Urgent care holiday hazards

Winter break activity

Do you have a plan for injuries that may require urgent care? The holiday season is upon us and soon there will be winter break for students, along with the cursory snow days. This means skateboards may be replaced with snowboards, sleds, and inner tubes. Leafless trees are calling all climbers, and slippery sidewalks can be a hazard to anyone in the family. During the holidays, we prepare for practically everything, and winter season bumps and bruises are to be expected. When or if it happens, you need to have a plan for walk in and immediate care. It also helps that walk in clinics can help you avoid the tremendous cost of emergency room visits for minor injuries. Consider the following hazards to avoid during the winter season:

1. Unsafe toys and activities

If you wrap gifts, consider removing harmful packaging such as plastic wrap, foam, staples, zip ties, and plastic bags.

2. Careful with candles

We will not bore you with burn statistics here, but remember that candles are a very serious threat for house fire and minor burns during the winter season.

3. Choking hazards

Choking is a serious health hazard for children under the age of 14. Nearly 50 percent of all children who choke on food, require some form of hospitalization.

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. Make Medical Access a part of your plan for those little holiday emergencies for everything from digestive problems to slips and falls. Call them today, or simply walk in, no appointment is needed to receive timely, quality injury treatment.

Urgent Care: Timely tips for a good night’s sleep

Sleep and rest is crucial

Your local urgent care clinicians understand the importance of proper rest and a full night of sleep. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis is crucial for optimal function of the body and mind. Sleep deprivation causes numerous, side effects and health issues that can vary in severity from one individual to the next. For many people, sleep is very difficult to obtain simply because they have trouble falling asleep. The problem begins with our approach to sleep. We all assume that we will just get sleepy and fall asleep whenever our body needs it. However, we live in a world that contains so many distractions and methods of stimulating the brain, we forget that sleep must be planned like many other activities such as cooking, or daily exercise. We hope that we can offer you some sleeping time tips that will allow you to fall asleep easier.

• Pre sleep stretching
• Count your breaths
• Monitor room temperature
• Eliminate of plan for background noise

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 concern over salt intake

Reduce your salt intake

Urgent care physicians must constantly remind patients to monitor their salt intake. Consumption of salt has some health benefits, but excessive salt intake will overcome any benefits that you may have gained. Consider the following facts:

• Traditionally, salt is added to food to make it tastier.
• Salt provides your body with sodium chloride, which is necessary for proper muscle function and regulating fluid levels in the body.
• The average adult should intake 1500 to 2300 milligrams per day.
• Consuming more salt than the maximum daily recommendation is harmful over time.

The three most common health problems that can occur from excessive salt intake are:

1. High blood pressure
2. Fluid retention
3. Cardiovascular disease

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 clinics for the modern family

Reasons to choose immediate care

Urgent care centers have become an important part of the health care system. There are very appropriate reasons for a patient to choose an urgent care walk in clinic over other sources of health care. Consider the following:

• Ideally, it is important for everyone to have a primary care physician that completely understands his or her medical history and the uniqueness of his or her health condition.
• Once you choose a new primary-care doctor, you need to schedule a new-patient visit.
• Sometimes new patient visits are scheduled several weeks or months in the future.
• In the meantime, if you develop an acute problem, you cannot wait several weeks, you need immediate care.
• Even when your doctor can see you on the same day, your health issue may require more care than a doctor’s office can provide.
• You can walk in to an urgent care facility and receive these services without waiting, and at a much more affordable price than at a hospital-based emergency department.

Convenient, affordable 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.

The different types of pink eye

Pink eye needs immediate care

Your local urgent care clinics are ready to deal with the communicable diseases that may come with each new school year. Today we would like to place the focus on conjunctivitis, an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid, commonly known as “pink eye.” If you cannot get an immediate appointment with your doctor, get right down to the closest walk in clinic if you notice any signs or symptoms that you think might be pink eye.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis

• Viral and/or bacterial conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes.
• Viral conjunctivitis usually produces a thin watery discharge.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces a thicker, yellowish-green discharge.
• Both types can result after a severe cold or upper respiratory infection.
• Both types are very contagious and are spread through direct or indirect contact with the eye secretions of someone who carries the infection.
• Either type of infection affects both adults and children. However, bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children than it is in adults.

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 signs and symptoms of dehydration

The constant concern for dehydration

Urgent care doctors understand that as the seasons change, so can our attitudes about our health. For example, more people are cautious about exposing their skin to ultra-violet rays in the summer when it is hot and bright out. Yet, overlook the fact that they must be just as aware of UV exposure on overcast days or on a sunny day when snow is on the ground.

Understanding dehydration

Contrary to common misconception, thirst is not the first sign of dehydration. In fact, by the time your body is craving fluids, you probably already dehydrated. To detect dehydration before it becomes a health problem, look for the following signs:

• Dry mouth
• Eyes that appear sunken
• Dark urine and/or odorous urine
• Decreased urination over a 24 hour period
• Cool, dry skin
• Irritability or malaise
• Dizziness or fatigue
• Increased heart rate
• Tenting of the skin

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 and staff are equipped to meet the demands of walk-in patients and their healthcare needs. Medical Access also presents the most complete Occupational Health Services to serve the needs of the business community. The goal is to help minimize lost work time and keep your employees healthy and working.

