admin, Author at On Call Medical Clinic

Spring Fever Better Catch It!

spring fever

It’s getting warmer outside, there’s a change in the air, and chances are you’re showing some spring fever symptoms. Did you know that there is biological proof that such physical symptoms really do exist?

According to some source, human beings experience a real energy surge in spring due to an increase in sunlight. Apparently, the change in daylight triggers a change in the amounts of hormones our brains produce, including an altered amount of melatonin, which is a hormone that influences sleep cycles as well as mood changes.

Here are some of the common symptoms of Spring Fever

The sudden urge to go jogging or walking outdoors. Maybe it’s that extra dose of vitamin Dfrom all that springtime sunshine that gives us the energy to run a mile after work. Or maybe it’s because body image becomes important and to the top of our minds in the Springs. Whatever the reason, the random urge you’re feeling to go for a walk during your lunch break is real.
You are starting to eat lighter. Craving fresh salads and farmer’s market fruit? That’s a sure sign of spring fever. We can thank our past generations for that part of our internal clock, as our ancestors used to experience a period of famine during the winter months. To plan for it, they would eat heavier foods and go into a type of hibernation. It has been found that people typically eat fewer fruits and vegetables in the winter, as fewer are in season than in the spring and summer months. And in the warmer months, we tend to eat lighter foods with more vitamins and proteins.
You find yourself sleeping less. In spring, you may find it harder to go to sleep at your usual time. This isn’t just attributed to daylight saving time. The additional sunlight tells our bodies to produce less melatonin, a main ingredient in putting your brain in sleep mode.

Lastly and Best of All, You Seem to SMILE more in the Spring. You’re happier, and you find yourself smiling, whistling, being nicer than usual. for no reason. These are all symptoms of spring fever

Apparently, this is due to a chemical change, according to a 2008 study which found an increase in serotonin during the transition to spring. Serotonin affects our mood, which may account for a sudden lust for life in the Springtime.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful spring weather we are having now. Remember with the change of weather unexpected colds and allergies can creep up on you. We are here for you 7 days a week when you have those minor illnesses and accidents occur. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about all the services we over.

Metabolism How To Improve It

metabolism

How Do I Improve My Metabolism?

There is some good news. Even though you may have inherited slow metabolism from your parents, research indicates that this can be changed. Dr. Gary Hunter PhD, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, found that strength-training just a couple of times a week can reverse 50% of your slow metabolism that comes with age.

Here are some tips to help improve your metabolism.

Change your exercise regimen.

The next time you run, swim, or even walk, ramp up the intensity for 30-second intervals, returning to your normal speed afterward. Using this strategy will help you consume more oxygen and make your cell powerhouses, the mitochondria, work harder to burn energy, explains Mark Hyman, MD, an integrative and functional medicine specialist in private practice in Lenox, Massachusetts. “You increase the number of mitochondria and how efficiently they burn throughout the day,” he explains. This way, you can exercise for less time than it takes to plod along at the same pace and still get great results.

Get your Omega-3

Why does eating lots of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, herring, and tuna) help amp up metabolism? Omega-3s balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation, helping to regulate metabolism. They may also reduce resistance to the hormone leptin, which researchers have linked to how fast fat is burned.

Build Some Muscle

Not only does muscle weigh more than fat, but it uses more energy, too. The average woman in her 30s who strength-trains 30 to 40 minutes twice a week for four months will increase her resting metabolism by 100 calories a day. That means you’re resetting your thermostat to keep running at that rate even on the days when you don’t make it to the gym, Hunter explains.

Drink Green Tea

Green tea has long been heralded for its antioxidant polyphenols. But new evidence shows the active ingredient, catechin, may crank up metabolism. Researchers conducted a series of studies in dieters and found that those who went green lost more weight than those who didn’t, suggesting that catechins may improve fat oxidation and thermogenesis, your body’s production of energy, or heat, from digestion. But how much do you have to drink? According to one study, if you drink five eight-ounce cups of green tea a day, you can increase your energy expenditure by 90 calories a day.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope you enjoyed these tips. They were from the health.com website that has even more tips. Remember if you have a minor injury or illness we are here for you 7 days a week. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to review all our medical and skin care services we offer.

