The diagnosis of hives is visual. There are no specific diagnostic lab or x-ray tests required for the diagnosis. Since the physiologic cause of hives is due to histamine release, we use antihistamine medications in addition to topical or oral steroids as the mainstay of treatment. Applying a cool compress of the affected area can also be symptomatically helpful. If the hives are associated with tongue, lip or throat swelling and difficulty breathing you should seek medical attention immediately at a certified urgent care or emergency department. The vast majority of times, hives occur independent of these more significant symptoms. If you are able to identify the specific stimulus that may have caused hives, it should be eliminated. If you believe the hives are due to direct skin contact, the affected area should be washed to avoid continued exposure and ongoing symptoms.
Tinnitus is best described by “ringing in the ears” or as noise which is not being caused by an external stimulus. Common descriptions of the symptoms include hissing, clicking or whistling sounds when there is no obvious external source for these noises. It can occur in one or both ears and may be constant or intermittent. There are numerous causes for this phenomenon, but more commonly it is due to some acoustical trauma such as listening to music too loud, enduring an explosion in close proximity or direct trauma to the head or ears. Tinnitus can be annoying, distressing and irritating but is generally not life-threatening. The one exception to this rule is if the tinnitus is being caused by a tumor or vascular anomaly within the inner ear or in proximity to the ears within the skull.
While there is no direct link to hearing loss associated with tinnitus, quite often people who are suffering with this condition have an associated partial or near-complete hearing loss. Depending on the cause and specific type of tinnitus, there may be a cure. Unfortunately, many cases of tinnitus are indeed incurable and can often cycle between active and dormant phases without any apparent pattern or stimulus. If you or a loved one is suffering from this type of symptom, it’s best to get evaluated by a specialist such as an ENT surgeon or audiologist to pin down potential treatable causes.
Following an audiological assessment to determine treatable causes, there are number of potential strategies to help diminish or alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus. An audiologist or ENT surgeon can help direct those steps. Sometimes, utilizing a hearing aid properly fitted and adjusted can actually help to reduce the symptoms associated with tinnitus. In addition, many people find that learning appropriate stress management techniques such as mindfulness-based stress reduction can significantly decrease the symptoms or make them more manageable so that they have less of an impact on day-to-day life. if you are having difficulty finding the correct specialist to assess tinnitus, your primary care physician or the physicians at Lakes Urgent Care can provide you with resources to be properly evaluated and potentially treated for this annoying problem.
Preparing early for the oncoming allergy season can significantly reduce your allergy symptoms once the season begins. The best way to prepare is to consult with your primary care physician now and allow her to provide you with guidance for your specific allergy symptoms. Very soon, pollen levels will begin to escalate as our weather warms and the plant life around us comes back to life. It may be advisable to begin preventative allergy medications now. This can help prevent early inflammation and the cascade of allergic reactions you may face before they spiral out of control. If you’re unsure of the source of your allergies, see you doctor right away and get tested. Knowledge of what types of allergens trigger your symptoms can help refine medication treatments and help you reduce exposure. The CDC and our local health department can be excellent sources of information for activity and peaks with particular types of allergies and pollens.
Prevention is always worth a pound of cure! If you are able to 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. That’s where treatment with preventative medications can make a significant difference, especially if you start before your symptoms begin.
In your home, keep windows closed and rely on your home’s heating and cooling system along with good quality 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.
Perennial allergies refer to specific allergens that cause an allergic reaction year-round. Common examples include pet hair or dander, food allergies or medication allergies.
In contrast, seasonal allergies typically occur with weather changes that allow for new environmental plant, mold, insect or grass growth. Locally, pollen and mold season can begin as early as February and last through November. Now is the right time to begin discussions with your physician about the preventative measures you can take to keep allergy symptoms from activating your immune system. And this can help you avoid the dreaded return of sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Lakes Urgent Care can also be a resource if you do not have a primary care physician. We can help guide your preparation for seasonal allergies or arrange for allergy testing. With appropriate preparation and recognition of triggers to avoid, everyone can enjoy the coming warm, sunny months ahead!
Sleep hygiene refers to the quantity and quality of the sleep that you obtain each night. It is important to get an appropriate amount of sleep, making sure it’s not too little or too excessive. Our sleep needs are dynamic and change across different ages and can be impacted by lifestyle and health status. As a general guide, teens need about 8-10 hours a night, young adults and adults need about 7-9 hours, and adults 65+ need about 7-8 hours each night. Having good sleep hygiene is critical to your overall health and can have a significant positive impact on the reduction of high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Make sure that your bedroom is completely conducive to sleep. Dark shades, noise reduction and eliminating a bright clock are helpful. Avoid nicotine, alcohol and caffeine a minimum of four hours prior to anticipated bedtime. Try to maintain a regular circadian rhythm and sleep cycle by being consistent with the time that you go to sleep and awaken each day as much as possible. Exercising earlier in the day is better than in the evening. Make sure that you balance your fluid intake to avoid excessive amounts of volume before bedtime which may trigger more trips to the bathroom during the night.
If you do not awaken with pain or soreness, there may be no need to change your sleep position. However, the vast majority of people do sleep on their side which can lead to significant shoulder and neck pain. If you are a side sleeper, make sure that you use a pillow that’s thick enough to support your head and take some of the pressure off your shoulders as well as your neck. In addition, sleeping on your right side can potentially increase problems of heartburn and acid reflux. Those who sleep on their stomach should use a flatter pillow to avoid excessive pressure on the neck and upper back. Sleeping on your back is the best position anatomically speaking, but less than 10% of people actually do so. Sleeping on your back helps to reduce aches, pains and heartburn because it allows the body to rest in a completely neutral position. The downside to sleeping on the back is that it can increase the amount of snoring. Regardless of which position you ultimately sleep in, comfort is the key and if you awaken refreshed and without significant aches or pains, you’re probably in the perfect position!