanta area, who thinks they are having their yearly sinus infection, to talk to a Doctor about seasonal allergies.

Allergy Season is Here - Dr. Anthony Ferrara

2009-03-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

I noted that a number of patients are coming in with seasonal allergy symptoms. I would like to encourage those with seasonal allergies to make sure that they change their clothes after coming in from outside, keep their nasal passages clean with a saline rinse and wash their face and hands frequently to prevent allergens from lingering on skin and clothing. Although these measures won't prevent seasonal allergies, they can help lessen your ongoing exposure to them.