February 2020 - On Call Medical Clinic

The Flu Bad Habits

The Flu

The Flu Bad Habits– The flu season is here and when we catch it we start question who and where we picked it up.

Here are some bad habits that are putting us at risk every day.

Putting Your Purse or Back Pack on the Floor

Putting a purse or backpack on the floor is just an open invitation for unhealthy bacteria, especially if you drop it in a restroom or restaurant, and then place it on your kitchen table or counter. If you’ve already done this, and your purse is made from fabric or leather, like most, you need to look for an appropriate disinfectant that will work on the fabric without ruining it.

Forgetting to Wash your Thumb when Washing your Hands

While washing your hands is the most obvious germ-killing trick, there’s one common mistake that most people forget washing your thumbs. Since this finger touches some of the germiest surfaces it’s not one to ignore.

Toothbrushes

Flu, staph, strep, e-coli, and yeast commonly live on toothbrushes. Keep toothbrush covered and be sure they are not touching someone else’s.

Kitchen & Bathroom Handles

We normally clean door knobs, but we often forget kitchen cabinet handles, range knobs, and bathroom cabinet handles. You should give them a good wipe down at least every other day, and daily if you know someone in the house is sick with the flu. There are some great wipe products you can use.

Wearing Your Shoes Inside Your Home

Shoe soles have literally been everywhere and when you wear them inside, you track that onto your floors are carpets. Take them off at the door when entering your home.

Eating Lunch at Your Desk

It has been proven that your desk is 100 times dirtier than the average toilet seat. So, when eating lunch go to the breakroom and wipe the table with a disinfectant. This is much easier than trying to sanitize your desk area.

Changing Your Sheets

Sheets harbor germs, which means whoever is sharing your bed is going to be susceptible to any virus you may have brought into the house, and vice versa. The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks, but weekly is better.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information was helpful. We collected this information from the Good Housekeeping website. Remember if you have the flu, we are here 7 days a week to help. Our trained medical staff along with our equipped facility can help quickly diagnose your illness and prescribe the best treatment. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com/ to learn more about all the services

Women Vitamins that can Help

women vitamins

Women Vitamins – Women are always concerned about what are the best women vitamins to take for women’s health needs. Mother Nature’s blueprint isn’t exactly high-tech, and no matter what sophisticated gadgets we use, certain age-old processes are going to continue, both monthly and over the course of a woman’s lifetime. Fortunately, we’ve evolved nutritionally and learned that along with a clean diet, rich in non-starchy veggies and lean protein, the right supplements can help smooth out the bumpy road of life.

Here are three important women vitamins that women should take.

B Vitamins

They’re essential for healthy metabolism of sugars and starches and for hormone production. They help turn hormones into active or inactive forms, make sure hormones reach the correct destination within a woman’s body, and help eliminate excess hormones to prevent toxicity.

B vitamins are vital for the production of neurotransmitters. “B vitamins also help combat sugar cravings and fatigue.

You should eat whole grains, lean meat, fish and eggs as well as take a B-complex supplement with 25 to 50 mg of vitamins B1, B2, and B5. Also 1,000 mcg of B12. You should always start your day out with these supplements.

Vitamin D3

Low levels of vitamin D, quite prevalent among women. This is linked to greater odds of PMS, death from breast cancer, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, difficult pregnancies, uterine fibroids, rheumatoid arthritis, impaired sugar metabolism, gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart disease, postmenopausal loss of bone and muscle. Optimal liver health is necessary for vitamin D absorption.

You should have your vitamin D levels checked and take the proper supplement for your particular needs.

Magnesium

Last magnesium is essential for many processes for a women’s body. Your magnesium can be deleted by too many sodas, caffeine and certain medications. Also, stress can delete this needed vitamin.

You should start with 100 mg daily and increase to 200-800 mg daily. You should cut back if you have loose stools.

If you don’t like the idea of the pill, you can take a bathe in Epsom salts: 2 cups in a warm tub soaking for 15 minutes 3 times a week will work.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope that you enjoyed this information. We are here 7 days a week to help when you have minor injuries or sicknesses. We also preform several skin care services here as well. Please visit our website, https://www.oncallclinic.com/ to learn about all our services.

Mardi Gras Safety

mardi gras safety

Mardi Gras Safety – Mardi Gras season is well underway here in South Mississippi. We at On Call Medical Clinic know that this is a wonderful festive time prior to the start of our Lenten season. But with all the fun, we all should be aware of some safety tips. We would like to share some basic tips with all our families, friends, and patients.

