Antibiotics aren't a cure-all - especially when it comes to viruses.

With cold and flu season in full swing, many patients are coming into urgent care clinics and pointedly asking physicians to prescribe them antibiotics. While an antibiotic may seem the obvious course of treatment, that’s not always the case, Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care physicians say.

Antibiotics are strong medications used for treating bacteria-borne infections such as strep throat and some ear infections. However, antibiotics offer no help against diseases caused by viruses, including the common cold or flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats not resulting from strep throat and some ear infections. Yet, a tendency to treat viral infections with antibiotics over the past decades has caused the spread of antibiotic resistance.

“Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant germs may be left to grow and multiply,” explains Dr. Nathan Newman, Chief Medical Officer of Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care. “Repeated and improper uses of antibiotics are primary causes of the increase in drug-resistant bacteria.”

The Centers for Disease Control has called antibiotic resistance one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Antibiotics often are over-prescribed by doctors, but patients can be to blame, too. Many admit to self-treating with antibiotics left over from earlier illnesses. The result is microbes that develop greater resistance to the benefits of specific drugs.

“Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it is really needed,” Dr. Newman says. “These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates, and co-workers - threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat.”

The key to preventing antibiotic-resistance infections is effective communication with your doctor about your symptoms and the best course of treatment. Other tips include:

• Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or the flu.
• Do not save some of your antibiotic for the next time you get sick. Discard any leftover medication once you have completed your prescribed course of treatment.
• Take an antibiotic exactly as the healthcare provider tells you. Do not skip doses. Complete the prescribed course of treatment even if you are feeling better. If treatment stops too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect.
• Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The antibiotic may not be appropriate for your illness. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
• If your healthcare provider determines that you do not have a bacterial infection, ask about ways to help relieve your symptoms. Do not pressure your provider to prescribe an antibiotic.

If you’re feeling ill, Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care is open extended hours and weekends and you never need an appointment. Register online to save your spot in line before you leave your home or office.

Traveling abroad for the holidays? Visit Solantic Travel Medicine to make sure you're prepared and protected.

For thousands of Americans, going home for Christmas means traveling overseas. For others, a trip to a foreign land is a new experience and a fun way to celebrate the holidays or usher in the New Year.  If you plan to spend the season abroad, you’ll need to be prepared - and that means much more than bringing along a dual-voltage hair dryer.

With a few clicks of a mouse, Solantic Travel Medicine can help you prepare for any health or medical risk you may face in the country you’ll visit. An initiative of Florida’s Solantic Urgent Care centers, Solantic Travel Medicine allows visitors to quickly search specified countries and regions and immediately access information on required or recommended immunizations. You’ll learn ahead of time about current disease outbreaks, water conditions that could affect your health, even political or social goings-on that could make traveling to a particular region unsafe. And we’ll let you know about healthcare requirements or recommendations associated with particular holidays or events.

For instance, the Saudi Arabian government requires Meningococcal vaccination for participation in the annual pilgrimage to Mecca during Hajj, the world’s largest religious gathering. And Asia’s health officials recommend seasonal flu and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations, plus preventative medications for malaria if you’re visiting during the Lunar New Year celebration that begins in January. The best news: those medications and vaccinations can be ordered right from your computer.

Preparing for your trip is easy. Simply log onto the Solantic Travel Medicine website, choose your destination via the drop-down menu, read the information and choose the immunizations you need via the checkboxes and click the “Buy Now” button. You’ll see your chosen immunizations listed in the shopping cart, along with a one-time consultation fee. Choose your preferred appointment dates and check out. A Solantic representative will call to finalize your appointment date and time. Your consultation will include a physical exam and you and your doctor will discuss your upcoming travels, including travel health tips based upon your medical history and the areas you’ll visit. Keep in mind that some vaccinations must be ordered and delivery can take a week or more, so plan ahead.

Don’t leave what could be a dream vacation to a nightmarish chance. Visit the Solantic Travel Medicine website to prepare and protect yourself today.

Statistics show an alarming number of men are lax about routine health and medical care.

“What is it with men?” Women and physicians often ask this about partners and patients who avoid even the most routine medical appointments. Statistics show that men are alarmingly lax about participating in preventative health care.

“The single most important way a man can take care of himself and of those he loves is to actively take part in his healthcare, including educating himself on health and medical issues unique to men and participating with his doctor in healthcare decisions,” says Dr. Nathan Newman, Chief Medical Officer of Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care. But research shows men largely are dodging this advice. In fact, nationwide, men are:

• 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year and are 22 percent more likely to have neglected their cholesterol tests.
• 28 percent more likely than women to be hospitalized for congestive heart failure.
• 32 percent more likely than women to be hospitalized for long-term complications of diabetes and are more than twice as likely as women to have a leg or foot amputated due to complications related to diabetes.
• 24 percent more likely than women to be hospitalized for pneumonia that could have been prevented by getting an immunization.

