Pinworms vs Your Kid

Here’s a little bit of trivia for you:

You can exercise daily, check up on your mental health regularly and count your carbs, fats, and proteins down to the exact milligram – and still become sick with a minor or even life-threatening illness, when you least expect it. Our unforgiving world gives every creature about an equal chance for survival, and this includes the kinds of creatures that we wish would never exist.

Fortunately, human beings, the single most dominant species on our planet, have evolved to develop rational thinking, so we’re slightly better prepared to handle these unexpected problems, by absorbing as much information as possible and by applying our knowledge into practice.

So, hopefully, after reading this, you will know everything you need to know about one very important and very unpleasant parasite:

Pinworms

Don’t know what pinworms are? Don’t sweat it. Many people don’t and those that claim to know have a rudimentary understanding of the parasitic worm. Even with all our scientific advances, cures, and medications, these creepy crawlers are extremely common. They have been running amok for as long as humans have been around. Fortunately, they are treatable, so don’t fret!

What exactly are pinworms?

How do you treat the infection?

Glad you asked! Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about pinworms.

Simply put, pinworms are white parasitic worms that live in the large intestine of human beings. They are about one-half inch to a full inch in size and while the infected person sleeps, female pinworms leave the intestinal tract and lay their eggs on the skin around the anus. The eggs are laid in a sticky, jelly-like substance that, along with the wriggling of the female pinworm, causes severe itching.

Who is most likely to contract pinworms?

Super-gross and maybe even too much information, but it’s important to know because this is the most common worm infection in the United States. Young children have the highest infection rate due to below-average sanitary conditions in schools, daycare centers, and recreational facilities. Even though these grimy facilities play a major factor, let’s face it, children tend to care less about cleanliness than adults. Kids like to play first and think later, paying no attention to such things as pinworms which is why we must protect them.

How do pinworms spread?

The easiest way for your child to spread pinworms is if they have scratched his or her bare anal area and the eggs get under his or her fingernails without proper hand washing. They can also be transferred from the fingers to clothing or bedding, and then spread around the home, and believe it or not, the eggs may be inhaled from the air or deposited onto food and swallowed. It’s important to note that even if your child may have seemingly healed, pinworms can survive up to two weeks on clothing, bedding, or other objects if kept at room temperature. So even though your child may be in the clear, make sure to do a deep clean of your home to ensure that you have completely eradicated the parasite.

What are the symptoms of pinworms?

The most common symptoms of pinworms are extreme itching in the anal/vaginal area, difficulty sleeping, and irritability but other symptoms that are important to be aware of are nervousness, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, poor concentration, weight loss, sweet cravings, teeth grinding, mood swings, bed wetting, and fatigue. These additional symptoms may be due to other illnesses – so the next step to take is searching for the female worm or egg which will confirm if your child has pinworms or not.

Pinworms can be sneaky and usually only reveal themselves in the evening. The adult worms can sometimes be seen directly around the anal area or in pajamas. If the worms are not visible, you may try conducting something known as a “tape test” in the morning. You do this by applying a piece of transparent tape against the folds of skin around the anus to pick up any eggs or worms and then seal it in a plastic bag. After this, take the tape to a medical professional, where the eggs can be identified under a microscope, for an official diagnosis. We may be biased, but we strongly believe that Chai Care is one of the best places to visit for expert medical help. Please consider visiting one of our urgent care centers if your child experiences the symptoms of pinworm infection!

Let’s paint a picture. Your child hasn’t been acting like themselves lately. They are restless, losing weight, have severe mood swings, and have been complaining about a never-ending itch located in their anus. You take a look and notice a half-inch-long white worm. Now what?

How to get rid of pinworms?

There are both over-the-counter and prescription drugs one can take but consult with a healthcare provider before doing so. Once you received a legitimate diagnosis, next comes treating the infected.

