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Flu Shots: Few Misconceptions Why People Avoid and why they should

Every year, health experts warn people to get the flu shots while the majority of people don’t take it seriously. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 37% of U.S adults were estimated to have been vaccinated last flu season, a fall of 6% from the year before.

Meanwhile, the CDC estimates the flu killed more than 80,000 people and caused more than 900,000 hospitalizations last year.

A professor of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Dr. Deborah said, “it is better to have the flu shot, instead of getting flu. People who have seen children dying off from the flu or heard of adults losing their life from the flu, it’s hard for me to settle”.

Let’s have a look at some of the misconceptions people have about the flu vaccine and the truth behind them.

It Doesn’t Work Well, Why Should we get it

In the past few decades, the flu shot is as effective as 44% on average, according to a review of CDC data. In February, health officials have a meeting to choose which strains to include the year’s flu shot. Even though if they pick a good match, the virus often alters, as much as vaccine causes immune responses that do not diagnose the illness and therefore struggle to fight it.

It is quite possible that you can be attacked by flu, even if you get a flu shot. However, the vaccine is still an ideal way to prevent yourself from being attacked. People who get the shot end up getting sick but not as severely as those who don’t.

It’s is not perfectly successful, but it does reduce your odds of getting it and lessens your chance of being in the hospital or the morgue, said Dr. Paul, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

What if I get the Flu even if I am Young & Healthy?

It’s true that the very young and very old are most susceptible to dying from the flu. However, that doesn’t make everyone in between invincible. Influenza can cause havoc on the body. The upper respiratory illness can cause people to experience a sore throat, headache, chills, cough, runny nose and body aches according to the CDC.

It may lead to complications such as pneumonia, which can be serious. The combination of influenza and pneumonia was the eighth leading cause of death in 2016, killing 51,537 people that year, according to the CDC.

Health researchers have also found that there is an increased risk of heart attack and stroke as people recover from the illness. Even if you are healthy and young, you can spread the flu to someone who is not. Apparently, healthy adults might be able to contaminate other people one day before their symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick, according to the CDC.

Flu Shot will give me the Flu

The flu shot is made from the flu virus. However, it is deactivated, making it difficult for the vaccine to give you the flu.

While making the vaccine, scientists include two surface proteins from the virus, said Offit. When a person gets flu shot, the immune system’s antibodies can learn how to fight flu without being attacked by it, he added.

The vaccine is principally an exercise for your immune system. For instance, people might experience a low-grade fever or sore arm after the shot because their bodies are learning to fight.

It is better to have a sore arm for a while rather than suffering from flu for three to four days and lying in bed, not wanting to eat or drink because of the flu, said Dr. Aaron Milstone, an associate hospital epidemiologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Final Verdict

Flu activity is high in October and November and can last up till May, according to the CDC. It recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October because it takes at least two weeks for antibodies that fight the flu to grow in your body. In short words, CDC recommends that it is useful to get the shot later than not at all.

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The Immigration Medical Exam: Common Questions and Answers

Immigration … a term we have all become familiar with lately. Due to recent immigration policy changes by President Trump, news sources throughout the county are featuring segments and articles on immigration daily. It’s become very popular topic among our elected leaders and those affected by immigration. The American dream is alive and well, and people all over the world continue to want to come to the United States, as shown in recent immigration numbers.

In 2018 several changes were made to the immigration application. In addition to the new guidelines on the signature requirement, power of attorney signatures are no longer accepted.  The immigration mission statement has been changed to take out the words, “nation of immigrants,” the path to citizenship for DREAMers has been amended, new fees have been implemented, and more.

At UrgentWay, we can help with one of the main requirements of the citizenship process … the medical examination. Here’s a quick overview of the requirements for that exam. (For more details on the application, please visit the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs website.)

How do I prepare for the Immigration Medical Exam?

