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Tetanus Shot Booster Basics 

Tetanus is a rare disease caused by bacteria known as Clostridium tetani. The toxin produced by the bacteria affects the function of the nerves and leads to severe muscle spasms in the stomach, neck, and extremities. The disease is often called lockjaw since the muscle spasms in the face and neck can lead to the incapacity to open the mouth. Unfortunately, it is a serious condition that is fatal in up to 30 percent of cases.

The beginning symptoms include:

– Stiff neck

– Spasm of the muscle that closes the mouth

– Trouble swallowing

– Sweating

– Fever

– Rapid heartbeat

Most cases happen in people who have never been vaccinated or who haven’t had a booster shot in the past ten years.

It’s true that if you get a tetanus vaccine immediately after exposure to the bacterium, it can protect you. However, it’s likely that you won’t seek medical attention if the wound is minor. Your safest bet is to get a tetanus booster every ten years to protect yourself.

Adults who didn’t get a primary series of tetanus immunizations in childhood should get three doses over 7-12 months, followed by a booster shot every ten years. If you were immunized in childhood, you need a booster shot every ten years.

If you step on a nail or have a wound that’s dirty and haven’t had a tetanus booster in the past ten years, you should clean the wound and seek medical attention immediately. That should include a tetanus shot.

Do you have questions about when you should get your next booster shot? We can help with this and more! When you need urgent medical attention, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. With facilities in Irvine and Stanton, we treat you quickly. We welcome walk-ins and have an expert team of medical professionals ready to help you.

Bike helmet safety for your children.

You would never dream of sending your son or daughter out on a bike without head protection. But is the helmet he or she dons giving the right level of protection? Read More

The benefits of cooking in early childhood.

Whether you love cooking or hate it, you most likely see it as an integral part of getting your family the nutrition they need. The meals prepared in your home are the ones over which you have the most control. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could encourage your kids to eat right even when you’re not there to help them make healthy choices? Here are three ways cooking with them might do just that!

1. It gets them involved. Bringing your children in while cooking can help them learn more about what they like and don’t like. Let your kids taste as the meal is prepared so they can offer their input. The opportunity to explore new flavors in small bites and in the safety of your own kitchen can help them see how exciting healthy eating can be!
2. It helps them see food the right way. Cooking gives your kids a chance to understand that food doesn’t just appear like magic. Work goes into putting meals in front of them, and having a hand in that work can help them build a healthy appreciation for food and the nourishment it provides.
3. It helps keep everyone safe. When you have your kids with you in the kitchen, you have the chance to teach them a wide range of safety lessons. Talk about food safety; they can help you keep an eye on expiration dates! Get them in the habit of using oven mitts, minding the stove, and practicing knife safety. 

Cooking together can help your child grow into a healthy adult. Taking care of your family’s health and wellbeing is essential. For minor to moderate injuries and medical issues, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. If a higher level of care is needed, our triage staff and/or providers will direct patients to the appropriate specialist or to an emergency room for further treatment. Call us today for more information!

Make improvements in your lifestyle that will ultimately benefit your children.

While January is a time to make resolutions, most of us make them about ourselves, whether it’s to lose weight, save money or learn a new hobby. Whether or not we like to admit it, our children pick up on this. We teach them it’s okay to go on crazy diets to look better and to buy books to only watch TV instead. This year, propose to resolve to teach your children to focus on things that really matter.

Unplug

Technology is amazing and incredibly useful, but it disconnects families regularly. Parents rely on technology and kids are attracted to technology. If we don’t control our usage, it quickly takes over our lives. Make it a conscious decision to unplug more often in 2018. Don’t allow cell phones at the table or during family time and spend some quality time outside or doing activities instead of watching TV.

Slow Down

Today’s children are over-scheduled. Kids as young as 7 are running from activity to activity, barely stopping to eat. From the multiple sports teams to countless clubs, it’s no surprise that kids can be tired and stressed. As a parent, learn to slow down and give yourself (and your child) a break. Make a resolution to take it a little easier this year.