The infected person should take the prescribed medicine orally. The medicine is given in two doses. The second dose should be given two weeks after the first. It’s crucial for the person to bathe first thing in the morning to reduce egg contamination and prevent it from spreading. Essentially, it’s best to be as clean as possible. Make sure your child washes their hands and under the fingernails thoroughly. Whether this is after using the bathroom, before eating, or after any activity, it’s paramount that they scrub their hands with warm water and soap. During this time, avoid nail biting and scratching bare anal areas to avoid re-infection. Most people don’t know this, but parasites live off bacteria/sugar. So, during this time, it is best to cut down on your child’s sugar intake. Lastly, it is important to know that when one person in a household contracts pinworms, usually another family member does too so make sure to treat all infected family members at the same time.

Now that your child is treated, it’s time to treat your home. Make sure to change all the sheets, pillowcases, and bedspreads, and thoroughly wash them with hot water along with all the underwear, pants, shorts, and clothing to ensure maximum cleanliness. During the daytime keep all blinds open because the eggs are ultra-sensitive to sunlight. Pinworm eggs are light and scatter easily so dust should be removed carefully from all surfaces in the home. Be extra careful when vacuuming or use an oiled cloth (which may be boiled or destroyed later) to help prevent the eggs from scattering.

You did it! Now that your child is finally pinworm-free, how do you prevent this from ever happening again?

How to prevent pinworm reinfection?

It’s simple. Make sure they wash their hands and underneath the fingernails frequently, bathe daily, encourage them to avoid scratching their bare anal areas, and change and wash clothing and bedding frequently. It’s important to note that pinworm eggs continue to be present (excreted) in the feces of an infected person for up to a week after the treatment, so precautions should be taken to prevent reinfection by washing hands thoroughly, especially under the nails.

If your child follows these simple steps, they will be in the clear, but kids sometimes have a difficult time following the rules. If your child winds up contracting the infection again, consult your healthcare provider and follow the same steps. In some cases, it may be necessary to treat the patient and close family contacts more than once for extra protection.

If your little one gets infected with pinworms, there’s no sugarcoating this: The experience will not be pleasant for them or for you as a parent. Fortunately, there are diagnostic tools and great medications readily available, and thankfully there are urgent care facilities that can offer them exceptional treatment and make sure they are as good as new in no time. If you feel that your child may have contracted pinworms, bring them down to Chai Care and we will get them treated and healthy in no time!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

The Scars From The Past, Part 1

Do you suffer from an odd ache here and there in your body?

You’re not alone. We plant the seeds of our future small, annoying afflictions when we’re kids, and those nasty seeds grow into full-blown weeds that can smother our blooming health right on the root.

Perhaps I’m being too poetic here, in a blog article intended to promote our everyday and urgent care services, but this is relevant. What we’re talking here is healthcare for kids and youth:

The Pediatric Healthcare

But that stretches further into life. The habits we establish as kids go far into adulthood, and one of those habits is lack of respect and appreciation of our own body: Of how fragile it is, and how much the damage we do to it will stay with it. As you want your kids to be careful around expensive furniture, or driving your expensive car on a weekend, so you want to make them appreciate that they only have one body and that body must be treated with proper care.

Childhood traumas – of mental and physical kind – should not be underestimated; they may affect the rest of our lives!

Here’s a story from my own life, I hope it resonates with you. Trust me, you don’t want this to happen to your kid.

It’s a commonly known fact that death comes after life. Sadly, this doesn’t happen to be true for most people – who don’t take the trouble to enjoy life to the fullest, and so, the live as though they’re already dead.

(That’s pretty much what I told myself back when I was a little younger.)

Back then, I was reckless, impulsive, and out of control. I embraced every moment as if it were my last because I was fortunate enough to have the foresight that life is short and should be lived to its fullest.

However…

The decisions I was making and the circumstances that I was allowing myself to fall into were significantly more harmful than rewarding.

In my youth, I didn’t think of my future. Honestly, life seemed like it would always be the same and I was the only person to ever live that Father Time wouldn’t harm. Yes, I was delusional and, in many ways, naïve and arrogant but it molded a very important journey that led me down a destructive road that would eventually transform into a more purposeful life. But I had to fall many times before getting there.

