Urgent care tips: letting your child choose a helmet

Helmet safety for your child

Urgent care practitioners see lots of kids this time of year. What he hope to do here is to offer some tips to help avoid serious head injuries to kids. Most injuries can be prevented if they wear the right helmet. If you choose to buy a new helmet, it is important for children to wear the right kind of helmet, as well as to wear it properly.

Help them choose their own protection

• One of the most important tips is to get your kids involved in the selection.
• This way you are empowering the older kids by letting them pick out something they like.
• Let them pick out their helmet and let them decorate it.
• Inform them that they must wear a helmet while riding a bike, scooter, and skateboard
• Just remember that the helmet should have a snug but comfortable fit on your child’s head.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are ready to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Call Medical Access today or simply drop in, as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non-life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care fireworks tips for a safe Fourth of July

Fun and fireworks safety

Urgent care clinics are bracing for the busiest day of the year for medical emergencies… the 4^th of July. Even though backyard fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County, and the penalty for possessing them is a hefty fine, there are always a few residents who think it is worth the risk. Unfortunately, we will see a percentage of these individuals because they have been injured while handling fireworks. The safest and smartest way to enjoy fireworks is to go out and view one of the many public displays in the area. We would like to provide you with some quick tips for having a fun and safe 4^th of July weekend.

1.       Only approved fireworks should be discharged.

2.       Remember that even if fireworks are legal in certain areas, they may be temporarily forbidden because of risk of wild fires.

3.       Never let young children handle or light fireworks.

4.       Sparklers are not as safe as you think; they can reach a temperature of 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.

5.       Only light fireworks that are placed on a stable and flat surface.

6.       Make sure that fireworks will discharge clear of any combustible materials, houses, and buildings.

7.       Never hold fireworks in your hand while lighting them.

8.       Keep a bucket of water and/or a hose ready as a precaution against fire.

9.       Never try to relight fireworks that failed to ignite.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown and Montgomery County

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to general healthcare and occupational medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Medical Access one of the select facilities for sports physicals and immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in. No appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for fevers or any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care clinics recognize men’s health month

Men’s Health and weight loss

Urgent care clinics join in the recognition of June as Men’s Health Month, and we think it is time to encourage men to make PREVENTION a PRIORITY. Men live shorter lives than their female counterparts, and astonishingly, many health conditions can be prevented or detected early with regular checkups and physical screening. Regular screenings should include: 

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol level
• Blood glucose level
• Prostate health

Most of these conditions can be reduced or improved just by losing excessive body weight? Perhaps you have been thinking about it for a while, or even have gone on several diets and workout regimens, but those extra pounds just seem to come right back. Consider automotive repair, it is nice to be able to fix your car, but sometimes you must depend upon a professional mechanic because you cannot do it yourself. It is the same with our health. Sometimes we can make the necessary changes ourselves, and sometimes we really need professional help. Drop by our walk-in clinic for a simple health screening, and consider the following tips to help you control weight.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown and Montgomery County

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to general healthcare and occupational medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care or urgent care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Determining when you need urgent care

Listen to your body

When your body presents with pain or abnormal function, chances are that you need urgent care. We seem to know intuitively when our body is trying to tell us something. Fortunately, our body will give us warning signs in the form of minor symptoms or ailments. However, we need to learn symptoms that are truly red flags that mean we could be suffering from a serious underlying problem. Consider the following symptoms. If you have or are experiencing any, immediate medical care is recommended. The great thing about urgent care centers is that you can just walk in and see a medical care specialist without an appointment. Let’s review the serious symptoms that merit urgent care treatment:

• Abdominal pain
• Acute headache
• Shortness of breath and fever
• Dizziness & fainting
• Joint pain

If you are uncertain about abnormal pain or any other ailment, it is best to play it safe and to visit an Urgent Care Centers for attentive, friendly, medical care.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown and Montgomery County

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to general healthcare and occupational medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Medical Access one of the select facilities for sports physicals and immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in. No appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for fevers or any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care: natural versus chemical insect repellents

The importance of insect repellents

In case you have not noticed, biting insects such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are out in full force, sending record numbers of patients into urgent care centers. Symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease range from relatively minor skin irritations, to life-threatening brain inflammation. West Nile Virus can also leave survivors with long-term disabilities including chronic fatigue and even paralysis. This has led to concerns over the best possible insectrepellents. Not only with regard to their effectiveness, but also taking into consideration their possible health hazards.

