More than 3.5 million youth 14 and younger receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year.

The school sports season is in full swing. Whether your child is the football team quarterback or a star swimmer, he’s at risk for a sports injury. Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care centers throughout Florida are on standby to diagnose and treat your child’s injury and get him back on the field, the courts, the track, etc. quickly and safely.

According to sports statisticians with organizations like Safe Kids USA, the National Center for Sports Safety and the Yale Medical Group:

• More than 3.5 million youth 14 and younger receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year;
• Injuries sustained in sports and recreational activities account for 21 percent of all traumatic brain injury among U.S. children, and although rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain injury;
• Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries;
• 62 percent of sports related injuries occur during practices rather than during games - yet, a third of parents admit they rarely take the same safety precautions during their children’s practices that they do for a game.
• Nearly half of all sports injuries to middle and high school students are overuse injuries (occurring from repeated motion over time).

Many of these injuries can be avoided by taking the recommended safety precautions including adequately stretching before a game, wearing or using the right safety equipment, undergoing proper training and conditioning, and getting sufficient rest after an injury.

Traumatic or life threatening injuries or conditions such as strokes, heat strokes, heart attacks and head injuries involving a loss of consciousness should be treated at an emergency room.  However, if your child suffers a less serious injury such as a sprain or fracture, pulled or strained muscle, cut or severe bruise skip the long wait and costly medical bill you’ll surely get at an emergency room by going to your nearest Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care center. We’re open early morning, late evening and weekend hours with no appointment necessary. Quicker treatment can make the difference in whether your child will be safely back in the game for the next tournament.

If your child hasn’t yet begun a sport, make sure he’s prepared before trying out. Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care centers statewide offer affordable school and sports physicals. You never need an appointment and you can save time by registering online before heading out.

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.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the CDC debunk the three most common myths about immunization.

August is Immunization Awareness Month - perfect timing for kids and college students heading back to school. But urgent care centers and physicians everywhere hear lots of misconceptions about immunizations every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help set the record straight three of the most common immunization myths.

MYTH: Immunizations are unnecessary because better hygiene and sanitation has caused many to disappear.
REALITY: Data documenting the number of cases of disease before and after the introduction of a vaccine show that vaccines overwhelmingly are responsible for the largest drops in disease rates. For example, the measles vaccine debuted in 1963 and by 1968, U.S. measles cases had dropped by 97 percent. Plus, while certain diseases like polio have been virtually wiped out in the U.S., they persist in other countries. Travelers can unknowingly bring these diseases into the U.S. and could spread quickly without the protection of vaccinations.

MYTH: Immunizations have potentially harmful side effects including illnesses and even death.
REALITY: Most adverse reactions to immunizations are minor and temporary and often can be controlled by taking over-the-counter acetaminophen before or after the vaccination. More serious reactions occur rarely - in about one per thousands to one per millions of doses. Says the CDC, “The fact is that a child is far more likely to be seriously injured by one of these diseases than by any vaccine. While any serious injury or death caused by vaccines is too many, it is also clear that the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the slight risk, and that many, many more injuries and deaths would occur without vaccinations.”

MYTH: Giving a child multiple vaccinations for different diseases at once can overload the immune system and increase the risk of harmful side effects.
REALITY: Studies show that recommended vaccines are just as effective in combination as they are individually, and that these combinations carry no greater risk for adverse side effects. Says the CDC: “There are two practical factors in favor of giving a child several vaccinations during the same visit. First, we want to immunize children as early as possible to give them protection during the vulnerable early months of their lives. Second, giving several vaccinations at the same time will mean fewer office visits for vaccinations, which saves parents both time and money and may be less traumatic for the child.”

For more in the importance, benefits and risks of immunizations, visit your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care Center. Our urgent care clinics are located throughout Florida and offer a full battery of school, work and travel-related vaccinations.

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.

Home injuries account for more than 21 million medical visits each year - especially in the springtime, says Solantic Baptist Urgent Care.

Spring has sprung - and with it, that annual urge to clear out, clean out and maybe even do a bit of DIY renovating. But if you’re not careful, prettying up your home can turn ugly and perhaps even land you in the urgent care center or hospital. All that lifting, climbing, trimming, bending and stooping can wreak havoc on a body, boosting the risk of home injuries, but few take proper precautions.

According to the Home Safety Council, home injuries result in upwards of 20,000 deaths and more than 21 million medical visits each year. A disproportionately high percentage of these incidents happen during the springtime, with falls and poisonings proving the most common culprits. Yet, a recent survey shows that just six percent of adult respondents are aware of the heightened risk for home injuries during the spring months as compared to other seasons.

“Climbing ladders, piling clutter on the floor and using household cleaners and chemicals are just a few examples of risky spring cleaning work,” says Meri-K Appy, Home Safety Council president. “They may sound harmless, but these common activities are associated with thousands of falls and accidental poisoning injuries each year.”

To make sure your spring cleaning goes smoothly, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the Home Safety Council offer these tips:

• Schedule spring cleaning projects one at a time so that you’re not feeling pressured. Rushing is a sure way to boost your risk of injury.
• Before you start cleaning, clear the cords to your telephones, computers, video games and other electronics from all the areas where you may walk. Also pick up children’s toys and keep pets outside or confined to rooms where you’re cleaning. It’s safer for both you and your pets.
• Dress for the occasion. Wear loose fitting garments of breathable fabrics, protective gloves and durable, rubber soled shoes to help keep you from slipping on wet floors.
• When cleaning out closets or reorganizing rooms, keep nearby stairs, steps, landings and floors clear of clutter. It can turn into a tripping hazard.
• Carry loads that you can clearly see over. If you’re carrying stacks of items up or down stairs, be sure to keep one hand free to hold railings and banisters.
• Use a sturdy stepladder or ladder - never your coffee table or other furniture - to reach high areas. The highest safe standing level is the second rung from the top on a stepladder or the fourth rung from the top on a ladder. Keep your body centered via three points of contact - two feet firmly on the rungs and one hand on a handle or step.
• Have someone help you move furniture or other heavy objects and always lift with the support of your knees rather than your back.
• Listen up, guys! Never use gasoline as a cleaning solvent. Even small amounts of gasoline can readily ignite.
• Don’t mix cleaning products, as their contents can react with dangerous results. Take the time to read product labels and follow directions. Wear gloves and a mask while using harsh chemicals.
• Never leave buckets or standing water unattended. Even small buckets pose a drowning danger to young children and pets.

Just in case something goes awry with your spring cleaning, know the location and phone number of your nearest urgent care center or emergency room.

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.