Mardi Gras Fun and Safety

mardi gras

Mardi Gras season is well underway here in South Mississippi. We at OnCall 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 OnCall 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.

Bad Habits The Flu- What to Avoid

The Flu

Bad Habits The Flu- 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 surfaces with the most germs, 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 break room 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 www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about all the services

Women Vitamins that can Help

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, www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all our services.

Blurry Vision Bothering You?

blurry vision

Blurry Vision- Why could your vision be blurry? We at On Call Medical Clinic would like to provide you some information that may be helpful when this occurs.

You may need glasses. When your eyeball is shaped more like an egg than round, or your cornea or your lens isn’t curved just so, light can’t focus in the right spot. That can lead to seeing clearly only at certain distances (nearsighted and farsighted) and distorted vision (astigmatism). You can often correct these “refractive errors” with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or minor surgery.
Your Eyes may be tired. Have you been staring at a screen or page or focusing on a task for a long time? People tend to blink less often when they’re concentrating like that. And each time you blink, you’re spreading tears across the surface of your eye to keep it lubricated, clean, and refreshed. You may need to remind yourself to blink more often, take breaks, and look around to prevent vision fatigue.
Eye Inflammation. Eye tissue may swell because it’s been bruised or something bad was splashed in it. The herpes virus from a cold sore could move to your eye. Sleeping in your contacts, not cleaning them correctly, or not throwing them away when you should can also lead to infections. Immune system diseases that affect other parts of your body, like psoriasis, IBS, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause inflammation in your eye.
Low Blood Pressure. Feeling weak and dizzy, too? Your blood pressure might be too low because you’re dehydrated — maybe from too much activity in the hot sun. Things like some medications, heart problems, poor nutrition, and hormone imbalances could also cause low blood pressure and related blurry vision.
Fluid build-up around your eyes. That can put pressure on the optic nerve and damage it. If you’re also seeing halos around lights, your eyes are very red and hurt a lot, and you feel queasy, you may have acute angle glaucoma. It develops very quickly, and you could lose your vision within a day if it’s not treated. Open-angle glaucoma is more common, but it doesn’t usually affect your vision at first.
Migrate Headaches. About 1/4 of people who have migraines get visual auras, usually before the pain and for less than an hour. These range from shimmering zig-zag lines, sparkles, and flashes to blind spots and tunnel vision. It may seem like you’re looking through water or cracked glass. (You could also have vision symptoms without or after the headache.) If it happens only in one eye, see your doctor in case it’s a serious problem.
You may have Cataracts. That’s a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of the eye. They grow slowly, usually in both eyes, after age 55. But younger people, even kids, can get them, too. Colors may seem faded, it may be harder to see at night, and you may be more sensitive to glare. Special glasses and lens coatings can help you see. Surgery can replace the cloudy lens with a man-made one.
Or maybe it’s getting Older. Starting around 40, you’ll notice it’s harder to focus on up-close tasks like reading. The clear lens inside your eye isn’t as flexible as younger people’s. It’s a normal part of aging. Your eye doctor can help you with reading glasses, contacts, or surgery.

These are some of the causes of blurred vision that you may be witnessing. This information was obtained from the WebMD website. We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information is helpful. We are here 7 days a week to help when minor illnesses or accidents occur. Please call us at 228 818-5155 if we can help. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about us and all the services we offer.

Skin Problems May Need a Doctor

skin problems

If your skin is itchy, broken out, has a rash, or strange spots, they may be minor skin problems or something possibly more serious. It is a good idea to have your doctor look at it. Skin inflammation, changes in texture or color, and spots may result from infection, a chronic skin condition, or contact with an allergen or irritant.

Here are several skin conditions that require a doctor’s prescription.

