Orange Urgent Care

What is Swimmer's Ear?

A condition in which the outer ear canal becomes infected, also known as swimmer's ear. Located outside the head, the outer ear canal extends from the eardrum.

A swimmer's ear is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by bacteria called Otitis Externa. Often, the infection is caused by water that stays in the ear after swimming. By creating a moist environment, bacteria can grow.

At first, swimmer's ear, also known as otitis externa, presents with mild symptoms. They can get worse if the infection isn't treated or spreads.

Symptoms may include:
Redness of the outer ear
An itch in the ear
Pain, often when touching or wiggling your earlobe
Pus draining from your ear. This may be yellow or yellow-green, and it may smell.
Swollen glands in your neck
Swollen ear canal
Muffled hearing or hearing loss
A full or plugged-up feeling in the ear
Fever

At our urgent care we can prescribe ear drops and/or antibiotics if an infection is present after assessment. Best practices are to keep the ear dry and when swimming wear ear plugs to prevent water from entering the ear.

Because vacations and summer gatherings are popular in the warm seasons, we would like to share with you a few safety tips about “hot tub rash” from the CDC.

Hot Tub Rash Safety Tips:
– Do not submerge your head in a hot tub.
– Remove your swimsuit and shower with soap after after getting out of the water.
– Wash your swimsuit after using it.
– Do not get in a hot tub if you see a green film or water discoloration.
– Use test strips to check the water in the hot tub/spa or pool yourself for adequate disinfectant level and pH.

Above all, it’s important to remember if contaminated water stays on someone’s skin for a long time, it can cause “hot tub rash” (pseudomonas folliculitis). The rash usually appears a few days after you sat in a poorly maintained hot tub/spa, but it can also appear a few days after you swam in a lake or poorly maintained pool. For these reasons, avoid swimming or bathing in water if you are unclear about its cleanliness.

Because this skin reaction can affect people of all ages, it is important to remain vigilant.

Hot Tub Rash Symptoms:
– An itchy, red, and bumpy rash
– Pus-filled blisters on chest, underarms, groin, or around hair follicles
– Red bumps or pain in ears if the head was submerged in contaminated water

Generally speaking, mild rashes may clear up in a few days without medical treatment. In the event that you believe you have hot tub rash, you should seek evaluation by a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment. Especially with rashes that look like they are getting worse. With this in mind, we encourage you to visit our Urgent Care Center to be evaluated by our highly skilled and experienced medical staff.

We treat a wide range of injuries at our urgent care center. You never need an appointment for care, but you can reserve your spot on our website.

When you are injured make sure you seek care quickly. Injuries that do not heal properly can cause long term issues and require further care.

Did you know we provide:
Stitches
Bandaging
Wound Care
Sports Injury Care
Bruises
Minor Burns
Bug Bites
Gelfoam Dressing
And Much More!

We provide x-rays on site at our urgent care. This eliminates the the need to visit another facility for an x-ray which saves you time and money. We can diagnose and assess many injuries and illnesses with x-rays.

Please note: X-rays are only available when a Physician and/or Radiologic Technologist are on site.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the warm weather outside, but you should avoid certain plants. You can develop an itchy rash when you touch certain plants, such as poison ivy.

For poison ivy treatment, you may need steroid or antibiotic medications if you have developed a rash. You can relieve poison ivy itching temporarily with home remedies such as a cold compress, calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream, but if you have been exposed to poison ivy, it's best to seek medical attention.

Poison ivy can be treated effectively at our urgent care center. You can get the treatment you need quickly and go about your day without wasting any time.

Men’s Health Month in the United States is observed every June. It is the month of June when men are encouraged to set goals for their health and wellness and create a roadmap to achieve them.

In this month, we aim to raise awareness of preventable health problems in males of all ages, encourage men and boys to adopt healthier lifestyles, and promote early detection and treatment of diseases like cancer, heart disease, and depression.

It is equally important for men to consider their physical health, mental health, and social connections at every stage of their lives.

Men’s Health Month raises awareness of how these aspects work together and reminds men to take charge of their health.

