| |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
| For Media Information: |
|
Susan Oakland
713-523-7900, ext. 105
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
RediClinics Answer Cedar Fever Concerns
Clinicians Provide Tips to Allergy Sufferers as Pollen Counts Rise
December 17, 2009 (Austin, TX) – Residents in areas such as Austin, TX are beginning to feel those unmistakable cold-like symptoms again, and it may be more than just the common cold. During the months of December through February, certain regions experience a severe increase in pollen count as cedar trees (juniperus ashei) across the region begin to pollinate. This increase in pollination causes Cedar Fever, an allergy which leads many people to experience cold-like symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, body aches and fatigue - symptoms that prevent people from enjoying the holiday season. RediClinic offers a variety of treatments for Cedar Fever, as well as tips for avoiding it.
Managing your Cedar Fever is as simple as visiting a local RediClinic, where a clinician can diagnose and provide appropriate treatments, such as allergy medications and steroid injections, to relieve symptoms.
“When trying to minimize the effects of Cedar Fever, it is especially important to pay attention to daily pollen counts,” said Christina Gray, Nurse Practitioner at RediClinic. “The highest pollen counts – between 9.7 and 12.0 – occur on warm, sunny days and the lowest levels – between 0 and 2.4 – occur on cool, cloudy days.”
RediClinic also recommends taking the following steps to protect against pollen.
When Indoors:
• Close all windows and doors
• Turn the air conditioner or heater on when pollen levels are high
• Use a cheesecloth to cover air conditioning vents for filtration of the pollen
• Change out the filters in your system regularly – HEPA air filters are recommended
• Dust with a moist cloth
• Clean your home with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner each week
• Bathe pets frequently When Outdoors:
• Close car windows
• Keep the air conditioner or heater on, in recirculation mode
• For extreme cases, cover your nose and mouth with a painter’s mask
If outdoors for a long period of time, be sure to shower and change clothes upon arriving home
Visit www.RediClinic.com/pollen to check the Pollen Tracker for the daily allergy alert.
Cedar Fever prevention measures, diagnostic tests and treatment options are only a few of the services offered at local RediClinics. The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who work with local physicians to diagnose, treat and prescribe medications for common conditions such as earaches, strep throat and upper respiratory infections. They also administer a range of preventive services, including health screenings, vaccinations and basic physical exams.
RediClinics are open seven days a week, including extended weekday hours, and no appointments are necessary. Visits are covered by the five largest commercial health insurance carriers in Texas – Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, CIGNA, Humana and UnitedHealthcare – and by a growing number of other third-party payers. For those who do not have health insurance or who are covered by a plan that does not have an agreement with RediClinic, most “Get Healthy” visits cost $79.
About RediClinic LLC
Since 1989, RediClinic has provided people with easy access to high-quality, affordable healthcare in retail outlets and at employer worksites. Today the company operates 22 clinics in H-E-B grocery stores in Houston and Austin, Texas. For more information about clinic locations, hours of operation, and services, visit www.rediclinic.com.
|