While you can’t really “study” for your medical exam, it helps to know what to expect, and you will need to provide several forms:

Valid passport or another government-issued photo identification (children under 14 years old need to bring documents with name, place of birth, date of birth, and parents’ full names)

Vaccination records

Completed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

Required number of U.S. passport photos

Acknowledgement of any learning disabilities for yourself or any family members who are also applying for citizenship

List of medications you are taking

Tuberculosis certification from your doctor

Any history of harmful or violent behavior resulting in injury to people or animals. This information will need to be shared with the doctor so that he/she can determine if the behavior was related to drug or alcohol abuse or a psychological or medical problem.

Insurance card (if you have insurance)

Can any doctor perform the exam?

Not all doctors are able to perform the immigration examination. You’ll have to be examined by a civil surgeon who has been approved by the U.S. Government, or USCIS-certified. At UrgentWay we have several USCIS-certified doctors on staff who can perform the examination for you. Sometimes, DNA testing is required as part of the medical exam to prove family affiliation. We also provide AABB-accredited DNA testing services, so you can get both exams done at one time.

What does the medical exam cover?

The medical examination has a few different parts:

A review of your medical history and immunization records (see below for details on required vaccinations)

DNA test (if needed)

Test for various diseases and illnesses

A physical and mental evaluation

Drug and alcohol screening

Several vaccinations will need to be given during the medical examination, as required by the Immigration and Naturalization Act.  The following vaccines are mandatory because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined they are in the interest of public health:

Haemophilius Influenza Type B

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Influenza

Meningococcal

Mumps, Measles, Rubella (MMR)

Pertussis

Pneumococcal Pneumonia

Polio

Rotavirus

Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids

Varicella

If you have had any of these vaccinations already, be sure to bring certified documentation of your vaccines to the exam to give the doctor.

What if I fail the exam?

You could fail the medical exam if:

You have drug abuse or addiction

You have a physical or mental disorder associated with harmful behavior

You don’t show proof of vaccinations

You have a communicable disease of public health significance.

What does the exam cost?

Cost for the examination can vary from $100 to $400, and you will need to be prepared to pay for the examination the same day.  At UrgentWay, our immigration medical exam costs are very affordable, if no further tests or treatments are needed. (We periodically offer special pricing on immigration exams; check our Special Offers page for details.)

Once the exam is complete, the doctor will give you the documentation required in a sealed envelope. Don’t open the envelope … keep it sealed and submit it with your Form I-693. The exam results are good for one year.

How do I schedule my immigration medical exam?

All four of our UrgentWay locations offer immigration medical exams, but we do recommend scheduling an appointment to ensure that our USCIS-certified doctors are available. Call us at 877-276-9006 with questions or to schedule your appointment, or book online.

If you have more questions, or need more details, check out our Immigration Medical Exam services page on our website. We look forward to helping you get the immigration medical exam crossed off your list.

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STD Facts: 5 Things You Need to Know

What if someone asks, are you having safe sex and your answer is “sometimes” or “I think so”, you might need to worry a little. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur each year in the United States, and one half are among 15 to 24 years old.

If you are jolted with the statistics, you might get an even bigger shock. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections are reported every day worldwide.

The purpose of this post is to help you out in knowing the facts about Sexually Transmitted Diseases. You might know a few of them while some of them will be new to you. Let’s have a look at facts about STD and STD testing.

Women are More Prone to STDs Compared to Men

Women are more prone to STDs as compared to men but it has no link with sexual activity. It is only because of their physical structure and that is why men are able to transmit the infection to women (not intentionally or deliberately).

Moreover, the STD in women can be worse than men. For instance, untreated chlamydia can disperse to the uterus and fallopian tubes, which can result in pelvic inflammatory disease leading to infertility and chronic pelvic pain.

It is possible that the women can affect the child if they become pregnant. Similarly, women having genital herpes can also pass on to the child during delivery. The risk can be reduced but not eliminated at all. Using female condoms during sexual intercourse or asking men to wear a condom while having sex will ensure prevention from STD.

Some STDs can be Treated but not Cured

Bacterial STDs such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics, scabies and pubic lice can be cured with insecticides.

