Monthly Archives: January 2015

What is Epigastric Pain and When should I be Concerned?


Epigastric PainEpigastric pain
is pain that is localized to the region of the upper abdomen immediately below the ribs. Often, those who experience this type of pain feel it during or right after eating or if they lie down too soon after eating. It is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn.

Some people have mild epigastric pain that occurs after eating and subsides quickly, while others may have a severe burning feeling in the abdomen, chest and neck that prevents sleep. Other symptoms that may accompany epigastric pain include abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting, depending on the underlying cause. In rare cases, epigastric pain is due to heart conditions such as heart attack and angina (chest pain due to the heart not getting enough oxygen).

Epigastric pain is not a serious symptom on its own. However, if it occurs with other life-threatening symptoms, it may be a sign of a condition that should receive immediate medical treatment, such as a heart attack. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, experience epigastric pain along with life-threatening symptoms such as severe breathing problems; chest pain, pressure or tightness; or vomiting blood or black material.

Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for epigastric pain but mild symptoms recur or are persistent.

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If you see or experience emergency symptoms, head to:

Highland Park Emergency Room

5150 Lemmon Ave. Suite #108

call us at 972-268-6346

or

Preston Hollow Emergency Room

8007 Walnut Hill Lane

call us at 214-217-0911

A free-standing emergency room right in your neighborhood. We are open 24-hours a day — the only no-wait emergency rooms around. An emergency room physician can see you quickly, evaluate your condition, and take steps to alleviate your symptoms immediately. If appropriate, they will admit you to the hospital if needed.

How to Prevent Pneumonia

Depositphotos_12823191_l-2015-300x199Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. It is the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. However, these infections can often be prevented with vaccines and can usually be treated with antibiotics, antiviral drugs (such as Tamiflu), or specific drug therapies. Common signs of pneumonia include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. You are more likely to become ill with pneumonia if you smoke or have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. However, you can lower your chances by taking good care of your medical problems, and quitting smoking . You can also help prevent pneumonia and other respiratory infections by following good hygiene practices, such and washing your hands regularly and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

 

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If you see or experience emergency symptoms, head to:

Highland Park Emergency Room

5150 Lemmon Ave. Suite #108

call us at 972-268-6346

or

Preston Hollow Emergency Room

8007 Walnut Hill Lane

call us at 214-217-0911

A free-standing emergency room right in your neighborhood. We are open 24-hours a day — the only no-wait emergency rooms around. An emergency room physician can see you quickly, evaluate your condition, and take steps to alleviate your symptoms immediately. If appropriate, they will admit you to the hospital if needed.

Should I go to An Urgent Care or ER? How to Decide:

For the most part, when you need to go to an Emergency Room is obvious. For major medical emergencies, everyone knows to go to an ER. But what if it’s not life-threatening? What if it’s a serious condition, but you don’t think it’s a medical emergency? Can you still go to the ER? Should you? Sometimes it’s not always easy to decide where to go. While going to the Emergency room is always an option you have, it might not always be the best option. We will tell you what you need to know to help you decide.

What is the main difference between Urgent Care and an Emergency Room?

We get asked this question a lot. A first glance, you may not see a difference at all. And in fact, there is very little that separates these two medical facilities apart. The major difference though, is that an Urgent Care center is not required to have always a Physician on staff. These means it’s entirely possible for you to go to an Urgent Care center, and never be seen by a Physician.  Also, what separates these two facilities is the level of care you would get.

“Recognizing the differences between ‘emergency’ and ‘urgent’ care can be confusing, because both terms imply there is a medical need that needs to be addressed quickly,” says Shawn Evans, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. “However, there are distinct differences between emergency rooms and traditional urgent care centers, including the level of care that can be provided at each.”

Emergency Rooms provide medical care at any time, day or night. However, unlike urgent care centers, they are equipped and staffed for even the most complex or critical needs, including life- and limb-threatening situations ranging from heart attack and stroke to traumatic injuries following a car accident.


At Highland Park Emergency Room,  you no longer have to deal with the less than sterile crowded waiting rooms of a traditional ERs while you suffer with symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, fever or other alarming conditions.

 

Features of our facilities include:

  • Board-certified emergency medicine physicians
  • ER/ICU trained nurses
  • Specialty trained healthcare professionals
  • Open 24/7, including holidays
  • Private patient rooms
  • Inviting atmosphere with no wait time
  • Adult and pediatric urgent care services
  • Well-stocked on-site pharmacy with IV medications such as antibiotics, cardiac antiarrhythmics, and blood thinners.
  • Digital imaging equipment including X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds
  • Laboratory tests such as complete blood counts, metabolic panels, cardiac enzymes, liver tests, urinalysis, and drug screens