Springtime Health Tips

Supporting Your Health Through the Changing Seasons

Sunshine, flowers, and warm weather — spring is here again! While there’s much to enjoy about this season, it’s important to protect your health as well. Use these health and safety tips to get the most out of spring and avoid a medical emergency:

Get Active

As the weather is getting nicer, why not take your movement outside? Getting enough sunlight and fresh air supports your physical body and your mental health as well. Take care of yourself by changing your setting and getting out at least once a day. If you’re looking for some activities to add to your routine, try these warm-weather favorites:

Bike riding
Gardening
Outdoor yoga
Hiking
Power walking

Stay Safe Outdoors

Springtime brings longer days, which means more time to enjoy the outdoors! While you may be excited to get out and get going, it’s essential to stay safe while doing so. This includes:

Being mindful of poisonous plants and insects.
Knowing your limits during strenuous activity such as hiking.
Staying hydrated to prevent dehydration.
Wearing sunscreen.
Observing safety rules when in open water.
Staying on marked paths and wearing appropriate footwear.
Wearing appropriate sports gear when on the field.

Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet

Many of us get the cleaning bug when springtime rolls around — out with the old and in with the fresh and new! But, many of our patients forget to declutter one of the most important areas in the home: their medicine cabinet.

Using expired medication or medicine in the wrong dose can be potentially hazardous to your health. With that in mind, remember to follow this advice when sorting through your cupboard:

Throw out any medication with no label.
Throw out medication that is expired.
Throw out medication that is older than 1 year.
Throw out medication that was exposed to humidity and has changed colors.
Throw our medication that does not match your current script or dosage.

Support Your Health Through Nutrition

Preventing a medical emergency means keeping your body healthy. In addition to regular activity, it’s important to drink plenty of water daily and eat three nutritious meals a day filled with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins.

As the weather starts to heat up here in Texas, dehydration can easily creep up on you and become a medical emergency. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily, no matter the weather!

Know When to Head to the ER

Certain conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can run in your family, and some patients experience flare-ups of these conditions when the seasons change. Some patients discover they are predisposed to a medical condition because of an emergency. Therefore, it’s important to know the emergency signs that occur quickly for common medical conditions such as heart attacks and strokes is vital.

Knowing these signs will help you and your loved ones receive emergency care as soon as possible. For example, symptoms of a patient having a stroke can be remembered by this easy act F.A.S.T acronym:

Face drooping. One side of your loved one’s face may suddenly droop or feel numb. If their smile is uneven, they may be having a stroke.
Arm weakness. Arm weakness, numbness, or inability to move your limbs is another telltale sign of a stroke.
Speech. If you or a loved one suddenly has difficulty speaking or slurred speech, this may be a sign of a stroke.
Time to call 911. Finally, if you notice even one of these signs, call 911 and get head to our emergency center right away.

For further information, view:

Viral Infections

In addition to chronic diseases and conditions, the risk of viral infections such as COVID-19 is still present. Remember to observe local health guidelines to prevent becoming sick this season.

Emergency Medical Services in Paris and Greenville

The healthcare professionals at Quality Care ER are here to help diagnose and treat your family’s medical emergencies this season. If you believe you are having a medical emergency, dial 911 and visit either of our locations for proper treatment. For questions or concerns, contact our office at (903) 417-0886.