Illness

We are on the frontlines of helping our community learn about COVID-19 while also caring for other day-to-day needs. This is especially tricky when trying to determine if a patient is presenting with symptoms that may overlap a few different diagnoses. There are a few key differences with varying treatments you should know when thinking specifically about COVID-19, the common cold, and allergies.

Bright and sunny days are ahead, and our team at Integrity Urgent Care loves seeing people enjoying the great outdoors. Armed with extra water, some healthy snacks, and a plan for exercise, play, or even relaxation, your local parks, front yard, sidewalks, or other outdoor spot can be a great place to spend time. It is important we remember than the sun can have damaging effects on our bodies and to be aware how to be careful under those bright rays.

The word allergies seems to be around us wherever we go, from kid lunches to labels on food to people finding excuses for their sniffles and sneezes, allergies are to blame. However allergies, and the ways they manifest can vary greatly from person to person and even vary greatly in the same person, depending on the stimulus.

In Texas, it’s unavoidable, a runny nose, a scratchy throat, even a sneeze or two. As these symptoms pop up around us and even in our own homes, how do we tell the difference between a cold and allergies? Integrity Urgent Care has a few tips for the differences between these two common ailments and a few solutions to help you make a plan for getting well, sooner.

Abdominal pain is one of the most common, but most difficult to treat ailments in the United States. According to AbbVie, a pharmaceutical and research company, more than 72% of adults site experiencing abdominal pain a few times a month or more. Integrity Urgent Care is here to help provide information and guidance for the pain you may also have.

Here in Texas, many of us suffer from seasonal allergies to a variety of grasses, weeds, trees, and other plants as well as a host of other triggers. Texas is one of the worst states for allergies, so if you’ve moved to Texas from other parts of the country, you may find yourself developing allergies even if you’ve never had them before. Some have said, “If it doesn’t grow here, it blows here!” Many doctors believe that allergens are so prevalent because we rarely experience a harsh winter with freezing temperatures. The Texas climate allows trees to pollinate year-round. Indoor allergens such as dust, pet dander, and mold, can also cause allergy symptoms.

Everyone loves spending more time outdoors in the summer whether you’re taking a vacation at the beach, spending a few hours at a nearby pool, or just enjoying the longer hours of daylight and a more relaxed schedule. Previous blogs have discussed potential concerns related to sun exposure and heat-related illness; this blog will discuss dehydration.

As we launch into spring, many people unfortunately find their desire to be outside more enjoying the warmer weather and longer daylight hours impeded by allergies and the possibility of an asthma attack. While the two are often talked about in the same context, they are not the same – although severe allergies my precipitate an asthma attack.

Getting into the water is probably one of almost everyone’s favorite things about summer. However, that favorite “swimming hole,” – whether your backyard or neighborhood pool, a nearby lake, or the ocean – may be hiding some nasty waterborne illnesses which can take the fun out of your water activities.

If you have been outdoors lately, you may have noticed – it’s HOT! Even though we know it’s coming, it seems like really HOT weather can come very quickly, especially here in Texas. Being outdoors in hot weather, especially when the heat is accompanied by high humidity, requires special precautions.