Despite the widely available information on the dangers of smoking, and the warnings on the packaging, cigarette smoking is still the leading cause of preventable diseases, serious health conditions, and death in the United States. Almost 40 million American adults and 4.7 million teens use some form of tobacco, including...
You’ve probably heard of tetanus, but you likely don’t know anyone who has had it. This is because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that a mere 30 people a year get tetanus, which is because most of the U.S. population has been vaccinated against the disease....
Lab testing is an essential part of confirming a diagnosis, as it is vital for examining changes in health, diagnosing conditions, planning treatment, evaluating treatment, and monitoring a condition long term. Over 7 billion lab tests are performed annually, which, for many, leads to earlier diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. However,...
Recent data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in five people in the US have some type of sexually transmitted disease (STD). In 2018, an estimated 68 million had an STD, 26 million people got an STD that year, and of that group,...
Accidental injuries are all too common and often lead to the need for medical help. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year more than 39.5 million people go to their doctor for accidental injuries, and more than 29.4 million end up in the emergency room...
Cuts and lacerations of the skin are very common, accounting for 30% of workplace injuries alone. Just about everyone has had a cut or scrape at some point, but most don’t require a trip to the doctor because your body heals from them pretty quickly. But deep cuts left unattended...
Heart disease is the leading cause of US deaths, causing 2 in 10 fatalities in adults under 65. It is also one of the most avoidable causes of death. Whether you’re trying to stay healthy or recover from a heart condition, common methods to maintain a healthy heart start with...
When it comes to cold and flu season, flu shots are essential. On average, flu vaccines help reduce the flu by 40%-60% according to reports from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even if they don’t prevent infection by a specific strain of flu, they can help reduce...
In these difficult times during the pandemic, people have been more afraid than ever to visit the doctor. Screen testing for important things like breast, colon, and cervical cancer have dropped as much as 94% in recent months with evidence of a rise only just recently. Many patients need help...
Fall is a time for cooler weather, changing colors, and the beginning of school. It is also the time for everyone to be on the lookout for the viruses common to the season, as allergies, colds, flu, bronchitis, and a number of other illnesses become more of a problem. The...
Between 25%-40% of women in the United States deal with urinary tract infections, or UTIs, accounting for 6 million doctor visits a year. Most sufferers are between the ages of 20 and 40, and while women are at higher risk for UTIs, men can get these infections as well. Fortunately,...
Your at-home first aid kit may be all you need to treat a small cut or wound. But your first aid kit may not be able to fix all wounds, which may have you asking: When is a wound an emergency? At 1st Choice Urgent Care in Bakersfield, California, our...
Sports are a very popular thing for children and adults alike. According to a report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, over 24 million children between the ages of 6-12 participated in sports on a regular basis in the U.S. in 2018. This covers a wide variety of sports...
Injuries happen, and people get them for a wide variety of reasons. Sports, playing, work, even aging can all lead to the possibility of a tendon tearing or a bone fracturing or worse. In fact, 6 million people per year in the United States alone break a bone, and it...
As of April 2020, there are over 800,000 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., with a total of over 46,000 deaths. And this is all within a few months of the coronavirus pandemic. So, with self-quarantine and other forms of social distancing in effect, you may be dealing with COVID-19...
More than 1 million Americans were estimated to have heart attacks in 2019, with about a third of sufferers having one for the first time. Millions of Americans will continue to have problems with heart disease, and for many of them, it will be due to common, preventable habits. Heart...
Electrocardiograms, also called ECGs or EKGs, have been a fixture in medicine in some form since the 1880s. They record and monitor the heart rate of patients. Modern EKGs can detect a variety of things in the heart, including blood flow and heart rate. EKG tests are an essential part...
A bleeding laceration can cause fright, tears, and confusion, not to mention pain adding to the chaos. However, not every cut requires a visit to the urgent care or stitches. Knowing the difference can help you avoid waits to see a doctor for a small cut that just needs cleaning...
It’s that time of the year. The holidays are in full swing and it seems that everywhere you turn there’s fudge, cookies, candies, and pies — oh my! There’s no end to the sweets and treats that flood the market from Halloween through Valentine’s Day. Then there’s the family gatherings,...
There’s no mistaking the flu. The symptoms — fever, body aches, and more — come on hard and fast, with barely any warning at all. Don’t worry, you can protect yourself from the awful and lengthy discomfort of influenza. How? By getting your annual flu shot. It takes seconds and...