Besides the obvious healthy lifestyle choices, including eating right, exercising, avoiding smoking or excessive alcohol, getting enough sleep and managing stress, Dr. Newman highly recommends men get regular medical checkups and routine screenings and tests. The most important for men are:

• Body Mass Index to screen for obesity
• Cholesterol starting at age 35, or at age 20 for those with risk factors such as diabetes, history of heart disease, tobacco use, high blood pressure or a BMI of 30 or higher.
• Blood Pressure every two years to help stave off chances of heart disease, kidney disease or stroke.
• Cardiovascular Disease beginning at age 45.
• Colonoscopy to check for colorectal cancer beginning at age 50 or earlier if you have a family history of the disease.
• PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) to check for prostate cancer beginning at age 50.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases to check for gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia or other SDTs
• HIV
• Depression if you’ve noticed a marked decrease in interest in the things you usually enjoy or if you’ve felt down or hopeless over the past few weeks. Remember that depression is a totally treatable disease that can cause or contribute to other medical and physical ailments if not addressed.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm if you’re between the ages of 65 and 75 and have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in your lifetime.
• Diabetes if your blood pressure is higher than 135/80 to avoid related problems with your heart, eyes, feet, kidneys and nerves.

And men, you can’t claim a busy schedule as an excuse to avoid the doctor. Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care is open extended hours during the week and on weekends. You never need an appointment and you can pre-register online. We’ll call when the doctor is ready to see you. Check our website for the Florida location nearest you.

Those age 65 and older are at a particularly high risk for catching the flu. Head to your nearest Solantic Urgent Care Center today for your flu shot.

Urgent care centers in South Florida are reporting this year’s first cases of influenza - a month early. Typically, flu season begins in October or November, but it looks like the 2011/2012 season is getting a jump on us. To help keep you and your family healthy throughout the flu season, Solantic Urgent Care answers the most frequently asked questions about the flu:

What is the flu? Formally known as influenza, the flu is a highly contagious viral infection marked by severe respiratory or intestinal illness symptoms.

How do you get the flu? Unfortunately, the flu is one of the most catching viruses. When someone who has the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus becomes an airborne contagion. Anyone who happens to be nearby is at risk of breathing in that contagion and becoming infected themselves. You also can catch the flu by touching a contaminated surface, (door knobs and handles and stairway railings are common culprits) then touching your mouth, nose or eye area.

What are the symptoms of the flu? Flu symptoms include the sudden onset of severe cough, runny nose, fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches and pain. Intestinal flu symptoms also include diarrhea or vomiting. Though the symptoms can be similar, the flu is much more severe than a common cold and can be deadly. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu complications and upwards of 23,600 people die from flu-related causes each year.

How do you treat the flu? Because the flu is a virus, there is no cure. However, several prescription antivirals have been proven to shorten the duration of the flu if taken within the first 12 to 48 hours of your earliest symptoms. Over-the-counter and homeopathic medicines can help manage symptoms like pain, fever and upset stomach. And you’ll need to drink lots of fluids (water and juice) while the virus runs its course. If symptoms persist more than a few days, head to your nearest Solantic Urgent Care center.

How do I avoid the flu? It’s all about prevention. The CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends flu shots for everyone over the age of six months, especially those at higher risk including young children, pregnant women, senior citizens 65 and older, and those with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease. Caretakers of higher-risk individuals also should get a flu shot each year. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, cell phones, TV remote controls and computer keyboards with disinfectants. And avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as these are the main entryways that allow the flu virus into your body.

Make sure you’re ready for flu season with a flu shot at your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care Center. We have more than 30 Solantic urgent care clinic locations throughout Florida and you never need an appointment.

Don't wait - July is a great time to get your kids' school and sports physicals and immunizations at your neareast Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center.

Most school districts nationwide send kids back to the classroom sometime mid- to late August. That makes early August a mad-house of a time period for many urgent care and pediatrics clinics. Busy parents wait until the last minute to get their kids required school and sports physicals and immunizations. Skip the maddening crowds and get your children ready for school early.

July is a great time to make sure your young students are up on their required and recommended immunizations before heading back to the classroom. A list of the required and recommended vaccines at appropriate age levels is available on the Florida Dept. of Health’s website. Vaccine-preventable diseases spread quickly in schools and your child could be sent home if records show that he or she is behind on state or federally mandated vaccines unless you’ve been granted exemption.