Viral STDs such as genital warts, hepatitis B, HPV, herpes, and HPV are instigated by HPV that can be managed but not curable. Living with STD not only affect your physical health but also disturb you emotionally. Moreover, it can also affect your romantic relationships.

Before having sex, tell your partner about having STD. In some cases, it can be considered as a criminal offense, if you don’t let them know. Before you involve in any sexual relations, make sure that both of you get tested for STDs.

Untreated STDs can adversely affect Your Health

As discussed earlier, women tend to have frequent health complication from STDs as compared to men. If the symptoms are not noticed timely, the damage might be irreversible.

Moreover, infertility and pelvic inflammatory infection caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia can cause cervical cancer in women. Men and women are both at risk of liver failure or liver disease caused by heart and blood vessel damage and hepatitis B.

Pregnant women with STDs are in jeopardy for ectopic pregnancies, premature delivery, and miscarriages. Moreover, it can also be transferred to the baby as well.

Condoms do not certify Prevention from STDs

Condoms do not guarantee prevention from STDs, but still use a new condom every time you have vaginal, oral or anal sex. Every partner who is faithful in a relationship and has no symptoms of STDs may go for condoms to prevent any risk of developing or transmitting STDs.

Sexually Active Men and Women have HPV Infection

Out of 150 strains of HPV, more than forty are sexually transmitted. A dozen of them are high risk and can cause various type of cancer such as penile, vaginal, oropharyngeal, mouth and throat, cervical and vulvar cancers. Low risks HPV can cause genital warts.

The majority of men and women will never come to know about HPV because the immune system can eradicate the less aggressive forms of HPV on its own. Aggressive strains of HPV may not cause symptoms for many years, but women may catch some HPV infections of the cervix early with the HPV test. However, there are no HPV tests for men.

Boys and girls can go for HPV vaccine, which helps in protecting against most kinds of HPV, most likely to cause cancer as well as those that cause genital warts.

About Author:

Dr. Faika Khan is a family medicine doctor and founder of UrgentWay in New York and is affiliated with NYU and Plainview Hospital. She received her medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for over 10 years.

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Urgent Care VS Primary Care Cost

Despite the Affordable Care Act’s attempts to ensure all Americans have access to health insurance, many people are still without coverage because of incredibly high premiums. Some people do not have access to coverage through a job, and those that do often find their spouse is not covered under their employer’s plan. And, in states that did not expand Medicaid, many poor individuals and families remain ineligible for public coverage.

According to a 2014 study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 27% of uninsured adults went without needed medical attention because they couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket. These individuals are also less likely to receive preventative care or services for chronic diseases.

When the uninsured do seek care, they typically go to an emergency room where they cannot be turned away. But using an ER as a doctor’s office leads to getting hit with astronomical medical bills that the uninsured simply cannot afford. These bills typically translate into medical debt, since most uninsured people have low to moderate income and little, if any, savings. Contrary to popular belief, there are affordable healthcare options for the uninsured.

Urgent Care Centers Offer Quality Low Cost Care

You may have noticed one or more urgent care centers open in your local area and wondered how they were different from traditional emergency rooms. In non-emergency situations, urgent care centers are preferable to ERs because the fees are much lower and the wait times much shorter.

These walk-in clinics are also very convenient as most have extended hours in the evening, when your primary care physician’s office is closed. They are also open on weekends and no appointment is necessary to receive needed care. Urgent care centers have much of the same equipment as an emergency room and offer many of the same services. Though each center is different and accepts different insurance plans, most offer affordable pricing specifically for those who have no coverage

What Services are Offered at Urgent Care Centers?

You may be surprised at the wide range of services offered at your local urgent care center.

Common Illnesses

Whether you have a cold, flu, migraine, or urinary tract infection, urgent care centers can treat whatever common illness is currently ailing you.

Drug Screening

Many employers require a routine drug screening before hiring an applicant as well as during the employment of an individual. Urgent care centers offer a broad range of drug screening options that meet most employers’ unique business needs.

Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Care

Why go to an emergency room when your allergies are acting up or when your throat feels scratchy? Your local urgent care center can provide all needed ENT services.

