Five Quick Tips to Help You Have a Wonderful Summer

Summer brings all sorts of fun plus a new set of health and safety challenges. 

Here are 5 quick tips to help you, and your family, have a wonderful and safe summer.

1. Always wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets whenever you are on the water.

2. Use water resistant sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin from the sun.

3. Drink lots of cool, non-alcoholic fluids.

4. Don't forget the insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes and ticks.

5. Add a bottle of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer to your beach bag or picnic basket. Use frequently!

Urgent Care Textbooks

Urgent Care centers are opening in increasing numbers across the country, and the Founders of the Urgent Care Association of America recently published two important textbooks to provide much-needed education and insight to the evolving Urgent Care community.

“Lee A. Resnick, M.D. and John Shufeldt, M.D collaborated to fill an ever growing need to establish best practice standards in the urgent care (on demand) industry by creating two comprehensive textbooks, Urgent Care Medicine and Urgent Care Management.  Gathering some of the best minds in the industry to author chapters in their areas of expertise, the textbooks ensure the highest relevance, utility and credibility. The books provide a thorough and quick reference guide in both the application of medical practice and the management of an urgent care center.  Our goal is to create a standardized approach to common urgent care presentations which assist the clinician in providing the highest quality care while accounting for the unique risk and uncertainty posed in an urgent care setting.”

North Atlanta Urgent Care is proud that Drs. Resnick and Shufeldt turned to our own Physician-Owner, Dr. Raul Rodon, to tap his breadth of knowledge for this first-ever Urgent Care Medicine textbook.  Dr. Rodon contributed to two of the first chapters in the book focused on “Neurologic Urgencies.”  Those chapters, “Headache in the Urgent Care” and “Altered Mental Status in the Urgent Care” contain critical information for Urgent Care staff to better understand two of the more common symptoms seen in their centers.

Dr. Rodon is board-certified in emergency medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of North Atlanta Urgent Care. Additionally, Dr. Rodon serves as an Emergency Medicine attending physician at a local trauma center.  Dr. Rodon received his medical degree cum laude from Universidad Del Zulia in Venezuela. He was president of his medical school class in 2000. He completed his medical residency in emergency medicine at Emory University.  In addition to his duties as a physician partner in North Atlanta Urgent Care, Dr. Rodon is also an Instructor for Advanced Trauma Life Support and an active member of the American College of Emergency Physicians.  Prior to opening North Atlanta Urgent Care, Dr. Rodon served as an Emergency Medicine attending physician at a local Metro Atlanta trauma center.

More information on the new Urgent Care textbooks can be found at: http://www.urgentcaretextbooks.com/

Tips On How to Deal With Extremely Cold Weather

The CDC has some great tips on how to deal with extremely cold weather. With temps in the Metro Atlanta area dipping into the single digits and the wind chill making it feel like it is well below zero, the Doctors at North Atlanta Urgent Care want you to be mindful of the risks and symptoms of hypothermia. Extra layers, covering all exposed skin and using feet and hand warmers will help tremendously if you have to be out in the frigid air for any length of time. But, the best defense against the bitter wind is to simply stay indoors.
Check the CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response page.

ER Wait Times Can Be Dangerously Long

This article in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows a very important reason why North Atlanta Urgent Care provides a much-needed service. For those who have life-threatening illnesses or injuries, the ER is the right place to go. For everyone else, North Atlanta Urgent Care should be your first choice because you can see a Board-Certified ER Doctor and be treated faster for a much lower cost than a visit to the ER. And, unlike many other Urgent Cares, which are run by accountants or Wall Street Venture Capitalists, North Atlanta Urgent Care is owned and operated by local, community-minded, Board-Certified ER Doctors. North Atlanta Urgent Care truly is Atlanta's best choice for your urgent healthcare needs.

'Tis the season ... flu season, that is.

With this year's flu season already underway, it's time to take a moment and get a shot that may well keep you out of the hospital or even save your life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last year's vaccine prevented 6.6 million cases of the flu and as many as 80,000 hospitalizations. Vaccination is especially important if you or anyone in your family is at high-risk of experiencing complications from the virus. This includes young children, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease. It also includes people 65 and older.

It is 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.