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 means that the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service will accept Medical Access one of the select facilities for immigration physicals. Call them today or simply drop in, as no appointment is necessary to receive timely, quality urgent care.

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 tests for diabetic screening

Have you been screened?

Urgent care practitioners see many patients who come in for a particular complaint, and surprisingly discover that they are diabetic. Periodic screening and early diagnosis is essential to delay or avoid the long-term effects of the disease. It is documented that the earlier that diabetes is diagnosed, the better your chances of treating it appropriately, and helping individuals to stay healthy.

Tests for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and prediabetes:

• Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test
• Random blood sugar test
• Fasting blood sugar test
• Oral glucose tolerance test

Nearly 30 million people are afflicted with some form of diabetes, but early diagnosis and development of a diabetes treatment plan will have positive and life changing implications. Careful management of diabetes begins with proper and regular screening. Get peace of mind or get on the road to proper treatment by walking in to a local urgent care clinic for diabetic screening.

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 equipped 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. No appointment is needed to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non-life-threatening health issues.

When to visit an urgent care clinic for a fever

Dealing with a fever

Urgent care clinics are ideally equipped to deal with fever. To best understand fevers, we hope to help you understand its cause, and to know when to seek urgent care. We also hope to help you know what to expect and how to treat it when you encounter one. The average body temperature for a human is 98.6°. However, some individuals can average a little hotter or cooler.

When to see a doctor

In adults, a fever is generally of no concern unless it rises above 103°. However, Of course, if you have a low grade or mild fever, it should not last more than three days. Visit your Germantown urgent care center if your fever is accompanied with the following symptoms:

• Seizure
• Severe headache
• Sore throat
• Skin rashes
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent vomiting

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 equipped 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 a moderate Labor Day weekend

Ending summer injury free

Labor Day holiday weekend is traditionally the last weekend of the summer. Labor Day weekend is always full of celebratory events ranging from backyard barbecues, to beach parties, to corporate fireworks displays. Despite its enigmatic title, Labor Day is all about fun and games. Labor Day usually presents a high number of injuries because generally, we celebrate it outdoors where people are more likely to engage in physical activities. We thought this would be an ideal time to offer some handy tips to help keep you safe this Labor Day weekend. Consider the following:

Use alcohol in moderation

·         Drinking alcohol will influence your decision-making.

·         It can cloud your judgement, decrease your physical coordination, slow your reaction time, and blur your vision.

·         If you plan to consume alcohol, set your limit long before you arrive at the bar or cookout.

·         It is advisable that you drink a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks. This will help keep you hydrated and will slow down your alcohol consumption.

·         If you plan to drink at all, be sure to arrange for a non-drinker to be a designated driver. Operating a motor vehicle even after just one drink can be dangerous.

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-incare 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. The facility is designed 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 necessary to receive timely, quality urgent care for any non-life-threatening health issues.

Urgent care sun safety tips for choosing sunscreen

Hours of fun in the sun

Urgent care clinical staff will tell you that Damage from the sun is cumulative. Over the course of a person’s lifetime, 25 percent of their exposure to the sun occurs between birth and 18 years of age. Skin cancer is one of the few cancers that are almost entirely preventable; if we are aware and proactive.

Choosing the proper sunscreen

• Block the sun’s damaging rays with the use of a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30
• Use sunscreen that offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
• Apply the sunscreen liberally; according to the American Academy of Dermatology, most people apply only half as much sunscreen as they should.
• One ounce generally covers an adult sufficiently, and most children kids need about half of that.
• For a measuring guideline, an ounce of sunscreen should fill the palm of your hand.

The key areas

In addition to the obvious spots such as the arms, legs, and face; be sure to apply a generous amount of sunscreen to the:

• Ears
• Neck
• Backs of legs
• Tops of feet
• Hands

Keep in mind that lips can burn, too. Be sure to carry a lip balm that has an SPF of 15.

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 making hydration a habit

Keeping children hydrated

Urgent care doctors know that children are much more prone to dehydration than adults, yet it seems that the majority of hydration education is geared towards adults. The fact is that children’s bodies do not cool down as efficiently as adult’s bodies, and children are seriously at risk when the temperatures climb this time of the year. When fluids leave the body faster than they are being replaced, severe dehydration is the risk, and can even be a life threatening situation.

Make hydration a habit

• The best way to keep your child hydrated is to make sure that they drink liquids regularly.
• You should offer healthy beverages at every meal and with snacks.
• If your child is involved in organized sports, add some extra hydration in his or her first meal of the day, but start then drinking even the night before.
• Your child should drink the equivalent of a 16 ounce bottle of water about every 2 hours during their game.
• Remember that during activity, your child can lose up to a half-liter of fluid per hour.
• Get your kids to drink at least 5- 9 ounces of water or a sports drink every 20 minutes.

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 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.