Why might you need to visit a medical clinic in the summer months? There isn't one reason to schedule an appointment at your local community medical center. But the hot, humid weather, an increase in outdoor activities, and other summer-related issues may make an unexpected trip to the doctor's office more likely. Take a look at some of the reasons you may need to visit a clinic in the summer season.
Strains, Sprains, and More
Whether you jog, hike, bike, play an outdoor sport, or engage in any other summer-time physical activity, you're at risk for a sprain, strain, break, or another similar injury. While some muscle strains, pains, and aches may not seem like a reason to seek care, you should never ignore discomfort that starts during or after physical activity.
Failure to address or treat strains and sprains could lead to chronic pain or additional injuries. This makes it important to visit the clinic as soon as you injure yourself. The medical provider will need to take a health history, gather information about the injury (such as what caused the pain or how you treated the injury immediately after it happened), examine the area, and may order diagnostic imaging tests as needed. If the injury is severe or requires surgery, the doctor can refer you to a specialist for treatment.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Some types of heat-related illnesses are medical emergencies. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of heat stroke warrant a call to 911 for emergency medical attention. The CDC notes that these signs include a high body temperature that is 103 degrees Fahrenheit or over, hot or red skin, dry skin, damp skin, fast/strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Some people have all of these symptoms, while others may have one or a few signs of heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion is also a medical emergency. It can progress into heat stroke if not treated promptly. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, cold/pale/clammy skin, fast or weak pulse, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, tiredness/weakness, dizziness, headache, or fainting, according to the CDC.
While heat stroke and heat exhaustion require emergency medical treatment, a medical center can treat other heat-related conditions (such as heat cramps, sunburn, and heat rash). The medical provider will provide an examination and prescribe or recommend a treatment to alleviate pain and help your body to heal.
Contact a medical clinic to learn more.
Share25 May 2023
I am a mother of four wonderful children, and like other parents, I have been to my fair share of health care clinics. It seems like my children are always getting scrapes and coming down with colds. When I was a new parent, I never knew whether I should take my injured or ill child to the emergency room or local urgent care facility. I received some simple advice from a seasoned parent that made my decisions easier that I want to pass onto all new parents, along with other health tips I've learned. he told me that she tended to take her children to the ER when they were bleeding or had very high temperatures and took them to the local urgent care for any other problem. I have followed her advice ever since, and my children remain healthy and happy!
