Archive for the Health News Category

You’ve probably been hearing a lot lately about cyclosporiasis. That’s because, at last count, The Michigan Department of Health and Human services is reporting almost 1000 cases—compared to the ~50 cases of this illness usually seen at this time of year, and worse, most of them are concentrated here in Southeast Michigan.

Simply put, cyclosporiasis is nasty. It causes debilitating diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, bloating, loss of appetite, nausea and fatigue along with a low-grade fever and/or body aches.

If you or a family member experience any of these symptoms, come see us at Lakes Urgent Care in West Bloomfield or Livonia. We can evaluate for gastrointestinal and food-borne illnesses and provide a treatment plan. We can also order stool cultures and if indicated treat dehydration with IV fluids.

What is cyclosporiasis?

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a microscopic, single-celled parasite. When people swallow this parasite—usually by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected human feces—it hitches a ride to the small intestine. It is a seasonal threat, meaning health officials usually see cases spike during the warmer summer months (May through August).

How do you avoid getting it?

The best defense is practicing strict food safety in your home. Routine washing helps, but it is important to know that Cyclospora can be sticky and difficult to wash off completely.  Here is what you should do right now:

1. Wash hands and surfaces first

Always wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling fresh fruits and vegetables. Ensure your cutting boards, knives, and countertops are sanitized.

2. Wash produce under running water

Thoroughly rinse all fresh produce under clean, cold running water. Do not submerge them in a filled sink. For firm items like melons or cucumbers, scrub the skin with a clean produce brush.

3. Cut away damaged areas

Cut away and discard any bruised or damaged sections of fruits and vegetables, as bacteria and parasites can easily pool and thrive in these areas.

4.Refrigerate immediately

Store all cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator within two hours of preparation to prevent any potential pathogens from multiplying.

When in Doubt, Cook It

Because washing alone might not completely remove the Cyclospora parasite, the most foolproof way to kill it is with heat. While the outbreak is ongoing in Michigan, consider cooking your fresh greens, tossing fresh berries into a baked dessert, or using dried herbs instead of fresh cilantro and basil for your summer dishes.

Even before we put away our shovels, it’s time for those of us who suffer from spring allergies to get prepared for what is just around the corner. Forecasters are generally predicting a stronger and longer spring allergy season in Southeast Michigan this year.

If you suffer from spring allergies, it’s a good idea to start taking your prescribed allergy medications right now. Early tree pollen starts to appear in our area sometime around early to mid-March. Starting your treatment plan now helps prevent early inflammation and the cascade of allergic reactions that can spiral out of control. Pollen levels will escalate as our weather warms and the plant life around us comes back to life. Here’s a website to help you track daily pollen levels in our area.

Now would be a good time to book an appointment with your allergy specialist to evaluate your current medication plan. If you already have an active treatment plan that is working, but just need a refill on your prescription, come see us at Lakes Urgent Care anytime. We can also help assess any issues you may be having, recommend a medication plan and/or we may refer you to an allergy specialist for further evaluation.

Our sensitivities to allergens can change over time. You may have had allergies as a child and have now outgrown them and vice versa. Time magazine just published an excellent and comprehensive article that will help you better understand your allergy symptoms..

Starting your treatment plan now helps prevent early inflammation and the cascade of allergic reactions that can spiral out of control. Pollen levels will escalate as our weather warms and the plant life around us comes back to life.

An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure! If you can determine the specific allergens that trigger your symptoms, this can help you reduce or potentially eliminate exposure to the elements that cause you grief.

If tree pollen is your source of misery, it may not be possible to eliminate exposure. In your home, keep windows closed and rely on your home’s heating and cooling system along with good quality HEPA air filters and dehumidifiers to reduce symptoms while indoors or sleeping. When coming in from any outdoor activity, showering and changing your clothes can help reduce your exposure to allergens.

To honor our Livonia location’s tenth anniversary and support area student athletes, we now offer $10.00 sports physicals for anyone 17 and younger at both Lakes Urgent Care Livonia and West Bloomfield locations, no appointment needed.

Each patient must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Your son or daughter may need a new sports physical at any time of year for public and private school sports teams, youth sports leagues, or summer/fall camp.

A sports physical does not replace an annual complete physical examination performed by your child’s primary care physician. The $10.00 sports physical offer ends on December 31, 2026.

We screen for visual problems, kidney function, and diabetes in addition to cardiovascular and pulmonary symptoms. The physical exam specifically looks at blood pressure, heart rate, and assesses for heart murmurs or abnormal breath sounds.