About 6 million people break a bone in the United States each year. And oftentimes, splints are used to treat these injuries, helping to set your bones straight so they can heal better. Here at 1st Choice Urgent Care in Bakersfield, California, your orthopedic health is our priority. We understand...
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, often have no symptoms and may take several weeks to become apparent on tests after being contracted. That means you may have an STD and not know it, even if you were tested within a few days of contracting it. The question of how often...
Children spend the majority of their hours each day in school, and it’s important that they are healthy and physically ready to handle the challenges. Children's bodies are constantly growing and changing, so it’s especially necessary that they see a doctor at least once a year for a checkup. At...
Most bug bites and stings are harmless, aside from a bit of itchiness. You can almost always treat them at home with a topical ointment like hydrocortisone cream. However, the occasional bite or sting may require urgent medical attention. But how can you tell? Well, for starters, you should know...
It’s summer! That means backyard barbecues, longer days, outdoor activities, and best of all: vacation. If you have a vacation on the horizon, you’re probably itching to hurry up and get there, soak up the sun, and relax. But before you go, you should know that traveling is a big...
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal that can affect children, teens, or adults. When moisture gets trapped in the ear, bacteria can grow and cause infection. Itching, pain, and muffled hearing can all be signs of swimmer’s ear. It’s a common ear infection that affects children...
More than 60% of Americans experience acid reflux every month. If you’ve ever felt a burning sensation or felt as if there were a lump in your throat, chances are high that you’ve had acid reflux. It’s a common condition in which the acid in your stomach escapes and travels...
When temperatures rise and flowers bloom, we know that spring has arrived. And that can mean a season full of sneezing, sniffling, and watery eyes thanks to allergies. Springtime allergies affect around 8% of American men and women. Spring allergies are usually caused by the release of pollen from trees,...
Have you ever experienced heart palpitations or shortness of breath that you can’t explain? Nagging chest pain that you chalk up to heartburn? Perhaps you can explain it, and are aware that heart disease may run in your family. Maybe there are other contributing factors such as lifestyle or diet....
If you or a loved one suffers an injury, it’s a good idea to be seen by a medical professional. In the course of your exam, the suggestion for an X-ray may come up. This simple diagnostic tool can check for broken bones and may find other issues, such as...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and also the time when we see the most sickness. Although winter brings us sparkling lights and holiday vacations, it brings with it two very common illnesses: the flu and the common cold. It seems that just about everyone gets sick during...
Most people have a hard time telling the difference between food poisoning and a stomach virus. After all, both ailments have similar symptoms. Both can cause a lot of pain, muscle weakness, and — not to get too indelicate — vomiting and watery diarrhea that leaves you on the toilet...
Flu season is rapidly approaching, here in California and across the U.S. Once the flu latches on, it doesn’t seem to let go for several months. Symptoms come on rapidly, such as a fever, headache, sinus and chest congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme fatigue. The influenza virus can quickly become...
It's that time of year again: back to school! While it’s usually a time for excitement for both parents and kids, back to school for kids with asthma or allergies can be stressful because it’s also the season for allergies.Your child can face a higher risk of attacks in a...
If you’re like most people, you may think, “If I had an STD, I would know it, right?”Wrong. You can contract a sexually transmitted disease and not show any signs or symptoms. If you’re sexually active, you should get tested for STDs at least once a year — more often...
Even though cuts and scrapes are common, they can be scary. If you’re unsure whether a trip to 1st Choice Urgent Care is necessary or not, here are a few things to look for if you or your child has a cut or puncture wound that may need stitches. Location...
Over 600,000 people in America die of heart disease each year and over 6.5 million are currently living with heart disease. As the number one cause of death, more Americans are increasing their awareness of heart disease to learn how to prevent it and keep their hearts healthy.The good news...
Whether you play your sport just for fun or as part of a competitive team, sitting on the sidelines with an injury can be devastating. Sometimes, an injury is inevitable — a tackle takes you down or you experience a hard fall. But, many injuries may be prevented with a...
In their efforts to explore the world around them, kids push boundaries and accidents happen. Short of keeping them indoors or encasing them in bubble wrap every time they go out, there’s no way to completely prevent accidents and illnesses. Still, there are several steps you can take to greatly...