Our spring season is off to a chilly start, but it won’t be long before the 2022 allergy season, like the leaves, flowers, and grass, will be in full bloom. If you suffer from spring allergies, here’s some information and tips to help get you through the season.
New research is predicting that the 2022 allergy season will be longer and more intense due to climate change. According to Dr. Sindhura Bandi, Rush University Medical Center-Division of Allergy and Immunology, some trees have been releasing pollen ahead of schedule, and the 2022 allergy season is starting earlier.
And a new University of Michigan study also confirms that climate change is making our pollen season longer and more miserable. “We saw different species react differently to climate change, oak and cypress families are very sensitive to climate change and in the future, they will have a big increase,” said Yingxiao Zhang, lead author of the study.
If you suffer from spring allergies, your best defense is to talk to your doctor or visit us at Lakes Urgent Care to understand what allergens make you miserable and proactively start your treatment program.
Prepare early for the 2022 allergy season
Preparing early for the 2022 allergy season now can significantly reduce your symptoms once the season begins. The best way to prepare is to talk to your primary care physician about your specific allergy symptoms. They may have you start preventative allergy medications now, which can help prevent early inflammation and the cascade of allergic reactions before they spiral out of control. If you’re not sure of the source of your allergies, see your doctor right away and get tested. Knowing what types of allergens trigger your symptoms can help refine treatments and help you reduce exposure. The CDC is an excellent source of information about particular types of allergies and pollens.
Have a seasonal allergy action plan and think preventative. When you use medications early, you may ease your symptoms all spring. Finding the right combination of treatment might take a bit of trial and error:
- Antihistamines can help sneezing, runny nose, or itchy eyes.
- Decongestants can help when you’re all stuffed-up because they shrink the lining of the passages in your nose. You can try a nasal spray or a pill but be aware of potential rebound effect with long-term use – they are best used for occasional relief.
- Nasal corticosteroid sprayed into your nose can give you relief from stuffiness and sneezing. These are very effective when used regularly, but they may take a few days or weeks to kick in.
- The masks you’ve been wearing lately can also be a great defense from pollen and other allergens. Wearing a mask when spending time outdoors can ease your misery.
Always consult with your primary care physician if you take other routine medications to avoid potentially problematic interactions.
walking like a penguin can help you avoid falls in icy outdoor conditions.
Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits each year, representing the leading cause of visits. And as we age, falls become more dangerous to our health. Here are some tips for keeping your balance and on your feet when it gets slippery out there.
- Take small careful steps instead of large ones. When getting out of a vehicle, step, don’t jump. When possible, use handrails, handles – anything that will help keep your balance.
- Don’t carry large loads while walking on snow or ice. If you are carrying a load on an icy walk and feel yourself falling, toss your load to break the fall with your arms.
- While walking, retain stability by keeping your hands out of pockets.
The government of Alberta Canada’s website contained a valuable list of additional tips:
- Find a path around snow or ice when you can.
- Learn how to Walk Like a Penguin (video)—walk slowly, take small steps, and point your toes out slightly to be more stable on icy paths.
- Keep your head up and don’t lean forward.
- Keep your hands out of your pockets to help keep your balance.
- If you use a cane, you can buy an ice pick for the cane.
If you have fallen, wait a moment and do a “self-assessment” rather than quickly getting up. Most bumps and bruises do not require medical attention. However, if pain from a fall persists beyond a few hours or you are unable to bear weight or move an upper extremity without pain, be sure to get evaluated by a physician. If the fall should cause a broken bone with skin disruption, get emergency care immediately. Most other sprains, strains or fractures can be safely treated by your primary care physician or at a certified urgent care. Lakes Urgent Care, in West Bloomfield and Livonia is a certified urgent care and can complete digital x-rays and initiate fracture care and casting, avoiding a visit to the emergency department.
More Information:
Preventing Falling on Ice and Snow
According to a January 11th article in Crain’s Detroit, the current COVID-19 surge “is expected to peak in late January.” In addition to this latest COVID variant, we’re also dealing with metro Detroit’s usual cold and flu season.
And as reported recently in the Detroit News, “Experts say testing is the best way to determine what you have since symptoms of the illnesses can overlap. The viruses that cause colds, the flu and COVID-19 are spread the same way — through droplets from the nose and mouth of infected people. And they can all be spread before a person realizes they’re infected.”
Our Lakes Urgent Care staff is working hard to meet the extra service demand, and we appreciate your patience during this challenging time. If we can’t always answer the phone, it’s because our staff is busy helping patients. We are also dealing with staffing challenges at times, like many other service providers in our area.
All COVID testing is by appointment only at www.lakesurgentcare.com, but you don’t need an appointment for urgent care services.
