The dog days are officially here, and that means spending lots of time outside for cookouts, pool parties, lake fun and more. When taking advantage of all this Pure Michigan season offers, remember that hotter weather also increases the potential for injury and illness.
Some common reasons people seek urgent or emergency care during summer include:
The most common reason people seek medical care isn’t diabetes, cancer or even heart disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s pain. In fact, it’s estimated that 100 million Americans struggle with pain symptoms daily, and chronic pain is the nation’s leading cause of long-term disability.
Michigan winters are beautiful, but can also pose danger—especially for older individuals or those at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. The combination of colder temperatures and physical exertion can place an increased workload on the heart.
Accumulating snow may be ideal for snowboarders and skiers, but when it comes to keeping driveways clear of the heavy white stuff, certain people should take heart. Shoveling snow can be hazardous to your heart health.
The American Heart Association says most individuals who head out to shovel snow will be fine, but for others, the combination of colder temperatures and physical exertion can place an increased workload on the heart, boosting the risk of having a heart attack.
Headaches are one of the most common reasons patients go to see their physician or seek help at an urgent care or emergency department. There are numerous causes for headaches, too many to cover in a short blog. Our focus here is to learn how to recognize when a severe headache might indicate something more serious—something that deserves or requires prompt attention.
Identifying characteristics that we refer to as “Red Flags” can help distinguish routine headaches from more serious ones, such as:
A sinus infection (sinusitis) occurs when viruses or bacteria infect or inflame the sinuses (often during a cold). Our body’s response causes the sinus lining to swell, trapping fluids in the sinuses and allowing germs to grow. Mucus and pus fill up the nose and sinus cavities causing significant congestion, pain and pressure in the face, head or around the eyes.
The cdc.gov provides a nice illustration of healthy sinuses and the blocked regions here.
Living along the lakeshore brings a myriad of benefits – spectacular sunsets, boating, fishing, naps on the beach and cooling off in the lake on a hot summer’s day, just to name a few.
Thousands of residents and tourists flock to Holland every summer attracted by our pristine waterways and alluring beaches.
In 2016, more than 200 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Michigan. Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by Deer ticks, and is the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S.
Two different types of ticks make up over 90% of the tick population in Michigan: the American dog tick (75%); and the Black-legged tick, or more widely known as the Deer tick, (15%).
