Did you know that air travel has increased how quickly diseases can spread? Most large cities are within a few hours of each other, and this quick transportation of potential disease has been illustrated in many recent science fiction movies. SARS also showed us this, when the virus traveled quickly to every part of the world within several days. If you are looking for places to receive a flu shot from, one option is urgent care walk in clinics. Here are three things most urgent cares can help you with.
1. The Flu Shot
According to the Center for Disease Control, the best way to protect against the flu is to get protected every year. This is especially important for vulnerable individuals, which includes the very young, the very old, and those with compromised immune systems. 90% of flue deaths occur among individuals 65 years and older, and flu season runs from early October to late May. The flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop and protects against the most common strains.
2. Strep Throat
If you think you have strep throat. which is an infection of the throat and tonsils, local urgent care centers can help you out. First they will give you a rapid strep test, though waiting for the results of a throat culture are often ideal before starting antibiotics. Once confirmed, strep can be treated, and you will be non infectious after about 24 hours. Getting treatment can also help relieve painful symptoms such as swelling and coughing.
3. Heartburn
Did you know that urgent care center visits cost, on average, about 10% of an ER visit? When people have issues that are urgent but not an emergency, they often choose the ER because their doctor’s office is closed. However, walk in urgent clinics are a good backup. If you have bad heartburn, for example, they can help you out. In most cases, antacids will be provided, but for more severe, reoccurring problems, H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors might be necessary. Some people mistakenly assume bad bouts of heartburn are a heart attack.
Have you gone to an urgent care clinic? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments Continue.