Men's health at our urgent care:
UTIs or Bladder Infections
STD testing
Yeast (Candida) infections

Nasal congestion, also called stuffy nose, is a feeling of fullness in the nose or face. There also might be fluid running or dripping out of the nose or down the back of the throat.

Here are some helpful tips for at-home relief: nasal flushes, antihistamines, decongestants, steam inhalation, humidifiers, warm compresses, peppermint, and elevating your head.

Sometimes nasal decongestion can lead to a sinus infection. This causes pain in the head and face where bacteria have formed. Sinus infection symptoms can be a cough, fever, nasal stuffiness with discharge, mucus colored yellow or green, pressure in the face and/or teeth, fatigue, and a general feeling of unwell.

Visit our urgent care today for diagnosis and treatment of nasal congestion, or a sinus infection.

New Blog Alert!
The Best Self-Care Tips and Vitamins for Beautiful Skin

Taking care of your skin is important, and many simple at-home treatments can help maintain healthy and beautiful skin. Using natural ingredients like aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice to adopting good habits like wearing sunscreen daily and removing makeup before bed, there are plenty of ways to promote skin health.

Remember, taking care of your skin is an essential part of self-care.
Read more by visiting the link in our bio!

It's relativity straight forward, but most often we can be unfamiliar with the terminology used when doctors talk about blood pressure. Two of those terms, Systolic and Diastolic, are the most important! They are elements used to calculate your blood pressure, but what do they mean?

According to the ASA (American Heart Association), Blood Pressure is just what it sounds. It is the amount of pressure that the circulating blood in your body puts on the walls of your blood vessels.

With each beat of your heart, the amount of pressure that your blood exerts can vary. These amounts are defined as a minimum and maximum amount of pressure.

The term Systolic defines the maximum amount of pressure. It measures the pressure that the flow of blood excretes against the artery with each heart beat when the blood is being pumped.

The term Diastolic defines the minimum amount of pressure. It measures the pressure that the flow of blood exerts in the artery while the heart is at rest. (This means the moment right after the heart has pumped the blood until it moves and pumps the blood again. aka: The heartbeat.)

So, now you have a better idea of what your doctor means when they mention Systolic and Diastolic pressure.

On-site rapid testing at our urgent care!

Our urgent care center provides many rapid lab tests for most common illnesses or infections. This saves you time and money by not having to go to another facility for such testing.

Our Rapid Testing Services:
Flu
Strep
Mono
Urine
COVID

In addition to rapid testing, we also provide other important lab tests our patients may require. We ensure your results are reported to you and any follow up care is recommended. We can perform tests for Lyme Disease, PPD, Wound Cultures, STDs, RSV, Stool Samples, Pregnancy, Electrolytes, H. Pylori, basic metabolic panels, and many more!

Please note a visit with one of our providers is required for all lab testing.
Some tests are sent to an outside lab for processing.

Happy Memorial Day!
Thank you to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Home of the free, because of the brave. Today, we honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and to their families.

At our urgent care we provide some female reproductive services you may not be aware of. It is important to know that you can visit us for any of the services listed below if your P*P or GYN is unavailable. We also have an excellent rapport with our community for referrals as needed.

Women's Care:
Bladder Infections / UTI
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Yeast Infection
Pregnancy Testing
STD Testing
Tampon Removal
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Please note: if you are having an issue with a current pregnancy or excessive bleeding, dial 911 or visit your local ER for prompt care.

Strep throat is no joke! That terrible illness that makes you feel horrible but can also make it feel like someone lit a fire in your throat.

Don’t suffer if you think you have strep throat! Visit our walk-in urgent care today for prompt care. You don't need an appointment, but you can reserve your spot online! Be seen by one of our providers for analysis of symptoms, rapid strep testing on-site, and antibiotics are prescribed if necessary.

Symptoms of Strep Throat:
Throat pain that usually comes on quickly
Painful swallowing
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
Fever
Headache
Rash
Nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children
Body aches

Do You Need a Shot of B12?
Well maybe...are you feeling sluggish or tired? It could be any number of things. Or it could be that you might have a B12 deficiency.

A little information on the vitamin!