Shingles

A rash of raised dots that turns into painful blisters, shingles causes your skin to burn, itch, tingle, or become very sensitive. Shingles often shows up on your trunk and buttocks but can appear anywhere. An outbreak lasts about two weeks. You’ll recover, but pain, numbness, and itching might linger for months, years, or even the rest of your life. Treatment includes creams for your skin, antiviral drugs, steroids, and even antidepressants. It’s important to be treated early to help prevent complications.

Hives

Hives look like welts and can itch, sting or burn. They vary in size and sometimes join together. They may appear on any part of you and last anywhere from minutes to days. Causes include extreme temperatures, infections like strep throat, and allergies to medications, foods, and food additives. Antihistamines and skin creams can help.

Psoriasis

Thick, red patches of skin covered with white or silvery scales are signs of psoriasis. Doctors know how psoriasis works — your immune system triggers new skin cells to grow too quickly — but they don’t know what causes it. The patches typically show up on your scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. They can heal and come back throughout your life. Treatments include creams and ointments for your skin, light therapy, and medications taken by mouth, injection, or IV.

Eczema

Eczema is a blanket term for several non-contagious conditions that cause inflamed, red, dry, and itchy skin. Doctors aren’t sure what makes eczema start in the first place, but they do know that stress, irritants (like soaps), allergens, and climate can trigger flares. In adults, it often appears on the elbows, hands, and in skin folds. Several medications treat eczema. Some are spread over the skin, and others are taken by mouth or as a shot.

Rosacea

A tendency to flush easily, followed by redness on your nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead could be rosacea. It can get redder over time with blood vessels you can see. You may have thickened skin, bumps, and pus-filled pimples. It could even affect your eyes. Medications taken by mouth or spread on the skin are available. Doctors can treat broken blood vessels and red or thickened skin with lasers.

Herpes

The herpes simplex virus causes small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on your mouth or nose. Cold sores last about 10 days and easily spread from person to person. Triggers include fever, too much sun, stress, and hormonal changes like periods. You can treat cold sores with antiviral pills or creams. Call your doctor if the sores contain pus, the redness spreads, you have a fever, or if your eyes become irritated. These can be treated with prescription pills or creams.

These are just a few of the skin conditions that will require a doctor to prescribe something to help.

Remember for any minor illness or accident, we at On Call Medical Clinic are here for you. We have a complete laboratory to help diagnosis your illness. We are here 7 days a week to help. We also offer some great skin care services. Please visit our website at www.oncallskincare.com to learn about the skin care services we offer.

Holidays Stay Health and Safe

holidays stay healthy and safe

With the holidays here and the colder temperatures, there are steps you should take to stay healthy and safe. By doing so you should be ready to enjoy the holidays. You can brighten the holidays by making your health and safety a priority. Here are some helpful steps to take.

Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
Bundle up to stay dry and warm.Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.
Manage stress.Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control.
Get Plenty of Sleep, do your best to avoid that late night Christmas wrapping.
Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. Choose not to drink and drive and help others do the same.
Be smoke-free.Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
Fasten seat belts while driving or riding in a motor vehicle.Always buckle your children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to their height, weight, and age. Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip.
Get your vaccinations.Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives.
Monitor children.Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, and other objects out of children’s reach.
Practice fire safety.Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so don’t leave fireplaces, space heaters, food cooking on stoves, or candles unattended. Have an emergency plan and practice it regularly.
Prepare food safely.Remember these simple steps: Wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures and refrigerate foods promptly.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope these tips will help you and your family to have a safe and happy holiday season. Remember when minor accidents or illnesses occur, we at On Call Medical Clinic are here for you 7 days a week. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to review all the servi

Skin Care in the Winter

skin care

Skin Care -Winter is right around the corner and we all know that this time of the year can wreck havoc on our skin. Healthy skin care is essential to your overall health. We at On Call Skin Care Clinic would like to share some tips that will help you keep your skin healthy during this coming winter.