At an additional charge, we also offer an echocardiogram for any student-athlete who desires screening for a family history of heart problems. The echocardiogram is an excellent way to screen the heart for structural problems without using any radiation. It may also be recommended if your student has abnormal blood pressure, an abnormal EKG, or any other warning signs or symptoms.

If additional testing is indicated, the clearance for participation may be delayed. Typically, additional tests for heart and lung symptoms may include a chest x-ray, EKG, and possibly an echocardiogram (ultrasound exam of the heart).

All information will be sent to the student-athlete’s primary care physician.

February is American Heart Month. It’s a good annual reminder about the most important ways you can keep your heart healthy and avoid behaviors that could cause problems.

Here are five things you can do all year long to maintain good heart health, and help someone close to you who may need assistance.

Get an annual physical.

Do you know if you have a healthy blood pressure? Is your cholesterol level in a good range? An annual physical your primary care physician will let you know if both of these factors are in a healthy range or if you need to take steps to improve them. If you are concerned about your blood pressure, come see us at Lakes Urgent Care for an accurate reading and assessment. Here’s a guide to understanding blood pressure readings.

Don’t smoke.

Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and stroke. If you smoke, now is a good time to quit. Easier said than done, we know. But there are a variety of smoking cessation programs you can try. And if it doesn’t work the first time, try again.

Eat a heart healthy diet.

Eating a more plant-based, lower sodium diet is the best way to promote good heart health. Many of the highly processed foods found on grocery store shelves contain a high level of sodium. Check the label before you buy it. Remember that your average daily sodium consumption should not exceed 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day.

Get some exercise every day.

Your heart is the most important muscle in your body. Daily exercise is the best way you can help your heart stay healthy. Even moderate exercise, such as daily walking is beneficial. If you are more ambitious, using a treadmill or rowing machine is a great way to keep your heart strong. Improve your motivation to exercise by involving friends – plan walks in the park with a group, or a pickup game of disc golf or pickleball.

Learn CPR.

Cardiac arrest can strike anytime, anywhere — at home, at work, or at the grocery store. But right now, only about 40% of people step in to help. That means too many lives are lost, not because people don’t care, but because they aren’t prepared.

Knowing how to practice immediate CPR for someone experiencing cardiac arrest can “double or even triple someone’s chance of survival,” according to the American Medical Association. The American Red Cross has training classes so that you can be prepared to help in an emergency – Find an American Red Cross CPR training course near you.

This winter season has been a rough one for cold & flu in Michigan! Your author is speaking from personal experience: I’ve been through two rounds of sickness this season, starting in early December and continuing into the new year. According to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), 818 people have been hospitalized with the flu in Michigan, as of Jan 8th. That’s twice as many hospitalizations as this time last year.

Something i’ve always struggled with is knowing when it’s time to seek medical attention for cold/flu symptoms. By the time I realized I had been coughing every day for three weeks, it seemed like it was time to visit an Urgent Care and i’m glad I did. My only regret is that I don’t live close enough to a Lakes Urgent Care location, or it would’ve been my first choice.

It’s easy to think that your symptoms will eventually go away on their own, but the certified, ER-trained providers at Lakes Urgent Care have the experience—and the diagnostic tools—to figure out what’s going on and get you feeling better faster.

Lakes Urgent Care is one of the few urgent care facilities to offer a complete array of on-site diagnostics and was the first urgent care facility in metro Detroit to offer a revolutionary new test that can quickly diagnose the flu with nearly 100% accuracy and strep throat with 98% accuracy. Using the Cobas Liat PCR System by Roche Diagnostics, a major advancement in testing accuracy for flu and strep throat, takes about twenty minutes on-site, enabling a Lakes Urgent Care provider to make a fast, more confident and reliable treatment decision while you wait.

Using this diagnostic tool, Lakes Urgent Care can confirm a diagnosis and treat you on the spot. And if the test comes back negative, antibiotics will not be prescribed unnecessarily. We can also prescribe medications like cough suppressants that outperform over-the-counter products to make your symptoms more manageable.

So if you’re suffering at home with symptoms you just can’t shake, a quick visit to one of our two Lakes Urgent Care locations (in Livonia and West Bloomfield) will give you peace-of-mind and a shorter, more comfortable experience, getting you feeling better and back on your feet sooner.

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and creating cherished memories with loved ones. Festive parties, family gatherings, and ringing in the New Year often involve alcoholic beverages. While responsible enjoyment is part of the fun, the unfortunate reality is that impaired driving incidents tend to spike during this period. This holiday season, let’s commit to making responsible choices and ensuring everyone arrives home safely.