Basically, B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body to produce red blood cells. It plays an important part in maintaining your brain and your nervous system's functionality. It even affects the synthesis of your DNA.

Interestingly enough, B12 cannot be produced naturally in animals, plants, fungus or humans. Only specific bacteria and archaea (microbes that are physically similar to bacteria but possess a different gene structure) are able to synthesize this Vitamin. If a natural food (like Salmon) contains B12, it is because it has bacteria that live in a symbiotic relationship with it, thus producing the vitamin for the plant or animal. This is known as Bacterial Symbiosis.

This vitamin is often produced through industrial means, by a process called bacterial fermentation synthesis. Making it more widely available for distribution as an additive to food, drinks, pills, and even injections!

You can always check by having a blood test done to test your B12 levels. If low levels are detected your P*P will recommend an injection of B12.

New Blog Alert!
Heart Disease Facts: Cholesterol and Smoking
Heart disease is a term used to describe a range of diseases that affect your heart. The various diseases that fall under the term of heart disease include diseases of your blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); heart infections; and heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects).
Read more in our Bio Link!

May is here and with that comes a lot of outdoor activities. Biking, hiking, and even spending time in your backyard can lead to a nasty bug bite. Don't suffer if your bug bite is very itchy, painful, or causes a rash.

There are many types of bug bites. Each has their own uncomfortable skin reaction that can range from a bullseye to hives, or even a rash. If you are ever in doubt of a bug bite reaction, don't wait. Visit our urgent care today. We can provide relief, testing, and over-the-counter suggestions for the best of care.

Do you know some of the most common types of bug bites?
Tick
Spider
Mosquito
Bed bug
Flea
Lice
Bees
Hornets

Remember: if your symptoms are severe hives, difficulty breathing, or other life-threatening ailments, do not wait. Dial 911 or visit your local ER for prompt care.

Is Coffee Healthy?

Have you ever been told that coffee is bad and that you should switch to green tea, health smoothies, or wheat grass juice?

Over the past few years, researchers have discovered that:

Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee per day is associated with a 25% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (compared to people who drink less than 2 cups per day)

With each additional cup of coffee you drink, your relative risk of developing type 2 diabetes drops by 7-8 percent.

Chlorogenic acid and trigonelline found in coffee causes a reduction in your body’s glucose and insulin responses – helpful for avoiding type 2 diabetes.

Moderate coffee consumption is not associated with an increased risk of hypertension, stroke, or coronary heart disease.

Moderate coffee consumption is inversely related to your risk of heart failure

All in all, coffee looks to have some significant health benefits.

Please note this dietary information is based on the consumption of plain coffee with no additives, sugar, cream, etc. This does not include desserts or other foods made with coffee, or alcohol.

What Is The Difference Between Anxiety and Stress?

Life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. For many people, stress is so common that it has become a way of life. When you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. You can protect yourself by recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects.

It is normal to feel anxious when our safety, health, or happiness is threatened; however, sometimes anxiety can become overwhelming and disruptive and may even occur for no identifiable reason. Excessive, lasting bouts of worry may reflect an anxiety disorder.

Read more by visiting our website. Link in bio!

Did you know May is National Women’s Health Month? It is also commonly referred to as Women's Health Awareness Month. Women's Health Month officially kicks off each year on Mother's Day with Women's Health Week and continues throughout the month of May.

Reproductive health is a crucial part of one's overall wellness. At our urgent care, we are here to help with a variety of illnesses or ailments if your GYN is unavailable. Take a look at some of the health issues our urgent care can assist you with!

Bladder Infections
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s & STD’s)
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Yeast Infections (Candida)
Tampon removal
Contraception (Birth Control)
Pregnancy Test

Don’t tough out a sports injury! This can lead to the injury not healing properly causing many other issues and problems that require further treatment by a specialist or even surgery to fix.

Always remember RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation when treating any sports-related injury.

Our urgent care is here to address and assess all your sports injuries. We have on-site x-rays, wound care, bandaging, and we will provide referrals when needed. We treat everyone ages 4 months and older; you never need an appointment. Open 7 days a week for your convenience.