Natural is not necessarily better

It is completely understandable that many patients associate “natural” products with better health. A great number of patients would rather use mosquitorepellents that are derived from “natural” products such as plant extracts. However, when it comes to mosquito repellents, there is clear evidence that natural repellents may not provide the best outcomes.

·         Field tests and studies have shown that the two most effective repellents are DEET and picaridin.

·         Studies have shown that “natural,” or botanical based repellents are substantially less effective against mosquitoes than DEET or Picaridin.

·         Products that contain citronella, lavender, peppermint and lemon grass oils are often promoted as “DEET-Free” alternatives.

·         Botanical-based repellents do provide effective protection against biting mosquitoes.

·         Botanicals need to be reapplied 3-4 times as often as the lowest dose DEET-based repellent in order to provide comparable protection.

·         Botanical repellents may work just fine for a short stay in the backyard, but not for hours of working in the garden or if you are hiking all day in the woods.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Call Medical Access today; or simply drop in as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care tips for preventing friction blisters

Blister season

This time of year, urgent care clinics treat many patients who did not properly treat blisters. A blister forms when heat or friction causes a separation between layers of skin. This separation causes an air pocket or bubble, which the body fills with fluid as part of its own healing process. Typically the fluid within the blister is clear, but on occasion, there is bleeding and the blister may appear dark red or purple in color.

Prevention tips

·         Wear moisture wicking socks or clothing

·         Make sure your shoes fit well.

·         Pace your activity level and monitor for friction points.

·         Allow shoes to dry out before wearing them.

·         Wear fitted socks, not tube socks.

·         Keep your feet dry.

·         Monitor your exposure to direct sunlight

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs. Call Medical Access today; or simply drop in as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care tips for a cleaner toothbrush

Germs are everywhere

Urgent care clinics can help you prevent summer colds. We do not get a cold from working or playing in wet, cold weather; if that was the case, we would never catch cold in the summer time. Colds and flu are caused by germs that are plentiful enough or strong enough to overwhelm our immune system. There are places in our home that we assume to be clean, yet they are rife with bacteria. These places and items are the most likely culprits when we do catch a summer cold. You can protect yourself and your family by making yourself familiar with all the dirty spots in the house, and keeping them as clean as possible. Consider the toothbrush:

Your toothbrush

• As unpleasant as it sounds, your toothbrush is actually home to thousands of germs.
• Bacteria are likely to grow on your toothbrush every day as it dries in the holder.
• When someone uses the toilet, flushing sends spray of droplets into the air.
• These droplets, are comprised of whatever bacteria and viruses that were discharged into the toilet.
• The droplets will float into the bathroom for as long as two hours after flushing.
• It is recommended that you sanitize your toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide before each use. It is also recommended that you always close the toilet lid before you flush it.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Call Medical Access today; or simply drop in as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care for runners

Urgent care for pain relief

Distance runners can come down with an injury at anytime of the day or night, and some injuries require immediate care. The running season is in full swing, and this is the time of year that a running enthusiast can pick an event for every weekend between now and October. Unfortunately, many doctor’s offices are closed on the weekends, so if you come down with a painful injury on a Saturday night, consider the following injuries that need urgent care for pain relief or to prevent further injury.

• Runner’s knee
• Achilles tendon problems
• Plantar fasciitis

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown and Montgomery County

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to healthcare and preventive medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Call Medical Access today; or simply drop in as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent Care to diagnose fractures and sprains

Activity and ankle sprains

As sure as summer brings sunshine, urgent care doctors know that they will be dealing with sprained ankles. Warm weather means outdoor basketball, hiking, rock climbing, jogging, cycling and a host of activities that place participants at risk for ankle sprains. However, severe ankle sprains require immediate medical treatment in order to rule out a fracture, or in order to treat the severe sprain appropriately.

Is it a sprain or a fracture?