The reasons to avoid driving under the influence are profound and far-reaching, impacting not just the driver but entire communities.

The Unacceptable Risk: Why Drunk Driving is Never Worth It

1. Lives at Stake: This is, without a doubt, the most critical reason. Drunk driving dramatically impairs judgment, reaction time, vision, and coordination. Even a small amount of alcohol can significantly increase your risk of causing a collision. These aren’t just statistics; they represent real people – mothers, fathers, children, friends – whose lives can be irrevocably altered or tragically ended in an instant. No celebration is worth a life.

2. Legal Consequences That Last a Lifetime: A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) conviction carries severe legal penalties.

   • Hefty Fines and Court Costs: These can easily run into thousands of dollars.

   • Jail Time: Even a first offense can result in jail time, and repeat offenses lead to much longer sentences.

   • License Suspension/Revocation: Losing your driving privileges can severely impact your job, daily responsibilities, and overall independence.

   • Increased Insurance Premiums: Your car insurance rates will skyrocket, often for many years.

   • Criminal Record: A DUI is a criminal offense that can affect future employment opportunities, housing applications, and even travel.

Distracted Driving: Different Impairment, Same Risks

While many people view “drunk driving” as a more serious crime, safety experts and scientific studies have shown that distracted driving—particularly texting—can be just as dangerous, and in some cases, even more lethal.

Here is why distracted driving is often called the “new drunk driving.”

Slower Reaction Times

Research has consistently shown that a distracted driver’s ability to react to hazards is significantly worse than a driver at the legal alcohol limit.

• Drunk Driving: Driving at the legal limit (0.08 BAC) slows reaction time by about 12%.

• Distracted Driving: Texting while driving slows reaction time by as much as 35%.

• The “Blindfold” Effect: Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is equivalent to driving the length of a football field while blindfolded.

Triple-Threat Impairment

Most distractions only affect one area of driving, but texting and smartphone use involve a “triple threat” of impairment that mimics the effects of intoxication:

• Visual: You aren’t looking at the road (similar to the blurred or narrowed “tunnel vision” caused by alcohol).

• Manual: You don’t have both hands on the wheel (similar to the loss of muscle coordination caused by drinking).

• Cognitive: Your brain is processing a conversation or message instead of the traffic around you (similar to the poor judgment and slow processing speed caused by intoxication).

This is the time of year when cases of Norovirus, flu, RSV, and pneumonia are on the uptick. Now is a good time to keep in mind that there are some very effective ways to prevent you and your family from becoming ill.

If you do get sick, come see us at Lakes Urgent Care. We have state-of-the-art diagnostics and digital x-ray capabilities on site, so we can make a fast and accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan to help you feel better as quickly as possible.

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that will cause vomiting and diarrhea for several days. It is not the flu. As reported recently by NBC News, Norovirus cases are already on the rise this year.

How can you avoid it?

Practicing Proper hand washing  is the most important thing you can do to avoid contracting Norovirus. Use soap, water and vigorous hand washing for at least twenty seconds. The friction of your hands rubbing together is an important part of keeping your hands clean. According to the CDC, “hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. You can use hand sanitizer in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for handwashing, which is best.”

Always wash your hands after using the toilet, changing a diaper, or disposing of pet waste. Always wash your hands before eating, preparing, or handling food and before handling medicine.

Vigilantly clean high-touch areas in your home – doorknobs, light switches, toilet seats. Always keep your toilet seat down before you flush.

What can I do if I get it?

Other than making sure you are well hydrated, there is no other specific treatment for Norovirus. Rest and drink plenty of fluids (a sports drink or Pedialyte if you prefer). If you feel especially dehydrated, we can provide IV hydration in our offices.

We can’t give you antibiotics and make you feel better if you have Norovirus. It should pass in 1-3 days. But importantly, you will remain contagious for at least 48 hours and sometimes longer. This makes it even more important for you and everyone in the home to practice good hand washing habits.

How do I know it’s not the flu?

There are some similarities in the symptoms of norovirus and the flu. However, norovirus symptoms tend to be mostly stomach related issues with vomiting and diarrhea. If you haven’t done so yet, it’s still a good time to get a flu shot and protect yourself. Everyone six months of age and older should get an annual flu shot. During his annual physical exam, our president received both a flu shot and a COVID booster, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

What if it is the flu?

The flu symptoms involve a fever, stuffy and runny nose, and body aches. If you think you have the flu, come see us at Lakes Urgent Care. We have state of the art flu testing capabilities on site and can provide a prescription to help you start feeling better.