For some reason when you’re young, seeking advice, medical assistance, or simply asking for help can be difficult. You think you know everything there is to know and it’s nearly impossible to believe that someone else may be smarter than you. I have lost track of the number of times when my impulses got the best of me, but one memory comes to mind.

Misguided Youth

Growing up, there wasn’t much to do in my rural Pennsylvania town. My friends and I loved watching action movies and would always reenact intense and dangerous scenes from them, wanting to be as bold as the stars in the films. But then things escalated into full-blown stunts. No harnesses, green screens, or stunt doubles to protect us. All of us were constantly banged up, scratched, and bruised but none of us wanted to look soft, and as silly as it’ll sound, we thought that made us cool.

Our most dangerous and idiotic exploits took place on the local train tracks. Every Friday at 5 PM a massive freight train would speed by transporting who-knows-what. Normally we would play a game of chicken with the steel tube but would make sure to give ourselves plenty of time to hop out of the way before impact. But that got old quickly. The daredevil in me took over and I came up with the bright idea to dangle myself from the bridge above the tracks as the train whizzed by. Even my adventurous pals knew better and warned me not to try it. That only excited me more. I patiently waited for the train to come my way and when I saw the smoke in the distance, I prepared myself. When it was about fifty yards away, I lowered myself, realizing I was not dangling above the train but hanging directly in front of it. I was soon to be a splattered fly on the windshield. My hands were sweaty, and I overestimated my strength. Pulling myself back up to safety was impossible. In a split-second decision, I let go and dropped. One of my friends was brave enough to help me hobble off the tracks just in time before getting crushed, just like our favorite action heroes.

The pain in both my knees, ankles, and back was unlike anything I have ever experienced yet when my buddies tried to call an ambulance for me, I wouldn’t let them. I tried to laugh it off even though my bloodshot eyes said otherwise. After a few more attempts to call for medical attention, they stopped trying and assumed I was OK. Deep down, I wished more than anything that someone would come to my rescue.

Scarred for Life

Still to this day I have back issues, weak knees, and ligament damage in both ankles all because I was too stubborn and proud to see a medical professional. It’s hard for me to stay seated for long amounts of time and jogging is completely out of the question because my body hasn’t healed in the ways that it needed to. 

If only technology was quicker then I would go back in time and grab that kid by his filthy shirt collar and tell him to stop being so foolish. There was no point to it all, no one was impressed and all it left me was a life of pain. Sure, we were bold and maybe brave at times but in the long run, none of those stunts were worth it.

We are fortunate enough to live in a country where we have access to essentially unlimited amounts of medicine, hospitals, urgent care facilities, and clinics that will help us heal our bodies when needed but also supply us with proper information on how to live proactively.

Pediatric traumas of today do not need to remain untreated, and I implore you, the reader of this article: If you know a kid who needs proper care after playing or doing sports maybe a little too recklessly and having been banged up in the process – please, send them to get checked out. You’ll be surprised how much a basic urgent care visit can do for preventing the kind of recurrent pains in the joints or ligaments that too many people suffer absolutely unnecessarily!

But back to my story – unfortunately, I wasn’t as wise in my past as I am now, and the experience I described to you wasn’t enough for me to learn. That wouldn’t come for some time…

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Nov 30, 2022

We Should Talk About: Quality in Healthcare

“Quality… you know what it is, yet you don’t know what it is.”

A powerful quote from Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has resonated with many because of its truth and the weight that it carries. Looking past this and when taking a deeper examination of the philosophy of genuine quality, there are many ways to define this. On the outside looking in, many people will think they know high standards from cheap, bootleg knockoffs, however, most would be surprised to know they haven’t the first clue.

“Cheap, but Bad”

Many think that quality is tethered to wealth but that’s not always the case. This ideology is especially true in the medical industry. For obvious reasons most people would choose a doctor with a degree from Harvard, but this doesn’t exactly mean that they are better than the doctor who makes less money and isn’t celebrated. Quality can be found in lots of different places, sometimes in areas, you would never think of.