Cleansing Your Skin

No matter which product you use, cleansing is a must-follow first step in skincare. This has to be followed through the year irrespective of the season. In winters, you can limit the number of times you wash your face from 3 times to 2 times. You can cleanse your face with cold milk and cotton ball to prevent excessive dryness.

Scrub, Exfoliation is important

Exfoliating your skin with a scrub is important regardless of the season. You may however want to reduce the number of times you scrub your face in the winter. A daily scrubbing might cause abrasion and turn your skin drier. Using a mild exfoliating scrub weekly will normally work best.

Toning to Tighten Your Skin

Always use a mild toner that suits your skin rather than one loaded with chemicals. A harsh toner could disturb your skin’s PH levels. Toning will remove the post-cleansing residual dirt from your face.

Look for Essential Face Packs for the Winter

There are hundreds of ingredients in your kitchen which can help keep your facial skin soft and supple in the harsh cold season. Try some of these.

Avocado Face Packs
Banana Face Packs
Buttermilk Packs
Aloe Vera

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water since it’s essential to keep your body and skin hydrated in the dry weather. Be sure you always drink plenty of water for your overall health.

Shield Your Skin from the Sun

The harmful UVA and UVB rays that harm your skin still manage to sneak through the clouds. You should always wear a sun screen or block regardless of the season.

We at On Call Skin Care Clinic hope that you enjoyed this information. Please visit our website at www.oncallskincare.com to review all the skin care services we offer.

Checkups and Tests Needed

checkups and tests

Checkups and Tests that should be completed.—Some people see their doctor every year for a physical to make sure everything is OK. There’s debate about whether you need to go that often. In the end, it depends on your:

Age
General health
Risk factors for certain problems

Your doctor will ask you about your health and lifestyle, after they should perform the checkups and tests listed below depending on whether you are a male or female.

They’ll listen to your heart and lungs and probably get your weight and vital signs. He will check your height and weight as well. What they often do not do is check your body mass index. Keeping your BMI in a healthy range helps protect you from things like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. This measurement is based on a formula of your height to your weight. Your BMI should be between 18.5 to 24.9 to have a healthy weight.
They always check your blood pressure. 120 over 80 is considered a normal blood pressure. They will consider high blood pressure as 140 over 90.
Another thing they should do is check your cholesterol. If it is high this could lead to heart disease and strokes.
Colorectal Cancer Screening should start when you turn 50 unless you have a high risk of cancer in your family. At 50, a Fecal Occult blood test should be done yearly. A sigmoidoscopy, checking your colon should be done every 5 years, and a colonoscopy where your entire colon is observed should occur every 10 years.
Something else that is not always done is a blood sugar test. This should start at age 45 to check for diabetes or prediabetes. This should be completed every three years.
Even before your doctor sends you to a dermatologist, he should check for any changes in moles, freckles, and other marks on your skin. When skin cancer is found early it is almost always curable.
If you are a female, you should have a breast exam every 3-year starting at age 20. When you hit 40 you should have this checked yearly.
Another test women should have is a mammogram. This is an x-ray that looks at changes in your breasts. Some experts say you should have one every year once you turn 40, others say every 2 years starting at 50 until age 74.
And still another test for women is a Pap Test, sometimes called a pap smear. This checks for cancer in your cervix area. Starting at age 21 through 29, women should have the test every 3 years. If you’re between 30 and 64, you should get both a Pap test and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years, or just a Pap test every 3 years.
For a male a routine physical should include checking the penis and testicles. They will check your testicles for tenderness, lumps, or changes in size. For your penis, the doctor might notice sexually transmitted illness like a wart or ulcer. They will check for hernias, and depending on your age, he may check your prostate for size and problems.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope these tips were helpful as you prepare to have a physical exam with checkups and tests completed. Please remember besides being here to help with minor illnesses and accidents, we also preform physical exams and many other medical procedures. We are here 7 days a week when you need us. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to review all the services available at our clinic.