When managing your mental and physical well-being, diet and physical fitness are obviously key players. But how often do you consider the heath of your digestive system?  Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms—your microbiome—and it’s so powerful, scientists often call it your “second brain.”

The amazing truth is that the health of your gut profoundly influences everything from your immune system to your deepest emotions.

Understanding the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA)

The Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) is a complex, two-way communication system linking your central nervous system (brain) and your enteric nervous system (ENS), which is embedded in the lining of your gut.

This communication happens through several routes:

1. The Vagus Nerve: This is the body’s main superhighway, transmitting messages between your gut and your brain, often influencing stress responses and overall mood.

2. Hormones and Neurotransmitters: Did you know that over 90% of your body’s serotonin (the “happy” chemical) is produced in your gut? Your microbes directly influence the production and release of many mood-regulating chemicals.

3. Immune System Signals: A compromised gut lining can lead to systemic inflammation. These inflammatory molecules can cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially affecting mood, cognitive function, and mental clarity.

The takeaway: A troubled gut can send distress signals to your brain, manifesting as anxiety, stress, or a general feeling of “blah.” A happy, balanced gut, on the other hand, promotes calm and focus. According to John Hopkins Medicine, a higher-than-normal percentage of people with IBS and functional bowel problems develop depression and anxiety.

The Power Players: Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Fermented Foods

Nurturing your microbiome requires feeding the good bacteria and helping them thrive. This is where prebiotics, probiotics, and whole foods come in.

Probiotics: The Good Guys

What they are: Probiotics are live, beneficial microorganisms (like certain strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) that, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Think of them as reinforcements that restore balance to your gut community.

Prebiotics: The Food for the Good Guys

What they are: Prebiotics are specialized plant fibers that your beneficial gut bacteria love to eat. Unlike other foods, they pass undigested through the small intestine and are only broken down in the large intestine.

Where to find them: Garlic, onions, asparagus, bananas, oats, and apples.

Fermented Foods: A Delicious, Natural Source

What they are: Foods that have undergone controlled microbial growth (fermentation). This process naturally produces live, active cultures.

How they help: According to Cleveland Clinic, Probiotic supplements add to your existing supply of friendly microbes. They help fight off the less friendly types and boost your immunity against infections.

Examples:

• • Yogurt and Kefir: Excellent sources of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

  • Sauerkraut and Kimchi: Fermented cabbage dishes that provide a highly diverse range of microbes.

  • Kombucha: A fermented tea that offers a variety of bacteria and yeasts.

The Domino Effect: From Gut Health to Immunity and Mood

When your gut is thriving, the benefits spill over into every aspect of your health:

• Mood & Mental Health: A balanced microbiome reduces inflammation and ensures consistent production of crucial neurotransmitters, leading to reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

• Immunity: Your gut houses about 70% of your immune system. A robust gut lining acts as a powerful barrier against pathogens and toxins, training your immune system to respond appropriately.

• Weight Management: Gut bacteria play a role in how you absorb nutrients and how you store fat, influencing appetite-regulating hormones.

• Better Sleep: Since the gut produces serotonin, which is a precursor to melatonin (the sleep hormone), a healthy gut biome supports natural, restorative sleep cycles.

By intentionally nourishing your gut, you are investing in your long-term mental clarity, emotional well-being, and physical resilience. Start today, and listen to what your second brain has to say!

Just as the fall allergy season is ending, the flu season is starting up again. And while there is no guarantee that getting a flu shot will prevent you from getting sick, medical science confirms—as documented in this article from the Mayo Clinic—that getting a flu vaccine is your best defense against getting the flu.

Lakes Urgent Care makes it easy to protect you and your family. We are open during weekday evenings and weekends, no appointment needed.

It’s important to get a flu shot annually, as the vaccination does lose its effectiveness over time. And each year’s vaccine is developed to help protect you from the flu virus, which does change and mutate every year.

Right now, in the month of October, is the best time to get vaccinated. Getting your flu shot now gives your body time to build up the antibodies necessary to fight the flu virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated. In rare cases, there is a medical reason to not get vaccinated and if you are concerned, check with your primary health care provider.

Getting vaccinated annually is especially important for adults 65 and older, those living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, or those who may become pregnant, are pregnant, or recently gave birth. More complete information about flu vaccination is available from the Mayo Clinic.

We understand that it is your choice to get vaccinated or not. But objective medical science consistently proves that it is a wise way to protect your health.