July also is prime time for school and sports physicals for the young athlete. Tryouts for school sports teams often happen before school reconvenes in the fall and those who haven’t yet had their physicals and been cleared by a physician could end up sidelined until the next school year or season.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care Centers located throughout Florida offer comprehensive school and sports physicals as well as the complete battery of required and recommended immunizations. You never have to set an appointment, but if you choose to, we make it easier than ever. Register online and a Solantic representative will call or text you when it’s time to head to the center. Take a break, run some errands or finish up your shopping for school clothes and supplies while you wait.

Studies show men are less concerned with health issues than are women. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care encourages men to "man up" for their health and their loved ones during Men's Health Month.

June is national Men’s Health Month and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care is challenging men to take charge of their health and longevity. After all, to quote former Congressman Bill Richardson who co-sponsored legislation to create a Men’ Health Week, “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.”

Unfortunately, tens of thousands of men fail to take health risks and issues seriously:

• Men smoke more frequently and consume greater amounts of cholesterol fats than do women;
• Men are less efficient at working through emotional stresses than are women;
• Men engage in higher-risk behaviors than do women;
• Men are much more reluctant than are women to seek medical care or health intervention services;
• Heart disease, the top killer of Americans, begins a decade earlier for men than for women;
• Men suffer 92 percent of fatal workplace injuries.

As a result, males have shorter life spans than women and die at proportionally higher rates from the mid-teen years up. Need proof? Boston University’s New England Centenarian Study concluded that 85 percent of individuals age 100 and older are female.

So what can a man do to help make sure he’s around and healthy enough to help care for his family? Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers comprehensive annual physicals plus health tests and screenings for all sorts of medical risks and conditions from cholesterol to cancer. And if you’re in need of urgent care, we’re open evenings and weekends and you never need an appointment. So, if frustration with long waiting times is one of your excuses for not seeing a doctor, well, we’ve taken care of that for you. You can even pre-register from your home computer before heading out to our clinic.

Man up, men! Take charge of your health with a visit to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center.

May is National Better Sleep Month and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care wants to make sure you know the health risks associated with inadequate rest. Getting plenty of shuteye has multiple health, wealth and social benefits, while a lack of adequate, restorative sleep can eat away at your wellbeing, productivity and social life. Here are five things you should know before you put off bedtime another minute:

1. In a study by the Better Sleep Council, respondent who reported getting nine hours of sleep or more nightly were more likely to engage in higher-intensity workouts like biking, running and weight lifting. And of course, an active lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle.
2. Sleep deprivation negatively affects coordination, agility, mood and energy. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been connected with sleep deprivation, and studies show that those who don’t get enough rest are 30% less productive at work.
3. Because appetite is regulated by sleep cycles, inadequate sleep plays a part in weight gain. “People use food to keep themselves awake,” says Dr. Jaime Boero, M.D., Ph.D., a sleep specialist at Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic Neurosciences.
4. Speaking of weight gain, obesity that results in part from lack of restorative sleep leads to increased risk of heart attack, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.
5. Chronic lack of sleep contributes to car crashes and industrial accidents.

Most sleep deprivation can be effectively addressed with changes in diet, improved time management or simply a new mattress. But it can be part of a more complex cycle of health problems. Sleep deprivation can be caused by health troubles like chronic pain, heartburn from acid reflux and depression. And the domino effect can lead to a myriad of other health problems.

If you suffer sleep deprivation, let your doctor know during your next Solantic Baptist Urgent Care annual physical or executive physical. We may be able to help pinpoint the health issue causing your sleep problems, advise you on related risks and, if necessary, refer you to a sleep specialist.

For those with allergies in Florida, spring is "sneezin' season." Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help.

“March Madness” is all over the media this month. And for allergy sufferers, March is definitely maddening. But it has nothing to do with basketball. Allergies in Florida peak during March, especially pollen allergies. This season is a particularly tough one.

First, a cold winter followed by a sudden and sustained warming trend, plus the botanical blossoming brought about by those lingering warmer temperatures has jacked up pollen counts to near-record highs nationwide. To make things worse, “the same system that’s bringing in the warm air has also been blocking rainstorms from coming in,” Meteorologist Carl Park of The Weather Channel told Florida reporters recently. Rain typically helps clear away much of the pollen that fires up allergies, causing itchy eyes, runny noses and scratchy throats. No such luck for much of Florida this year.

