Blooming Into Better Health

4 Ways to Blossom into Better Health

Say goodbye to winter and hello to warm, bright weather here in Texas! While you enjoy all this season has to offer, remember to support your health with the following tips:

1. Move More

The CDC recommends adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (around 20 minutes a day, or 30 minutes on 5 days) every week, and muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.

As many of us have been bunkered down at home, spring offers an excellent opportunity to get outdoors and get some fresh air in one of the following ways:

Yoga
Running
Walking
Cycling
Hiking
Outdoor sports (baseball, tennis, soccer)

2. Adjust Your Diet

Spring and summer bring a plentiful amount of fresh fruits and vegetables into season, making it the perfect time to add them to your diet. As more Texans begin grilling in the warmer months, it’s also a perfect time to grill up some fresh protein like chicken and salmon.

While you’re thinking about adjusting your diet, it’s important to drink enough water, too. Substitute water for sugary or alcoholic drinks to reduce calories and improve your health — a good diet and a healthy water intake can help support your immune system and provide physical and mental benefits.

3. Stay Safe in the Sun

Spring can be a scorcher here in Texas! If you’ll be outdoors for a long period, be prepared with:

Long-sleeved shirts
Long pants
Wide-brimmed hat
Sunglasses
A broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15.

4. Treat Your Spring Allergies

Allergy season is upon us once again, which means fresh flowers, blooming trees, and allergy symptoms. Now more than ever, it’s important to reduce the chance of an allergy flare-up as much as you’re able to, so you can eliminate the possibility of other respiratory illnesses.

One major concern we’re seeing is that patients are experiencing allergy-related symptoms, but are unsure if it’s allergies or the coronavirus. While both share similar nasal and respiratory symptoms, they’re very different conditions.

Do I Have Allergies?

Allergies are one of the most common illnesses that plague people when the seasons change — especially in the spring. Patients with allergies often experience symptoms after direct exposure to an allergen (such as food, pollen, or dust.) Allergies are an immune response to an allergen, which our body views as a threat.

Over time, allergy symptoms can become worse and present themselves very similarly to coronavirus. Patients with allergies typically don’t experience fever as patients with COVID-19 do.

However, patients with allergies typically experience:

Runny nose.
Sneezing, or stuffiness.
Itchy, watery, or red eyes.
Coughing and wheezing.

Allergy Shots

Allergies are an immune response, and this means the best treatment for them is immunotherapy. Allergy shots are one of the most widely-used treatments for allergies, as they don’t just reduce your symptoms — they train your immune system to have less of a reaction to an allergen over time.

You can think of allergy shots like a vaccine that triggers your body’s immune response to fight allergies naturally. By lowering your sensitivity to allergens, shots often lead to lasting relief from spring allergy symptoms even after you stop treatment.

At Urgentology Care, we offer allergy shots during in-person visits to the clinic. Shots are given to patients according to individual needs, meaning some patients may need shots once a week, others once a month. Our team will help find the treatment plan that works best for you.

Allergy Drops

Allergy drops are a form of sublingual immunotherapy or immunotherapy that is given orally. Allergy drops can be given in the form of a prescribed tablet or drop taken at home. They do not require administration in the clinic, but you will need to visit our team to receive a script for this treatment so we can diagnose your allergies and form the right treatment plan.

As soon as we identify the source of your allergies, we’ll prepare an allergy extract in a drop form. Some patients take allergy drops only throughout the spring when their symptoms are at an all-time high, while others may feel they need them for relief year-round.

Do I Have COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus or its variants. Patients who test positive for COVID-19 may either be asymptomatic (show no symptoms) or may experience a range of mild to severe symptoms within 14 days of exposure to novel coronavirus.

Patients with COVID-19 typically experience symptoms more closely related to the seasonal flu, including:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Getting Vaccinated

The Texas Department of State Health Services continues to expand the vaccine allocation for residents across the state. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines (two-dose vaccines) are available across Texas, and it’s essential to stay up to date to learn when you’re able to be vaccinated. Click here for the latest from Texas Health and Human Services.

When to Seek Treatment

Allergies, similarly to COVID-19, can be diagnosed with testing. After treatment, symptoms often reduce or go away completely. You can visit an urgent care for treatment to alleviate your symptoms and rule out any other serious conditions, such as the flu or COVID-19.

The following are emergency warning signs of COVID-19 that warrant immediate medical attention:

Trouble breathing.
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
New confusion.
Inability to stay awake.
Bluish lips or face.

Seek Relief for Your Symptoms at Urgentology Care

If you feel that you may be experiencing symptoms and are unsure if you have allergies or COVID-19, stop by our clinic for an assessment. We can test you for COVID-19 or allergies and provide a proper treatment plan.

Keep up to date with the latest news in COVID-19 testing and vaccination to be the first to know when vaccines are available at Urgentology Care.

To speak to one of our team members, contact us today at: (817) 799-7273