Be Proud

If speaking kind words to plants makes them grow better, imagine what it could do to children? Ensure that you give your kids praise for a good job well done or for recognizing something isn’t right. Often all kids want is some recognition and a pat on the back, rather than trophies and certificates.

If your child gets injured or ill out in the cold, take him or her to Sand Canyon Urgent Care. With facilities in Irvine and Stanton, we can help treat your child quickly. We welcome walk-ins and have an expert team of medical professionals ready to help you.

Are you feeding your child a toxic breakfast?

As we’ve taught, and our parent’s taught before us, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, that statement only stands true when we’re serving a healthy dish. While it is easy to supply your children with cereal that takes seconds to pour into a bowl and is an easy clean-up, many commercial brands of cereals out in the markets today are loaded with nasty ingredients that our children should never have.

Be aware of these common ingredients that can be harmful to your child’s health.

Added Sugar
Sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, evaporated cane juice – whatever it is labeled, you don’t want to be serving up your child sugar for breakfast. While this may make anything taste sweet and desirably better, sugar can be detrimental to our health. More and more research is tying sugar in the standard American diet to all sorts of chronic disease and ailments.

Hydrogenated Oils
Partially hydrogenated oils contain trans fats, which is notably linked to cancer. In fully hydrogenated fats, you’ll find saturated fats. What’s more, trans fat is linked to cancer, heart disease, and immune system problems. As trans fats are not generally regarded as safe according to the FDA, it’s best to avoid them altogether.

Additives

Even though food additives like BHA and BHT are generally regarded as safe, some studies have linked BHA to cancer and BHT as a trigger for ADHD. In fact, some ADHD diets avoid BHA and BHT because parents across America have noticed a lack of impulse control after children consume it. Furthermore, additives like artificial food dyes have been known to cause hyperactivity in children. Red 3, a conventional dye, has been listed as a carcinogen by the FDA.

As we, the consumer, become more informed about our choices of what to eat, we make healthier and more mindful choices. As a parent, the concern of your child’s health will undoubtedly cause you to reconsider buying cereals with known toxins.

For minor to moderate injuries and all medical issues, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care and let us take care of your family’s medical needs. Call us today on (949) 536-7892 for more information!

Reduce signs of inflammation by starting treatment early.

At one time or another, we’ve all experienced some form of inflammation. Acute inflammation can leave you with pain around the infected area, redness, immobility, swelling, and heat. The issue with inflammation is what comes after the body’s initial response. Inflammation can last longer than the initial healing phase, and issues such as lowered immunity, degenerative diseases, and even cancer can come into the picture.

Here are three steps you can take to reduce inflammation today.

Eat Clean

What we eat on a daily basis will have a profound effect on the body’s ability to fight inflammation and prevent it from happening. An anti-inflammatory diet can go a long way in reducing inflammation, as well as improving overall health. Top anti-inflammatory foods are leafy green vegetables, dark green vegetables, berries, coconut, Asian mushrooms, pineapple, apples, and spirulina. Meat, poultry, and dairy products are pro-inflammatory and one should have a reduced consumption if not elimination when looking to fight inflammation. Flour and sugar are made from refined carbohydrates that promote inflammation, too.

Exercise Regularly

Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your schedule every day. Not only will this reduce inflammation and boost your immune function, but it will provide cardiovascular benefits, boost your mood, and decrease your stress levels. Bear in mind that excessive intense exercise can increase inflammation and cause injury, so don’t overdo it.

Limit Exposure to Toxins
When the immune system is faced with foreign substances like environmental toxins, it typically reacts by creating inflammation. Start to identify where you come in contact with these toxins, such as pollution, cigarette smoke, and pesticides, and try to eliminate your exposure to them.

For all your medical needs, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. We’re open in Irvine and Stanton, and welcome walk-in patients. Our onsite diagnostic and lab facilities help us to best serve you and your loved ones. Call us at (949) 536-7892 or visit us here to get started!