Cold symptoms tend to be much less severe, but if you think you may have the flu or strep throat, we also offer a new test that can quickly diagnose the flu with nearly 100% accuracy and strep throat with 98% accuracy – a major advancement in testing accuracy.
You do not need an appointment for this test, and it takes about twenty minutes on-site, enabling a Lakes Urgent Care physician to make a fast, more confident, and reliable treatment decision while you are still in the office.
Here are some additional links:
No-cost COVID testing near you
Safely get rid of any unused prescription medicines in your home during the DEA National Takeback Day, this Saturday from 10am-2pm. Almost 10 million people misuse prescription drugs every year most of these misused drugs were obtained from a family or friend’s medicine cabinet. Disposing of unused prescriptions drugs safely at this event also keeps them out of our water supply.
Click on the link to find the takeback location closest to you.
Welcome to the great mosquito invasion of 2021. Our dry spring, coupled with a very wet summer is the culprit. disease. Protect yourself from mosquitoes! Because they are so plentiful right now, and carry the risk of disease, Lakes Urgent Care Medical Director Dr. Sanford Vieder suggests you take an extra precaution. Wear long sleeves and long pants whenever you go outside, whenever possible. Apply a good quality insect repellent that contains at least 10 percent DEET to any unprotected area. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and puddles, so don’t let any water accumulate around your home. Click on the links for more information, treatment tips and different products to keep the buzzing and biting at bay.
How to treat mosquito bites/itching
Why mosquitoes are worse this summer in Michigan
National Drug Take back Day is this Saturday, April 24th. It’s the best and safest way to dispose of all expired and unwanted prescription drugs in your home. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to mis-use prescription drugs and don’t ever flush them down the toilet. It is quite harmful to our water supply. Click on the link to find the approved drug take back location closest to your home and please share with family and friends.
Right now, everyone 16 and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.We highly recommend that you proactively make an appointment to vaccinate yourself and all eligible members of your family.
COVID-19 Vaccination appointments are available now at Ford Field:
https://clinic.meijer.com/register/CL2021
Additional COVID-19 vaccination appointment sites:
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214—,00.html
https://oaklandcountyvaccine.com/
Lakes Urgent Care has been approved by the State of Michigan as a vaccination site. We currently do not have the vaccine and don’t know when we will receive our initial allotment. As soon as we have the vaccine, we’ll let you know how to book a vaccination appointment online or by phone.
Additional COVID-19 resources:
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/
If you own a Toro Power Max Snowthrower model 37802 (sold nationwide at Home Depot and other stores) stop using it immediately. It is being recalled for a major defect, described by the Consumer Product Safety Commission as an “amputation hazard.” When disengaging the mechanism that controls it, the snow auger can remain in motion, which is extremely dangerous. If you’ve been giving your snow blowers a workout this week, please follow all the safety guidelines in your owner’s manual. Snow blowers are a great tool, but they can be dangerous and cause serious injury if not used with care. Click on our link for details on the Toro recall.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Toro-Recalls-Power-Max-Snowthrowers-Due-to-Amputation-Hazard
https://www.mlive.com/news/2021/02/about-6700-snowblowers-recalled-due-to-amputation-hazard.html
Lakes Urgent Care supports The Farmington Hills Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Agency as they hold another drug take back day, Saturday, October 24th from 10am-2pm at Police Headquarters, 31655 West 11 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills
Residents of any city may participate in this drug take back day. All unwanted prescription drugs, and potentially dangerous drugs such as Oxycodone will be accepted anonymously. The DEA cannot accept any medication in liquid form. Everyone must wear a mask when entering Police Headquarters.
It’s important to responsibly get rid of any unwanted drugs in your home for two reasons:
Two-thirds of teens and young adults who report abuse of prescription medicine are getting it from friends, family and acquaintances, according to www.drugfreeamerica.org
Never flush drugs down the toilet. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, “studies have found that medicines flushed down the drain can contaminate our lakes and streams, which can hurt fish and other aquatic wildlife, and end up in our drinking water. . Flushing medications down a toilet or drain allows them to enter the wastewater treatment system. Unfortunately, many treatment systems are not designed to remove medications.”
Thank you, Farmington Hills Police Department for helping to keep our community safe! Links to additional information:
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/featured/dont-flush-medicines-down-drain
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20376813
https://www.bcbs.com/the-health-of-america/articles/clearing-out-the-medicine-cabinet
Lakes Urgent Care’s Dr. Turk successfully treated a young man who came to our office recently with a hand laceration and tendon injury caused by a chainsaw. We coordinated follow up treatment with hand surgical specialist, Dr. Kushner and we expect the patient to recover completely. If you are using a chain saw this fall clean up season, remember to always wear protective gear: hearing protection, goggles, boots, hard hat, chaps and gloves. And click on this link for safety measures you should take before using this very dangerous power tool: https://www.chainsawjournal.com/chainsaw-safety-tips/