Along with getting vaccinated, there are other precautions to help your body resist the flu viruses. Avoid contact with people who currently have or recently had the flu. Stay home if you or someone you are caring for gets the flu, to avoid infecting others. Frequent hand washing is also important, throughout the flu season, to keep you and your family as healthy as possible.

Summer Heat Safety

There’s not much need to switch on the weather the past few days; step outside and your body will to respond immediately to sudden increase in temperatures in the Atlanta area.

Several factors affect the body’s ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather -- with temperatures reaching and expecting to continue near the 100 degree mark before cooling slightly. Our North Atlanta Urgent Care physicians want to share the critical importance of keeping your body temperatures within safe levels and sufficiently hydrated. Our NAUC practice has had a few inquiries about the effects of dehydration and we anticipate some cases of heat-related illness.

Those at High Risk

When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly and prevents the body from dissipating the greater heat load. This is exacerbated by other conditions including: obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn and prescription drug and alcohol use. Those participating in outdoor activities, whether they are sport or work-related, need to be closely monitored for symptoms related to extreme heat

North Atlanta Urgent Care's Dr. Sue Kinsella, a tenured runner and athlete, has the following guidance to provide to those who finding being out of doors, or active, under extreme heat conditions: “Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay indoors if at all possible.” She also noted the importance of ozone and its associated contributions to a high heat index. “If the ozone readings are shown in the orange to red category, be advised that this is a warning flag for outdoor activity.”

Centers for Disease Control Tips During Hot Weather

Drink plenty of fluids; don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If your physician has you on controlled water intake, for medical reasons, please consult with them on the amount necessary for your body.
Avoid fluids containing large amounts of sugar, caffeine or alcohol; these can increase dehydration. Also avoid very cold drinks for they can cause stomach cramping.

In situations of heavy sweating, a sports beverage can assist in replacement of lost salt and minerals. For those seeking a natural alternative, here’s a link to high fructose corn syrup-free option: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/thrive-sports-drink/
Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and apply sunscreen liberally and with regularity; it’s effectiveness wanes over time.

Schedule outdoor activities with the activity and temperature in mind. Re-prioritize your day: Grass needs cutting or do you have errands in need of running? Opt for the latter and make use of commercial locations with air conditioning. Schedule lawn work for late evening.

In areas with limited air conditioning: Move to libraries, malls, theaters etc. or take cool showers. With temperatures above the high 90’s, according to the CDC, fans will not prevent heat-related issues. DO NOT leave children, the infirmed, seniors or pets in a hot car or non-cooled, confined spaces including homes without ventilation.

Signs of Heat Illness

Heat illness ranges from mild to severe with chance for death. Know the signs and take all of them seriously; it is better to over compensate than wait until it is a critical emergency.

1. Heat Cramps: Typically affect those undertaking strenuous activity as sweating depletes the body’s mineral content. Low salt levels may be the cause but heat cramps are also indicative of heat exhaustion. They are muscle spasms in the abdomen, arms or legs. If you have heart problems, or are on a low sodium diet, get medical attention. If apparently healthy: stop activity; move to a cool place; drink a replacement beverage; seek medical attention if not subsiding within one hour.

2. Heat Exhaustion: The following are signs of heat exhaustion and warrant attention. If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention if: the symptoms are severe; the victim has heart problems for high blood pressure. Or, if you are unsure appropriate management techniques. Symptoms are the following:

Heavy Sweating – When sweating stops, this is a danger sign.
Paleness
Muscle Cramps
Tiredness
Weakness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting

3. Heat Stroke: When the body can no longer effectively regulate its internal temperature, it will begin to rise rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails and it is unable to cool down properly. According to the CDC, core temperature may rise to 106 degrees, or higher, within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke may cause permanent disability or death if medical emergency treatment is not provided. If you see any of the warning signs noted below, call for medical assistance immediately and begin cooling the victim by:

a. Move them to a shady area.
b. Cool victim rapidly by whatever means available.
c. Monitor body temperature until it drops below 101-102 degrees F.
d. If emergency personnel are delayed, call the emergency room for further instructions.
e. Do not give the victim fluids to drink.

Warning signs include:
Extremely high body temperatures (above 103 orally)
Red, hot and dry skin
Rapid, strong pulse
Throbbing headache
Nausea
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Muscle twitching

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

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

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

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