Eczema: “The Itch That Rashes”

06.05.2013

Eczema iTriage You find yourself suffering from dry, red and extremely itchy patches of skin. You ask yourself, “Could this be eczema?” According to iTriage, eczema, also referred to as Atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition characterized by dry, itchy skin. Eczema is often dubbed “ the itch that rashes” as itchiness can be the first symptom of the flare. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the United States have some form of eczema. But, did you know even some of the most desirable celebrities from around the world suffer from eczema? Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Grammy- award winner LeAnn Rimes are just two celebrities who suffer from this common skin condition. According to Meghan O’Brien, MD, consulting dermatologist for Physicians Formula, “Eczema is very common in children. Many adults outgrow a more severe form and are left with scattered areas of …

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Summer Vacation: 5 Health Tips To Keep In Mind

05.30.2013

iTriage It’s that time of year again: Students are flocking to the nearest beaches, and families are heading out for a getaway with the kids. While Summer Vacation is a chance to relax, it’s important to keep these essential health tips in mind when preparing for your trip. #1 Know Before You Go- Travel Advisories Do you know if the destination you are traveling to will be safe for non-residents? Have you gotten the proper vaccinations advised for your travel abroad? These are all things to check before you head out on your international vacation. The U.S. Department of State offers a free resource to stay up-to-date with travel warnings and alerts if you happen to be traveling abroad in the coming weeks. If your trip is taking you to a foreign country it is advised that you get the proper vaccinations before leaving. The Centers for Disease Control and …

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Energy Drinks: Healthy or Harmful?

05.26.2013

iTriage One claims to give you wings. One even touts that after drinking its contents you’ll “Unleash the beast”. You’ve got it; we’re talking about energy drinks. But are these energy drinks safe? Energy beverages are the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry. In 2011, annual sales boasted a whopping 6.9 billion dollars, exceeding the gluten free industry at 4.2 billion claims Doris Piccinin, MS, RD, CDE, CD, a dietician and core nutrition faculty member at Bastyr University. The real concern for parents and those indulging in these drinks is the amount of caffeine. Piccinin claims that the caffeine in energy drinks is not regulated. “The amount of caffeine in coffee is known, as well as the amount of caffeine in soda, but it is very challenging to find out how much caffeine is in energy beverages as it does not appear on most labels”, says Piccinin. In late …

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Travel Postcard Contest Rules

05.18.2013

Official Boca Regional Urgent Care Travel Postcard Contest Rules 1. No purchase necessary. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state, and local regulations apply. Boca Regional Urgent Care Travel Postcard Contest (“Contest”) is sponsored by Boca Regional Urgent Care (“Sponsor”). 2. Eligibility. Contest is offered only to legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. One winner per household. One winner per family. Sponsor, employees of Sponsor and the immediate families or members of the same households of such individuals are not eligible. Proof of age, identity, and eligibility must be furnished to Sponsors upon request. Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any entrant if these Contest rules are not followed. By entering, you agree to comply with all applicable law and these Contest rules, and you agree to abide all …

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May is Asthma Awareness Month

05.18.2013

Asthma is one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases. There are 26 million people in the United States living with asthma, a disease affecting the lungs, causing repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma successfully to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes. Successful asthma management includes knowing the warning signs of an attack, avoiding things that may trigger an attack, and following the advice of your healthcare provider. Using what you know about managing your asthma can give you control over this chronic disease. When you control your asthma, you will breathe easier, be as active as you would like, sleep well, stay out of the hospital, and be free from coughing and wheezing. To learn more about how you can control your asthma, visit CDC’s asthma site. Asthma affects people of all ages …

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May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Boca Regional Urgent Care Can Vaccinate You To Help Prevent The Disease

05.16.2013

Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation. In the United States, roughly 80,000 new hepatitis infections occur each year. About 4.4 million people currently live with chronic hepatitis B or C infection, which puts them at a significantly elevated risk of serious liver diseases, including cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Most infected individuals do not know they are infected. Globally, one in every 12 people is infected with viral hepatitis, and there are about one million hepatitis-associated deaths each year. NIAID supports and conducts research on each of the five known hepatitis viruses—A, B, C, D and E. During the past 60 years, NIAID-supported investigators have been involved in many important breakthroughs in hepatitis research, including the discovery of the hepatitis A and E viruses, the development of one of the first diagnostic tests for hepatitis A, and studies …

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The H7N9 Avian Flu Virus: Your Questions Answered

05.06.2013

ITriage In a news briefing on Wednesday, The World Health Organization (WHO) called the H7N9 avian virus “one of the most lethal influenza viruses we have seen so far.” To date, the virus has caused 24 deaths, and there have been 126 cases. There are many unknowns surrounding the avian flu, including how the virus is spread. Here are answers to some common questions: Can people transmit the avian flu virus to each other? Experts sill don’t know whether the avian flu virus can spread through human-to-human contact, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asserts that “no sustained person-to-person spread of the H7N9 virus has been found at this time.” While there seems to be little to no human-to-human transmission, authorities say that it could happen in the future, due to the virus mutating. Right now, authorities don’t know how people become infected. Some people who have …

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How to Manage Your Seasonal Allergies

04.29.2013

(StatePoint) Unfortunately, beautiful flowers and warm weather can also mean itchy, watery eyes, sneezing fits and nasal congestion. These days, pollen from plants and flowers typically are released earlier in the year than in the past, causing longer allergy seasons according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, which noted that 2012 was one of the worst such seasons on record. While there is no cure-all for seasonal allergies, popular over-the-counter (OTC) medications can provide relief for the most common symptoms. These guidelines can help you better manage your seasonal allergies: Season for Sneezing Popular OTC antihistamines can provide relief from sneezing, runny noses and irritated, watery eyes by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical in the body that triggers congestion and upper respiratory discomfort. All Stuffed Up? Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (PSE) relieve a stuffy nose by actually narrowing the blood vessels in nasal passages so you …

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Mysterious Avian Flu in China Raises Questions About Transmission

04.26.2013

ITriage April 2013 To date, there have been 87 confirmed cases of the H7N9 avian flu virus in southeastern China, and 17 people have died. Researchers don’t know how the virus is spread, and there is currently no vaccination available. Government officials worldwide are taking steps to contain the virus, and public health experts are working feverishly to learn more about the virus and to develop a treatment regimen. Avian flu is a virus that normally is transmitted from animals to humans, causing flu-like symptoms, such as in the case of the H5N1 virus, which has affected parts of Asia and the Middle East since 2003. By contrast, experts are stumped as to how the new H7N9 virus spreads. An international panel of influenza experts arrived in Beijing on Thursday, and will start investigating possible sources of the virus. Reuters reported on Wednesday that 40 percent of infected people had …

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Where is Becca Now? (4/26/13)

04.26.2013

   When last we saw, Becca was at Notre Dame (Paris), from there she went to  Belgium, Germany is now where?

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