Common Sports Injuries:
Ankle Sprains
Tennis Elbow
Plantar Fasciitis
Runner’s Knee
Shin Splints
Groin Pulls
Hamstring Strains

The 2 most common viral infections seen during the Spring season are Rhinovirus and Enterovirus.

Rhinoviruses and Enteroviruses are closely related members of the family picornavirideae; however, they have distinct clinical manifestations. Rhinoviruses cause respiratory infections while Enteroviruses often present as nonspecific febrile illnesses.

Symptoms:
Dryness and irritation in the nose
Sore throat
Nasal congestion
Nasal discharge (it is usually thin at the beginning and thickens and changes greenish during the recovery period)
Sneezing
Coughing
Sore throat
Temporary loss of smell and taste
Headache
Ear pressure
Cough
Restlessness
Fever
Body pain/aches

If you suspect you or one of your family members may have a viral infection, don't hesitate to visit our urgent care for analysis and prompt care. Viral infections share many of the same symptoms, so it is best to get tested and see a provider for the best care and symptom relief.

Get your kids ready for Summer camp! With Spring upon us, Summer is fast approaching. Our urgent care is here to help get your child ready for fun camp activities.

What We Provide:
Review your child’s medical history

Conduct a physical exam, including:
Record height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and BMI.
Examine heart, lungs, lymph nodes, abdomen, skin, ear, nose and throat.
Evaluate vision, joints, muscles and spine.
Complete forms needed for sports or school participation.

Please bring your child’s immunization records, a list of any medications your child takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, and their most recent physical exam paperwork.

Do you know what some of the most common Spring injuries are?

At our urgent care, we are ready to help you get back on your feet quickly! We provide on-site x-rays, wound care, and analysis of your injury. We also have an excellent local rapport with our medical community and provide referrals when needed for follow-up care. Visit us today, no appointment is required.

How many do you know?
Sciatica
Sprains and strains
Runners knee
Tendonitis
Broken bones
Shin splints
Shoulder & elbow injuries
Repetitive motion injuries
Plantar fasciitis

When does a cut require stitches? Sometimes it's hard to tell if an open wound needs stitches. Stitches will help the cut heal properly and reduce scarring. Learn more in our recent blog about when to seek treatment for an open wound and what types. Some wounds can be stitched and cared for at your local urgent care. While others may need serious medical care at your local Emergency Room. Be sure to know the difference!

Our urgent care can perform stitches for a variety of lacerations and wound care.

Stop a tick bite before it happens! If you have been outside or in areas where ticks are present, know where to check on your body for ticks. The best way to prevent Lyme Disease and any possible side effects from a tick bite is to prevent one from happening. Ticks can be anywhere on your body, but there are some spots we may forget to check. It also helps to have another person check places you can’t reach, or can’t see clearly.

Were you bit by a tick? Not to worry, our urgent care is here to help with any tick related bites.
We provide on site services for tick removal and tick bite symptoms.
Sometimes a tick head may get stick in your body after trying to remove it. Our urgent care can remove the entire tick safely, or a stuck tick head.
Visit us 7 days a week with convenient hours for you and your family!

We Provide:
Tick Removal
Tick Bite Symptom Treatment
Lyme Disease Testing
Tick Testing

Check out our new blog! Click our linktree in bio to read more.

Do you know 4 types of burns and what you should do for each? This informative blog provides valuable information on first, second, third-degree, and ice burns. Ensure you know what to do if you or a loved one suffers from a burn.

Burns can range from a simple sunburn to severe third-degree burns. Our urgent care is equipped to handle minor burns such as first-degree burns. If you are unsure of the severity of your burn, do not wait. Dial 911 or get to your nearest emergency room as quickly as possible.

Sometimes it can be difficult to focus on our own health and well-being when we have a lot going on. Remember to try and incorporate as many of these helpful tips as you can, to stay as healthy as possible. If you do find yourself injured, or ill our urgent care is always here for you, 7 days a week, no appointment needed!

Spring Wellness Tips:
Get active and sit less
Enjoy healthy food
Drink plenty of water
Get enough rest
Be safe in the sun
Make sure you brush your teeth
Quick to***co use
Know your health history

Happy Easter to all from our urgent care family to yours!