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.

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.

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.

Winter is a busy season for urgent care clinics and doctors’ offices everywhere. Cold temperatures keep many inside for a few extra hours. All that close-quarters togetherness means viruses are handed off at greater rates than in the summertime, when people are enjoying the great outdoors. And cold-weather indulgences like wood-burning fireplaces can trigger respiratory problems.

To help keep you and your family healthy throughout the winter, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers preventative tips to guard against the most common cold season illnesses:

Make sure you have a healthy winter season with a visit to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care clinic.

Common Cold: Statistics show there’s a 99% chance your child will catch a cold each winter season. In fact, young kids typically get three to 10 colds each year and as you know - there is no cure outside of letting it run its course. To help dodge a cold or quicken your recovery from one keep your natural resistance through good nutrition, exercise and plenty of restorative sleep. Dry air dries out and cracks mucous membranes in your nose and throat, creating entry points for cold viruses, so turn your thermostat down a few notches and keep the humidity up in your home or office. Avoid direct contact with others who already have colds and wash up to your hands frequently.

Influenza: The flu is another tough one to dodge, especially for kids and the elderly. Up to 40 percent of all children will get hit with the flu each year. For higher risk patients including elders and people with chronic health problems, the flu can lead to more serious complications such as pneumonia. In fact, more than 200,000 people in the U.S. (including 20,000 children) are hospitalized with flu-related complications annually and flu-related deaths number in the thousands each year. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care urges you to get your flu vaccinations early, before flu season hits hard. We know - nobody likes a shot! The good news: Only one flu vaccine is needed for the 2010-2011 influenza season. Last season, different vaccines were needed to help prevent both seasonal influenza and the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. This year’s seasonal flu vaccine protects against three strains of the flu including H1N1.

Stomach Flu: Also called “Viral Gastroenteritis,” this stomach bug typically hits a full 90 percent of kids at least once by age four. But thanks to the relatively new RotaTeq oral vaccine (save for babies two months and older) 79 percent fewer children fall ill with the stomach flu each year since the FDA’s 2007 approval.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): RSV causes common cold symptoms and triggers bronchiolitis (an infection of the small airways) in 40 percent of cases. This adds wheezing, rapid breathing and a persistent cough to RSV’s common cold-like symptoms. It’s contagious during the four- to six-day incubation period, plus three to eight days afterward and may require inhaled medication or hospitalization. Air irritants worsen RSV symptoms, so avoid exposure to wood-burning fireplaces, cigarette smoke and strongly scented lotions and perfumes.

Roseola: Unfortunately, there is no preventative vaccine for this rash-causing illness that comes with a fever, cough and often, diarrhea. Avoid exposure to those who may be infected and insist on good hygiene practices.

To ensure you and your family are ready for the winter season, stop by your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care clinic for all your seasonal vaccinations. If an illness hits, Solantic is open evenings and weekends and you never need an appointment.

Halloween is a favorite holiday among both kids and adults, and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care wants to make sure yours is more treat than trick. Dressing up in elaborate costumes, decking out your yard or home in hauntingly cool decorations and, of course, stuffing your face with sweet treats - who can resist? As enjoyable as each of these Halloween traditions is, each also poses health and safety risks. In fact, statistics show that from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. each October 31, there is a considerable risk in falls, burns and pedestrian accidents. Child pedestrian accidents are more than twice as likely to occur on Halloween as on any other night of the year according to Safe Kids USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating preventable childhood injuries.

To help keep your Halloween festivities rockin’ Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers these tips:

Incidents of child injuries from tripping, burn-related accidents and pedestrian accidents more than double on Halloween night compared to any other night of the year. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers tips for a safe and healthy Halloween.

• - Help your child choose a costume that’s both fun and safe. Check the label to ensure materials are fireproof or treated with a fire retardant. If you opt for a homemade costume and you’re unsure whether the materials are fireproof, use a fire retardant spray.
• - Choose close-fitting costumes. Flowing fabrics increase injury risks from tripping or catching fire if the costume grazes a flame.
• - Instruct your kids to stay clear of candle-lit luminaries and jack-o- lanterns to avoid potential burns - even if costumes are marked fireproof. You can never be too safe when it comes to fire. If you’re doing the decorating, use glow sticks or battery-operated lights rather than flames.
• - Choose masks with eye holes that are large enough to allow full peripheral vision - especially if you’ll be out trick-or-treating and crossing streets.
• - Make sure that props such as knives, pitchforks and even magic wands have smooth tips and are flexible and light-weight.
• - Work reflector strips, a flash light or light stick into your child’s costume to make it more visible at night. Not only will this assure that drivers see your child, but it will help you keep an eye on him/her while trick-or-treating.
• - Fill your children’s tummies with a healthy meal or snack before trick-or-treating to ensure they won’t be tempted to munch candies along the way. In fact, instruct them to wait until they get home and allow you to inspect their loot before digging in.
• - When checking their trick-or-treat bags, throw away anything unwrapped and check for treats with ingredients to which your child may be allergic including chocolate or nuts.
• - While there’s not much healthy about candy in general, some candies are healthier than others. Dark chocolate, sugar-free gums and candies, and unopened granola, fruit and nut bars are great choices.
• - To help avoid a candy-gorging tummy ache and instill a sense of good will, convince your children to split their trick-or-treat candy with a charitable organization. Children staying at homeless shelters or domestic abuse centers often are unable to enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating. Sharing will not only make a less fortunate child’s day, but your children may find they truly enjoy and are proud of making a charitable and socially responsible choice.

