Determining Whether Your Illness or Injuries Need Medical Attention

If you’re feeling under the weather or accidentally hurt yourself, you might be tempted to tough it out and hope you get better on your own. Nobody wants to get to the doctor’s office and be told they overreacted—but on the other hand,if something is really wrong, you don’t want to make it any worse by refusing to seek medical attention. So how do you know when you need medical attention, and when you should just stay home?

One of the most common conundrums is dealing with the cold or flu. These common sicknesses will usually go away on their own in a few days, but in some cases you might have to seek medical attention. A scratchy throat, stuffy nose, or occasional sneeze might be annoying, but it’s nothing to worry about. If you are suffering from an extremely sore throat, a high fever, or a severe cough, you should consider visiting your doctor or an urgent care facility to get help. It’s also a good ideato get help if you can’t drink anything without throwing up. If you are having trouble breathing, can’t stop vomiting, or have an extremely high fever, then you should probably visit an emergency room.

What should you do if you have injured a bone or joint? If you can still move it and the pain dies down quickly, you’re probably all right staying at home with an ice pack. If it becomes swollen, numb, or extremely painful, or if you are unable to move it, you should visit urgent care to determine if you have experienced a sprain or minor fracture. If the bone is obviously broken, you’ll want to go to the ER.

If you have experienced a burn, the severity of the burn will determine whether you need medical attention. A minor first-degree burn will appear red and painful, but can be treated at home over a couple of days. Second degree burns, on the other hand, will usually involve blistering, swelling, and a great deal of pain; you should probably visit urgent care. If the skin is charred, you have a third degree burn. Severe burns like these (or burns that cover a large portion of the body) should be dealt with in the emergency room.

Finally, seek medical care if you experience pain that starts suddenly and has no apparent explanation. In severe cases visit the ER, but for minor ones an urgent care clinic is a good idea. Visit this website to learn more about Illness and Injury Care in San Diego.

How a Physical Exam Can Help You Prevent Illness

Whether you’re someone who gets sick a lot or you haven’t been ill for a while, it’s important that you get regular physical exams. Doing so is a preventative measure that allows you to understand risk factors for certain illnesses and what you can do to prevent getting sick.

What You Can Expect

At a routine physical exam, you can expect the following to help you prevent disease:

1. Immunizations – There are a lot of immunizations available, and making sure you are up to date is a great way to prevent a variety of illnesses. This includes measles, chicken pox, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and many others.
2. Screenings – Depending on your age, there are certain screenings you can have done at a physical exam. There are various cancer screenings such as breast, colon, cervical, prostate and lung that will look for pre-cancerous polyps. Removing them can prevent certain cancers.
3. Vital Tests – Having your vital signs checked on a regular basis will also help you prevent illness. At an exam, you can expect to have your blood pressure, temperature, respiration rate and heart rate checked. If an irregularity is noticed, the doctor can discuss proper measures with you to avoid further complications.

Whether you already see the doctor on a regular basis, or are trying to find ways to prevent illnesses, realize how important a regular exam is. With early detection, many diseases and issues can be prevented. Visit this site to schedule a physical exam in San Diego.

The First Things to Do When a Work Injury Happens

Work injuries can happen anywhere or at any time. While more common in industrial and construction businesses, accidents such as falls and collisions may occur in any work environment. All businesses should take precautions to maintain safe workplaces, but employers must also be aware of what to do in the eventuality of a worker getting injured on the job.

Getting Out of Harm's Way
 

The injured person's well being is always the first concern. If there is any immediate danger in the vicinity, such as malfunctioning equipment, the employee should be moved to somewhere safe. A supervisor should check on them, and they or a trained individual should apply any available first aid.

Emergency Situations
 

If the person is incapacitated or otherwise severely injured, they should be brought to a hospital's emergency room, or else the supervisor should call 911 for an ambulance.

Lesser Injuries
 

For injuries that appear less serious, the employee should be sent to a walk-in clinic or other care facility for evaluation and treatment. If their injury may inhibit their mobility or driving ability they should be escorted by their supervisor or another employee.

Acting quickly when an accident occurs can reduce further issues, and may even save someone's life. See this website for more about workplace injury care in San Diego.

The Top Five Reasons to Choose Pediatric Care for Your Child

As a parent, you want the very best for your child in all aspects of life. When it comes to their health, how do you know which doctor will provide the best care? As you search for the right provider, take these five things concerning pediatricians into consideration.

1. Their training has been specifically focused on children’s issues. Because of this, they know what to look for and what treatment plans will be the most beneficial for a child.
2. They deal solely with children all day long. They are less likely to confuse an adult situation with a pediatric situation because they only deal with children.
3. Their staff members specialize in children’s care. In many cases, the nurses and office personnel enjoy being around children and have chosen to spend their full time jobs in the service of little ones.
4. Being around children all day helps them notice trends in mental, social and physical development. Whether your child is ahead of the game or perhaps a little slow, the doctors can help you understand what to be concerned about and what not to worry over.
5. Their offices are geared towards younger individuals. Their books and magazines are age appropriate and they typically have toys that will entertain the children while they wait.

To make the best decisions for your child, you need to be informed. Take some time to find a pediatrician that will provide the best care for your little ones. Visit this site to get started with pediatric treatment in San Diego.