Month: June 2012

With summer quickly approaching, most of us will be making our way out to the pool, beach, lake, park, or some other fun outdoor destination more regularly. This increased outdoor activity also means increased exposure to the sun and the ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause skin damage. According to Dr. John Janik, leader of the Melanoma Multidisciplinary Clinic at Georgia Health Sciences University Cancer Center, “Prolonged sun exposure equals skin damage”. In today’s post, we’ll give you some quick and easy to follow tips to help you enjoy the sunny weather and keep your skin in pristine condition all summer long.

Tip #1 – Use Sunscreen! Even on cloudy or overcast days when you can’t see the sun’s rays, they are there and you can get burned if you don’t protect yourself. For maximum protection, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a “broad spectrum” sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Also, be sure to reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours or after you’ve gone in the water.

Tip #2 – Stay in the shade in the middle of the day. Try to avoid the sun as much as possible during the peak, midday hours of 10am to 2pm. Stay in the shade if you can or if you must be in the sun during these hours, be sure to cover up with appropriate clothing (wide brim hat to protect head, neck and face) or wear an appropriate “broad spectrum” sunscreen.

Tip #3 – Double your protection in the water. Water and snow can reflect up to 85% of the harmful UV rays back up at you, so if you’re in the water, you need almost twice the protection than you do otherwise. Also, if you’re in the water, even waterproof sunscreens can wash off over time, so you need to reapply regularly.

For additional tips on protecting your skin this summer, click here.

If you or someone in your family experiences a sunburn requiring medical attention, stop by your neighborhood WellStreet Urgent Care and one of our board-certified physicians will provide you with excellent care, as well as treatment for your burn. This may include a prescribed regimen of aloe vera and a cold compress for mild burns and possibly a prescription cream for severe sunburns. Our caring medical staff will get you well on your way…fast!

This time of year, the rise in outdoor activities means there is more chance for related injuries. Some common joint injuries that we see with the change in the weather and the increased outdoor activity are sprains (ankles, wrists, etc.), tendinitis, and tennis elbow.

A sprain occurs when the ligaments holding a joint together are overstretched or torn. The most typical sprain is of the ankle and occurs when the foot is rolled over on the outer edge causing the ligaments on the outer side of the foot to be overstretched or torn.

Tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon generally caused by overuse. Common forms are jumpers knee (patellar tendinitis) typically caused by repetitive jumping and landing, and swimmers shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis) typically caused by overuse of the shoulder.

Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the ligaments of the elbow and similar to tendinitis in that it is generally caused by overuse. Tennis elbow can be caused by a variety of repetitive activities, such as tennis, swimming, climbing, or even certain work-related repetitive tasks.

If you have a common joint injury and live in the Greater Atlanta area, drop into your neighborhood WellStreet Urgent Care center. A board-certified physician will conduct a thorough exam to determine the extent of your injury. This may include an x-ray to access the severity of the injury and to check for any broken bones. If the injury is minor, then the treatments may include stabilizing the joint, rest, ice and over the counter anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the swelling. If the injury is more severe, the physician may refer you to an orthopedic specialist who can provide the necessary injury specific treatments. Either way, we’ll help you get you the proper treatment so that you can get well on your way… fast!

We’re launching our fifth location at Buckhead Pointe in Atlanta, GA, moving us one step closer to becoming the largest and most preferred urgent care provider in metropolitan Atlanta. The new facility is in the Buckhead Pointe Shopping Center which is conveniently located on the corner of Roswell Road and Piedmont Road.  The new location will service the Buckhead and North Atlanta areas.

The Buckhead Pointe location offers all of the great things that separate WellStreet from other urgent care facilities: luxury patient amenities, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and above all compassionate, patient-focused healthcare. The newly remodeled 4600 square foot facility includes a spacious, family-friendly waiting room with a separate children’s play area, six large exam rooms, and an on-site lab.

The center will be open 7 days-a-week, 9 am to 9 pm, including holidays! No appointments are needed, just drop in and receive accurate, thorough, and timely treatment from a caring, board-certified physician.

When you need immediate medical treatment for any non life-threatening illness or injury, such as tendinitis, sunburn, heat rash, fever, or allergies, visit your neighborhood WellStreet Urgent Care and we’ll get you well on your way, fast!

WellStreet Urgent Care Open Locations

Austell – Brookwood Square, 3999 Austell Road #901, Austell, GA 30106   770-809-3032

South Buckhead – Peachtree Square, 2292 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30301    404-382-9941

Alpharetta – Saddlebrook Shopping Center, 10945 State Bridge Road, Suite 501, Alpharetta, GA 30022   404-996-0194

Sandy Springs, 6660 Roswell Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328   404-996-0195

North Buckhead – Buckhead Pointe Shopping Center, 3617 Roswell Road, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30305    404-996-0196

For many people, finding the right treatment for migraines is extremely difficult. Some people suffer for months at home, after being told again and again that their migraines are beyond treatment.

Often, the exact cause of migraines is elusive. People that attempt to diagnose themselves may mistake their migraines for just a severe normal headache, and attempt to treat it with conventional over the counter medication. With most migraines, this can be quite ineffective.

There are many different symptoms that your doctor can use to help properly diagnose a migraine. Some of the more common migraine symptoms include a throbbing pain on one side of the head or behind the eyes. This is often accompanied by an extreme sensitivity to light and sound. For some people, nausea and vomiting can occur during a migraine as well.

On occasion, some people experience an aura before the onset of a migraine. These can include blurred vision, flashes of light, and the sensation of pins and needles on the extremities. After the worst is over, many people that experience migraines report feeling worn out or exhausted.

It is always important to keep track of such occurrences. The more information your doctor has, the better able he or she will be to prescribe the best possible treatment for migraines.

The treatment for migraines can vary depending on the patient. Sometimes it can include a change in sleeping habits. Other times it may include a change in diet to remove dietary triggers for migraines. Medication is often required to successfully prevent or lessen the symptoms of a migraine headache.

WellStreet Urgent Care may be able to help you find out if the headaches you are experiencing are truly migraines. One of our board-certified physicians will give you a thorough examination and may prescribe medication to help treat your migraine symptoms.  No appointment is necessary, so stop in to your neighborhood WellStreet and we’ll get you well on your way…fast!

For additional information on Migraines, check out these great resources:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/migraine_headache/hic_migraine_headaches.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/migraines-headaches-overview