LEADING A HEALTHIER LIFE THIS FALL
Everything becomes new again in the fall, including your chances for improving your health and supporting your immunity. Our team at Gemini Urgent Care has some easy ways to get you started:
KNOWING YOUR HEALTH RISKS
With all the changes fall brings, now is the perfect time to step up your preventative care — and the first step is knowing your health risks. It’s important to build a family history so you can communicate these conditions to your doctor.
Additionally, you should know what conditions you’re more likely to develop according to your gender and age — such as joint issues, cancer, and other diseases. These conditions commonly affect men and women differently:
- Type 2 diabetes: more common in men at a lower weight compared to women.
- Prostate cancer: increasingly common in men as they age.
- Heart disease: the leading cause of death in women.
- Strokes: are more common in women due to unique risk factors.
WELLNESS VISITS & VACCINATIONS
In addition to knowing your risks, it’s essential to visit your doctor regularly for wellness visits to ensure you’re in optimal health. Your doctor may check your vaccination record after checking your blood pressure, pulse, joint health, height, and weight.
Being vaccinated annually for the seasonal flu (influenza) and COVID-19 can help prevent you from getting sick over the fall and winter. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should also have these vaccines during different stages of life to help prevent getting and spreading certain diseases. These immunizations include:
- Adults aged 19-26 should get vaccinations for Td/Tdap and HPV.
- Adults aged 50 and older should get vaccinations for shingles, pneumococcal polysaccharide, and pneumococcal conjugate.
- Healthcare workers should get vaccinated for hepatitis B, MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella), Varicella (Chickenpox), and Meningococcal.
You should also speak with your child’s pediatrician to keep them on track with their recommended vaccination schedule.
SEEKING TREATMENT FOR YOUR PAIN
When patients are in pain, they often wait too long to seek relief and minimize their symptoms or feel they need immediate care and seek out the best place to help. Acute pain typically happens abruptly, and knowing where to seek the medical attention you need is vital.
Not all signs of pain require emergency treatment, and there are many conditions that we’re able to assist you with. If you have the following injuries, you should visit our urgent care as soon as possible:
- Back pain
- Migraines
- Abdominal pain
- Fractures, sprains, and strains
- Colds and fevers
- Ear and throat infections
- Burns
- Animal Bites
- Lacerations
- Pain caused by a foreign bodies
Acute pain can turn to chronic pain if left untreated, making it essential to get the care you need as soon as possible.
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room Treatment
If your condition is not life-threatening, there are many benefits to seeking care at an urgent care over an emergency center. At Gemini Urgent Care, our state-of-the-art laboratory, X-ray, and CT scanner are not shared by a busy hospital, which allows us to diagnose even serious ailments without delay quickly. This means helping you seek relief faster without waiting around for care.
If we find that your condition needs more intensive care, you can be transferred to an emergency facility. Additionally, if you are experiencing a medical emergency (such as chest pain or fainting), you should call 911 and seek immediate emergency attention.
HELPING YOUR CHILD HAVE A HEALTHY SCHOOL YEAR
There are plenty of new and exciting things for your child to learn at school this year — but before they get there, make sure you work through these tips to ensure they remain safe and healthy:
Follow Your School’s Guidelines
With the COVID-19 pandemic still underway and changing daily, it’s crucial to stay up to date on any changes in your school’s policy. Be sure to know how your school will enforce masks and social distancing between children and know where to look in the event of an update.
Manage Allergies and Other Conditions
Whether your child is moving up to a new school or is returning to the classroom after learning virtually, now is a good time to update their medical history at school. Ensure to provide your school with medication in an emergency, such as an EpiPen, inhaler, or insulin.
Brush Up on Hygiene Habits
From washing their hands to avoiding sharing snacks with their friends, take some time before the school bus arrives to go over hygiene tips with your little one. These habits will help keep them and their peers safe and healthy throughout the school year.
DIET & EXERCISE TIPS
Whether you’re looking to add some fall flavors to your diet or looking to improve your health habits overall, changing your diet and exercise routine are great places to start.
Starting with your diet, remember to take advantage of fall foliage and add plenty of color to your plate through fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid adding ingredients that contain added sugar, salt, or saturated fats.
As far as exercise, adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.
COMPASSIONATE URGENT CARE SERVICES IN HOUSTON
At Gemini Urgent Care, we’re dedicated to providing our community with fast, friendly, high-quality unscheduled acute and chronic medical services in a comfortable setting. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care while providing excellent customer service and personalized attention.
To learn more about our services or help with any questions, contact our team today.