Foreign Body Removal

If you’re a parent, you know all-too-well that kids get a kick out of shoving things like Legos and Cheerios up their nose or in their ears. Walk into your local urgent care center and the staff will be more than happy to remove any item from any orifice that doesn’t belong there.

Laboratory Services

Most urgent care centers have excellent laboratory services and can provide you with all kinds of testing including common blood screenings and even genetic testing.

Prescription Services

Most people are surprised to learn that the doctors at urgent care centers are able to treat patients with various IV fluids as well as prescribe any type of medication that may be needed.

Osteopathic Medicine

You might also be pleasantly surprised to know urgent care centers offer primary care specialists including family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology.

Pediatric Care

Why is it kids seem to spike that fever at 9PM when your regular doctor is closed? With urgent care centers, this is no longer a problem. No matter when your child gets sick, simply walk in to your nearest urgent care location and the licensed staff will get them feeling better.

Physicals

You or a loved one may need a physical to join a sports team, as part of your pre-employment screening, or perhaps for the Department of Transportation. Some urgent care clinics like Urgent Way offer US Immigration physicals as well.

Sports Injuries

The good news is your driving layup won the basketball game. The bad news is you landed hard and sprained your ankle. Urgent care centers see a lot of sports injuries every year from sprains to broken bones and dislocations.

Work Injuries

Whether you slipped and hurt your back in the warehouse or suffer from a repetitive motion injury, many urgent care centers treat all kinds of work related injuries.

Wound Care

You had to show off your “knife skills” while chopping onions, and now you require stitches. Your local urgent care center can get you stitched up and back home in time to finish making dinner.

Cost Comparison

Going to an emergency room with a non-emergency is a surefire way to run up a huge medical bill that will give you chest pains.

As you can see from the chart on urgent care costs are typically one-quarter of emergency room costs.

For Chart click here: https://www.urgentway.com/resources/urgent-care-cost-vs-primary-care-cost

Why such huge discrepancies between the two? Emergency rooms generally have larger overhead costs, which get passed onto consumers in their bill. Also, if you walk into an ER with a sinus infection, your bill will reflect the opportunity cost to the hospital of treating you rather than someone with and actual emergency medical need. The bottom line is, if you are one of the millions of

Americans without health insurance, you are much more likely to be able to afford health care by using the services of your local urgent care facility.

UrgentWay – Providing Affordable Care to the Community

UrgentWay is committed to providing quality and affordable care to our neighbors. We understand that immediate access is important and are open 365 days a year.

With locations in Hempstead, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Hicksville, and the Bronx, we are always there when you need us the most.

While we accept most insurance plans, including worker’s compensation, private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, we also welcome those without insurance and do our best to offer the most affordable rates and payment options. Urgent Way truly believes that all members of our community deserve quality healthcare at a price they can comfortably afford.

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West Palm Beach Makes Moving Your Artwork as Easy as 1,2,3

If you live in an apartment or a loft, you must know that you cannot always have space for all your stuff and that you must feel like you need some place to get all your things, particularly the ones which too important to be thrown out but taking up a lot of space and making it hard for you to store things that are for your immediate use.

In such cases, you may find that there are some companies that offer storage units and convenient space for you so that you may be able to easily have your things kept safely, without it taking up a big section under your own roof.

There are a lot of places that you can choose from but the best from among them all is West Palm Beach Movers as it is located within the West Palm Beach, and if that is where you reside, then getting back to your things is always going to be easy.

They will get you boxes that you can sort your things in and then have them labeled. They make it a lot convenient and affordable for the people who need to use this service.

They do not charge you much and along with all these things, they do not require you to go and drop off your boxes and pick them up when you need them. They would, themselves, deliver your boxes to you or pick them up from your doorstep, making it easy for you to store and access your things.

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You might all ready to go for the winter but often times you can improve your overall functions with small top ups like insulation weathering strips, better condition of the floor board and rubber guards. These items take less than a day to complete even just a few hours. Especially if you call a professional Garage Door Repair company in Philadelphia.

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