Attend parades in groups, with family or friends.
Do not put anything in a glass containers.
Do not follow closing behind floats. Violators may be arrested, and this is never safe.
Do not throw any object in the direction of floats, band members or any parade participants.
Materials known as “Silly String” and “Snap & Pops” along with similar products are illegal.
Do not cross the barricades. They are there for safety reasons. There are fine associated with doing so.
No underage drinking is ever allowed. This is not only illegal but also unsafe because this age group is not aware yet of the hazards relating to drinking too much.
If you need police assistance during a parade, go to the nearest intersection and advise a uniformed police officer.
Choose a well-lit area for night parade viewing. Also wear bright clothing so you can be easily seen by passing vehicles.
Establish a post-parade meeting place for family and friends in case you become separated.
Park vehicles in secure areas and do not leave valuables in plain sight. Utilize the trunk to store valuables.
Uniformed and plain-clothes officers will be patrolling behind the crowds to identify and arrest persons engaging in criminal activity.
Pets are prohibited during the parades downtown.
Skateboards and motorized scooters are prohibited.
When leaving a parade in your vehicle, be very cautious of pedestrians still leaving the parade.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope that everyone has a great Mardi Gras season. If you a minor injury or illness while out enjoying the parades, remember we are here 7 days a week to help. Our facility has a great laboratory to help us quickly diagnose any illness you may be having. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all the medical services we offer.

Medication Mistakes Be Aware

medications

Medication Mistakes- We at On Call Medical Clinic know that sometimes taking and keeping up with Medications can become a problem. Here are some common mistakes you need to avoid when taking medication.

Check for Errors – Almost 2% of all prescriptions are dispensed incorrectly. You may get the wrong drug in the wrong dose in the wrong form. Read the label at the pharmacy counter to make sure it’s the medication your doctor ordered. For a refill, open the container to see if the pills match the ones you’ve been taking.

Get the Best Prices – Gag rules in some states don’t let pharmacists volunteer ways you might save money on your prescriptions. For example, almost 1 out of 4 prescription drugs cost less than your copayment. In that case, it’d be cheaper to buy the medication without using your insurance. Also, ask your pharmacist if it’s safe to lower your costs by switching to a generic or similar drug.

Follow the Directions– Half of the drugs for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other long-term conditions aren’t taken as directed by doctors. Keep a list of all your prescription and over-the-counter drugs and make it a habit to take them at the same time each day if possible. If you still forget, use a pillbox with the days of the week, and put it on the kitchen counter or somewhere you can’t miss. Or you can download a pill reminder app.

Do Not Overdo Pain Pills– One in 5 people take more than the recommended dose of common non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen. And almost 25% of people mix two or more NSAIDs at a time. That can damage your liver or kidneys, or cause bleeding inside your body. Stick to doses on the label. For kids, base the dosage on their weight, not their age.

Cutting Your Pills– Don’t do this unless your doctor or pharmacist told you to. Some pills should be taken whole because they’re coated to release slowly, to protect your stomach, or to bind two medications together. If it’s OK to split the pills, cut them one at a time as you go so, they won’t break down from heat or humidity. Use a pill cutter, or ask you pharmacist about scored tablets.

Mind Your Moods– More than 200 drugs, including birth control pills, blood pressure medication, and heartburn relievers, have possible side effects that include depression or thoughts of suicide. If you notice such symptoms or feel down for more than a couple of weeks, ask your doctor if one of your drugs might be the culprit. Sometimes you might be able to lower your dose or try a different class of medication.

Medication Checkups- If you take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs or supplements regularly, go over your lineup every year with your doctor or pharmacist. You may no longer need to take some of them, or they might not mix well with your other medications. This is especially true if you’re older and are on several different medicines.

Foods and Medications- Some medicines work better or faster in an empty stomach. Others are best taken with meals. Also, some foods and drugs can make for bad or dangerous combinations. These include dairy products with some antibiotics, certain cholesterol-lowering medications and grapefruit juice, and green leafy veggies and other vitamin K-rich foods with the blood thinner warfarin. Ask your pharmacist for guidance.

Medications and Alcohol– You know not to drink and drive. But you may not know that taking certain drugs with alcohol can mean trouble. Sleeping pills, cold remedies, and other medicines that get you drowsy might make you even more so when mixed with drinks. Alcohol also can interact with some ingredients in medications and damage your liver. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about what’s safe.

These are just some of the medication concerns you may have. We have obtained this information from the WebMD website. Please remember when you have a minor illness or accident, we at On Call Medical Clinic are here for you. Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Our Knowledgeable and Friendly Staff is waiting you call. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com to learn mor about us and all the services we offer.https://www.oncallclinic.com