Severe sprains are usually extremely painful and traumatic. In fact, it requires medical assessment by a qualified physician to receive the proper diagnosis. If you injure your ankle and observe or feel the following symptoms, get immediate care from your physician or at an urgent care clinic:

• Your ankle or foot bends at an abnormal angle
• Severe pain along with swelling
• The joint changes color or turns pale
• Numbness in the foot or toes
• You cannot move your ankle
• A popping sound when the injury occurred
• Bruising or swelling
• Inability to put weight on the affected foot
• No improvement after seven days
• Bruising or swelling for longer than 14 days

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown and Montgomery County

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to general healthcare and occupational medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. Medical Access one of the select facilities for sports physicals and immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in. No appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for fevers or any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care: the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion

Urgent care is needed when warm temperatures place people in risk or heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Many people errantly use the terms heat exhaustion and heat stroke interchangeably. The only similarity between the two is that the conditions result from overexposure to the sun. However, when it comes to overexposure, heat exhaustion is less dangerous than heat stroke. Both conditions are caused by the same basic processes. Your body maintains its internal temperature through evaporative cooling, otherwise known as sweating. When you are properly hydrated (have plenty to drink) and your body is functioning properly, your sweat glands push heated fluids through your skin, and the atmosphere wicks away that heat.

Heat exhaustion occurs when your body temperature rises above its normal 98.6-degrees. If you are not properly hydrated, your body does not have the necessary fluids to release heat as sweat. When the body loses its ability to cool itself, body heat climbs above the normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees, but remains less than 106 degrees, the condition is characterized as heat exhaustion.

Explaining the danger of heat stroke

Heat exhaustion can ruin your day and possibly keep you in bed for another; however, heat stroke is an extremely serious condition that requires emergency care. Heat stroke can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. If you observe someone:

• in a hot environment who is not sweating and has reddened skin
• has an internal temperature of more than 106 degrees Fahrenheit

They need to seek emergency care as soon as possible. Heat exhaustion is the far more common than heat stroke, that is why you should know where the nearest urgent care center is, in order to help heat exhaustion victims before heat stroke has a chance to set in.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to general healthcare and occupational medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. In addition to these qualifications, she is also a Civil Surgeon and Medical Review Officer. This designation is granted by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, making Medical Access one of the select facilities for immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in, as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for fevers or any non life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care for insect bites and stings

Summer season is insect season

For most people, insect bites or stings are a minor annoyance that requires some first aid. However, for a small percentage of us, insect stings or bites can be a life-threatening concern. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports that there are at approximately 50 deaths each year in the U.S. due to allergic reactions from insect stings. This information is not passed on to scare you, simply to offer some well-timed tips about insect bites, their diagnosis, and treatment; so that you and your family can have a great time outdoors this summer.

When is an insect bite serious?

In the unfortunate event that you are bitten or stung, pay careful attention to the appearance of the bite. Trust your instincts and do not ignore and the way you are feeling. If your bite or sting only presents with subtle swelling and slight discomfort, then you can reasonably assume that a topical medications such as Benadryl cream will take care of the problem without the need of further medical attention. However, if you start showing a significant allergic reaction, you need to seek immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of a normal, non-allergic reaction to a bee sting

Minor reactions are common with the majority of insect bites or stings such as:

• itching
• hives or rashes
• soreness in the immediate area

It is permissible to treat a bite or sting when one is NOT allergic. In most cases you simply remove the stinger, apply a cold compress or ice, administer an over the counter pain reliever, and apply topical ointments to fight any possible infection and to relieve itching.

Convenient, walk-in care for Germantown, MD

We all want the best for our families, especially when it comes to general healthcare and occupational medicine. Medical Access provides convenient walk-in care as an alternative to long waits in the emergency room. Their friendly staff will carefully and quickly assess your needs and provide the appropriate services, from preventive medicine to x-ray and lab services. Their facilities are fully staffed and equipped in order to meet the demands of their patients and their healthcare needs.

Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer, and has been associated with Medical Access since 1999. She is qualified to treat almost any type of injury or illness that may present itself. In addition to these qualifications, she is also a Civil Surgeon and Medical Review Officer. Call them today or simply drop in, as no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for insect bites or any non life-threatening health issues.