The good news is that allergy season seems to be moving quickly this year. While doctor’s offices and urgent care centers are packed with sniffling, sneezing, watery-eyed and wearied patients, weather and nature experts expect the aggressive tree pollens to wane over the next month. In the meantime, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care has a few tips to help you breathe easier:

• - Know that the yellow pine tree pollen covering your driveway isn’t the main culprit. It’s the smaller-particle, unseen pollen from cedar, oak and maple trees that get into your sinuses and mess with your immune system. Check local pollen counts reported online before you head outside.
• - Stay indoors as much as possible and remember to keep windows closed so that pollen won’t float inside your home.
• - Change your air conditioning filter at least once a month. AC filters trap allergens like pollen, dust and pet dander, keeping them from floating about in your home.
• - If you do go outside your home, avoid the morning hours when pollen is at its worst.
• - If yard work just won’t wait, wear a mask to help reduce the amount of pollen you breathe in.
• - Add lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts to your snack list. They contain antioxidants that are effective against inflammation and upper respiratory infections.
• - Dine on cold water fish like wild salmon. The omega-3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation and guard against allergies.
• - Drink hot tea with lemon or honey first thing in the morning. This activates movement of the nasal cilia, which helps prevent those early morning sneezing fits.

If your allergies, asthma or hay fever are getting the best of you, head to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center for quick, effective and affordable treatment of your symptoms. Each center has extended hours and a no-appointment-necessary policy, so it’s easy to get the fast, competent urgent care you need.

Hearts are all a flutter around Valentine’s Day. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the American Heart Association want to make sure yours stays in top condition so that you and the ones who love you can rest assured. That’s why the AHA named February “American Heart Month.” It’s also why Solantic offers wellness exams and physicals that include heart health checks like EKGs and pulmonary function tests. According the AHA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers tailored physicals to help make sure you're in good heart health.

• Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States, killing about a half million people each year;
• Each year, more than a million Americans have heart attacks In fact, the first cardiac symptom experienced by 71% of the population will be a heart attack, and one victim out of three will die;
• 90% of Women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease;
• More than 82 million American adults - one in three people - are estimated to have one or more types of cardiovascular disease;
• About 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. That’s an average of one death every 39 seconds;
• Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women 20 and older, killing about one woman every minute;
• More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

To help keep your ticker going strong schedule regular physicals at your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center. We offer a range of age-specific physicals, including several designed specifically for athletes and executives. And we can tailor a wellness plan that addresses your unique health need and risks. Visit our website to find an urgent care center near you and register online for quicker service. No appointment is ever necessary and we’re open evenings and weekends to accommodate your busy schedule.

When an infection of most any sort occurs, the first thought often is to load up on antibiotics. But an antibiotic is not always the answer, and can even cause further harm if used incorrectly, say physicians at Solantic Baptist Urgent Care.

Antibiotics may not always be the answer to an illness. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care explains why.

An antibiotic is a strong medication used for treating infections, including many potentially fatal contagious diseases. While knowing what conditions an antibiotic will effectively treat is important and potentially life-saving, knowing what an antibiotic won’t help is just as critical. Antibiotics are effective only against infections caused by bacteria. They offer no help against infections caused by viruses, including the common cold, flu, most coughs and sore throats. Here are a few helpful tips for knowing when you may need an antibiotic:

Cough or bronchitis: The vast majority of coughs and cases of bronchitis are caused by viruses. But a lingering illness or a problem with your lungs can be a red flag warning of a bacterial infection. If an illness won’t go away after about two weeks, head to your nearest urgent care clinic and be sure to tell your physician exactly how long you’ve been sick.

Sinus infections: Most sinus infections are viral. But if an infection that lingers after about 10 days may be bacterial. Other tell-tale signs of a possible bacterial sinus infection include a fever of higher than 101 degrees; facial pain or pain in the upper teeth; a dark, thick, yellow-green nasal discharge; and a lessening, then worsening of symptoms.

Sore throat: Again, a virus is the most likely culprit of a sore throat. The most common exception is strep throat, caused by the bacteria streptococcus. Symptoms can include difficulty swallowing, sudden fever, loss of appetite, nausea, rash, swollen or tender lymph nodes in the neck, a red throat dotted with white patches, abnormal taste, joint stiffness and muscle pain. Your doctor will need to take a swab of your throat for testing to determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral.

Ear infections: Ear infections can be either viral or bacterial. However, in the past, many physicians have been quick to prescribe antibiotics for nearly all ear infection cases - a serious issue because the overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Today, antibiotics are prescribed for treatment of ear infections primarily when the patient is younger than two and/or has a fever or other illness symptoms.

If a doctor prescribes you or your child an antibiotic for any condition, be sure that you complete the entire prescribed course of medication, even if you feel better before the medication is gone. The entire course is needed to kill any bacteria in your body that could become resistant to antibiotics. For this same reason, do not take an antibiotic left over from a prior illness.

If you have any of the conditions or symptoms listed, head to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center to see a physician today. No appointment is necessary, but registering online before you leave your home or office can help minimize your wait time.