Archive for the Health News Category

It may not be on your to-do list yet, but now is the best time to make sure you and your family are prepared for flu season. Because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for your immune system to build protection, getting your flu shot before flu activity increases can help ensure you are protected when you need it most.

Getting a flu shot is a personal choice, but the CDC and other leading medical organizations recommend an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.

While the flu vaccine cannot guarantee that you won’t get the flu, research shows that vaccination can reduce both the risk of infection requiring medical care and the likelihood of serious illness.

A study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found that during the 2022–2023 flu season, vaccination reduced flu-related emergency department and urgent care visits by nearly half and hospitalizations by more than a third among U.S. adults.

The National Council on Aging also cites research finding that, among adults hospitalized with flu, vaccination was associated with a 26% lower risk of ICU admission and a 31% lower risk of death.

In Michigan, flu activity typically increases in the fall and often peaks between December and February. Getting vaccinated between late September and early November gives your body time to develop protection before flu season is in full swing.

Lakes Urgent Care offers the trivalent flu vaccine, as well as the high-dose flu vaccine recommended for adults 65 and older. We can also help you stay up to date on other vaccines you or your family may need.

Flu vaccines are covered by most health care insurances and are available at both Lakes Urgent Care locations in Livonia and West Bloomfield. No appointment is necessary.

If you do become ill Lakes urgent care also offers point of service or immediate Flu, Covid, RSV testing. Please drink plenty of fluids, exercise regularly and get your rest. Lakes Urgent Care is open daily until 10 p.m., and weekends and holidays until 6 p.m.

It’s that time of year again: Pumpkin Spice is back in every mug, and yellow school buses are back on every road. Your morning commute just got a little longer, which can easily trigger impatience. The single best start to your back-to-school driving routine? Leave 10 minutes earlier. A little extra buffer time lets you take a deep breath instead of stressing over a sudden traffic snarl.

Beyond adding extra time, staying safe on the road requires reviewing the rules of engagement for sharing lanes with buses and pedestrians. Per guidelines from Michigan.gov, here is what drivers and students need to keep in mind.

Rules for Drivers: Decoding Bus Lights & Medians

School buses act as mobile traffic signals. Knowing how to react keeps kids safe and saves you from a steep ticket.

• Flashing Yellow Lights: Slow down and prepare to stop. The bus is getting ready to drop off or pick up students.

• Flashing Red Lights: Stop at least 20 feet away.

  • Michigan Law Check: You must stop even if you are on the opposite side of the road, unless the highway is physically separated by a barrier or raised median.

• Flashing Hazard Lights: Drive past with caution.

• Watch the Neighborhoods: Slow down in residential zones. Look for crossing guards, safety patrols, parked cars, and playground signs that signal kids might step into the street.

• Put the Phone Down: Distracted driving remains a leading safety hazard. Adjust your mirrors before putting the car in drive, scan carefully when reversing, and keep your full attention on the road.

Essentials for Students & Parents

Safety doesn’t stop at the steering wheel. Kids need a refresher on how to navigate the bus stop safely:

• Wearing bright jackets, hats, or backpacks helps drivers and bus operators spot kids early
• Stand at least 10 feet back from the road while waiting for the bus to arrive
• Never rush off the bus. Pause, check for traffic, and make direct eye contact with the driver before crossing
• Stay in the driver’s direct line of sight. Never run back toward the bus after exiting, and avoid playing near the vehicle

Summer in Michigan always seems to fly by in the blink of an eye! With the new school year right around the corner—and already underway for some—our schedules are about to fill up fast with homework, sports, and early Halloween planning.

Before the full swing of fall activity kicks in, take a brief breath and review this simple back-to-school checklist to set your kids up for a healthy, successful year ahead.

1. Reset the Sleep Schedule

A good night’s sleep is the cornerstone of every child’s physical and mental health. Transitioning from relaxed summer nights to early morning alarm clocks takes careful planning:

• Set a consistent routine: Establish a quiet, screen-free “wind-down” hour before bed.

• Optimize the room: Keep bedrooms dark, quiet, and cool (around 67–68°F is ideal for deep sleep).

• Address the screen temptation: Kids of all ages often sneak phone time under the covers. Talk openly with your child about putting devices away at night so they get the age-appropriate rest they need to focus and thrive.

2. Schedule Their Annual Physical & Vaccinations

Every child should see their primary care physician once a year for a comprehensive well-child visit. If summer got away from you, don’t wait until the end of the school year—book it now! An annual checkup allows your pediatrician to track crucial growth metrics, catch potential health issues early, and ensure all routine immunizations are up to date.

3. Cross Off the Sports Physical

It’s important to remember that a sports physical is not a replacement for a full annual exam. While sports physicals only cover basic mobility and general fitness required for school athletics, they are still essential for participation.

Need a sports physical quickly? If your child recently had their annual checkup, your primary doctor may be able to sign the forms. If not, stop by one of our two Lakes Urgent Care locations and ask for a Sports Physical. No appointment is necessary, or you can conveniently book your time slot online!

4. Check Vision and Hearing

Undetected visual or hearing challenges can significantly impact classroom performance. Your primary care physician can perform basic screenings during a routine visit and refer you to a specialist if anything needs further evaluation.

5. Don’t Skip the Dentist

Oral health is deeply connected to overall health. Make sure your child receives a routine dental checkup and cleaning at least once a year to prevent cavities and maintain a healthy smile.

6. Put Down the Screens & Make Family Time Count

Let’s be honest—it isn’t just kids who are glued to their screens; parents are, too! When everyone is staring at a device in the same room, valuable opportunities for real connection, conversation, and emotional support disappear.

To break the cycle and stay attuned to what your child is experiencing this school year:

• Establish tech-free zones: Make the dinner table a strict no-phone area for the entire family.

• Take a unplugged walk: Step outside together without phones. Spending time in nature lowers stress and creates space for open, relaxed conversations.

• Set screen boundaries: Limit daily social media and device hours at home—a practice many local Michigan schools are adopting during classroom hours as well.

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).