In case your child does fall victim to a Halloween hazard, make sure you know the location and hours of your nearest walk-in Solantic Baptist Urgent Care clinic or hospital emergency room.

National Drug-Free Work Week is October 18-24 and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care is urging all employers to participate. An initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, Drug-Free Work Week is a dedicated time each year to highlight the benefits of a drug-free workplace to workers, employers and communities, and to help provide companies of all sizes with the resources needed to assure their staff remain drug free all year round.

The statistics on drug and alcohol use in the workplace are quite sobering. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, The Journal of Studies on Alcohol, The Journal of Applied Psychology and other research sources:

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help your company avoid the devastating effects of substance use and abuse in the workplace.

•    75 percent of the nation’s current illegal drug users are employed and 3.1 percent say they have actually used illegal drugs before or during work hours.
•    79 percent of the nation’s heavy alcohol users are employed and 7.1 percent say they have actually consumed alcohol during the workday.
•    An estimated 1.7 percent of employed adults worked while under the influence of alcohol and 9.2 percent worked with a hangover in the past year.
•    Workers reporting heavy alcohol use or illicit drug use, as well as workers reporting dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs, are more likely to have worked for more than three employers in the past year and are more likely to have skipped work more than two days in the past month.
•    Workers reporting illicit drug use or dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs were also more likely to have missed more than two days of work due to illness or injury.

An employee’s substance use or abuse impacts not only his or her own performance at work, but that of coworkers as well. Studies show that coworkers often are forced to work harder, redo botched work or cover shifts and responsibilities of employees who are continually under the influence of alcohol or drugs - including prescription drugs. What’s more, an employee whose substance use poses danger or causes injury to coworkers and customers is a huge legal and financial liability for a company of any size. Keep in mind that smaller businesses are at a higher risk, in part because they are less likely to have or implement programs to combat the problem.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help in your efforts to make your workplace drug-free all year round. We offer 5, 8, 9 and 10-panel drug screens, blood alcohol screens and breathalyzer tests, as well as collection only of blood or urine. Like our screens designed specifically for the Department of Transportation, drug testing can be tailored for your company’s particular needs. And Solantic Baptist Urgent Care is an approved provider for most insurance carriers and worker’s compensation networks.

To help keep your company drug-free, contact your nearest Solantic urgent care clinic at 904-223-2320 or occhealth@solantic.com and ask about opening your corporate account.

As kids and college students head back to campus, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the America Occupational Therapy Association are urging parents and youngsters to pay close attention to the loads of books, school supplies and gadgets they’re carrying in their backpacks. September 16 is National School Backpack Awareness Day and the ATOA is encouraging schools to hold backpack weigh-ins and other awareness events. Studies show that heavy backpacks, unevenly distributed weight loads and backpacks worn incorrectly are notorious for causing long term back and shoulder pain, muscle spasms and torn tendons. Backpacks worn with uneven straps can affect balance, which can result in urgent care needs such as twisted ankles.

A great tell-tale clue for parents: if your child tends to lean forward while wearing his or her backpack, it’s too heavy. Other signs are red marks on the shoulders, muscle spasms and tingling or numbness in the arms. A few tips:

Heavy backpacks, purses and laptop bags can cause neck, shoulder and back problems among other orthpedic health woes.

• Make sure your child is using a backpack that’s right for his size.
• Look for backpacks with pockets that help evenly distribute weight.
• A child’s backpack weight should be no more than 20 percent of his body weight according to the American Society of Orthopedics. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends going even lighter - 10-15 percent.
• Look for backpacks with shoulder straps and make sure the straps are adjusted evenly and tight enough that the backpack doesn’t hang loose - even if your kid complains that it looks “dorky.”
• Take out all unnecessary items, including all those electronic gadgets not allowed at school anyway.
• If your child is loaded down with books, he may have to carry a few by hand. If possible, purchase a second set of text books to keep at home.
• Encourage your child to place books in lockers between classes if time permits.
• Rolling backpacks might be an option if your child does not have to climb stairways to get to class, but can pose a tripping hazard for other students if hallways are overcrowded.
• When packing, make sure that the heaviest books and items are placed closest to your child’s back, as the middle of the back is where the strongest muscles are located.

Of course, these issues aren’t just about school backpacks. Those celebrity-inspired oversized purses and heavy laptop cases also can cause neck, back and shoulder strain. Carrying a heavy purse or bag over one shoulder causes the user to totally shift the body’s stance. Over time, this can shorten the muscles, resulting in a twisted or lop-sided body position. Heavy shoulder bags also strain muscles that exit the neck and continue down the shoulder, which can lead to arthritis. Orthopedic experts recommend minimizing your load, opting for a stylish rucksack instead of a purse or using wearing a long-strapped purse across your body, and using a rolling laptop bag, laptop backpack or contoured laptop bag that fits the shape of your body.

Visit Soltantic Baptist Urgent Care for all your back-to-school health need including school and sports physicals and immunizations.