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

About five years ago I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy—a condition that weakens the muscles in half of the face. One side becomes droopy and slanted, your eye has difficulty opening and closing and your hearing can also be impaired. It was a brutal and painful experience that lasted nearly a year. Still, to this day I feel residual effects.

What does my misfortune have to do with quality?

When the symptoms first began, I chose to go to a respected doctor in my town because everyone spoke highly of him and claimed that he was the best. I managed to get an appointment which in itself was a grueling process but that was only the beginning of the nightmare.

As soon as I entered his private clinic, I was immediately greeted with cold arrogance from every staff member. Even though I was the only patient in the waiting room I sat for ten, two, thirty, minutes before Dr. Genius came out, flirting with the receptionist as he waved me in without so much as introducing himself.

He asked me run-of-the-mill questions and every time I gave him an answer I received a, “uh-huh” or “hm”. His phone rang, he told me that it was urgent, and he answered the call and laughed at something the other person said on the other end. He left the room and when he came back after twenty minutes, he told me he couldn’t see what was wrong.

The next day things got worse. The left side of my face was clearly drooping, and my fear was amplifying because I didn’t understand what was happening. There was no shot I was going back to that doctor, so I decided to take a different approach. I took a trip to a local urgent care facility which turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. They deemed my situation an emergency and took me in right away. Within minutes I was diagnosed and sent to a local pharmacy to receive medication.

Know your Neighborhood

The truth is you don’t need to search high and far for exceptional quality. It may not be easy to find, however, there is a good chance it is closer than you think. See, in my experience, I felt I had to listen to other people rather than do my own research. If I had, I would’ve discovered there was an extremely trustworthy and reliable urgent care only five minutes away. Not only are they a place that supplies top-notch service and treatment but a facility where relationships are built. The staff that treated me engaged with me on a personal level, something that most people don’t do. We got to know each other on a deep level which ensured the overall experience and quality of care.

Knowing the Difference

Even though the healing process took almost a year and Bell’s palsy is one of those unfortunate illnesses that recovers on its own time, the difference between the two medical professionals was worlds apart. Yes, the safe bet is to trust the MD who graduated from a top-tier school over someone with less experience and cache but one thing you can’t measure with a degree is how much someone truly cares. If you ask me, the Ivy League graduate that I saw had become jaded. He has the wealth, the vacation home in the Hamptons, and his own private practice. He chased the money, got it, and now walks through the motions unless there’s a massive paycheck dangling in front of his face. On the other hand, the woman who diagnosed me cared. I could feel it. Her mannerisms, warm tone in her voice, and how she put all her focus directly on me were all I really wanted—someone to really be there for me. And she was.

Quality isn’t always shiny and expensive. It’s more than a dollar sign and can be found in places you would least expect. If you aren’t sure if something is the quality you would like it to be ask yourself this, “without this, will I be, OK?” It’s best to simplify your choices down to only two. In life, we don’t need dozens of options but only the best ones. It’s important to remember that quality and trust aren’t always synonymous with wealth and notoriety. Sometimes what you’re looking for is under your nose the whole time and in my case, it was a Chai Care facility only minutes away from my apartment!

Would you like to experience top quality healthcare at your fingertips? Book a visit!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Days of Being Wild (But Healthy)

The way I see it, we’re all on fire. Souls burning and our bones crumbling to ash. Isn’t it beautiful?

The Wildcard

For as far back as I can remember I have been deemed the wild card. You dare me to do something, whatever it is, and without thinking twice I say yes. It’s always been a great joy of mine to watch everyone’s eye bulge and stare in awe as they witness someone do something that they never would. My life has been guided by temptation and impulsive urges to live freely and recklessly but it’s always been a mystery as to where I was hoping it would take me. All I knew was that I was meant to follow my gut, even if it led to the worst of places.

A Healthy You VS The Restricted World

Most people like to play things safe. They consider this to be the smart move that will ultimately build a proactive and healthy life. These are the same people whom many would consider boring and spiritless. This doesn’t make them a bad person, just spineless.

Acting on impulse and emotions can be considered reckless and even dangerous but after all, aren’t we animals? You don’t judge a lion in the wild for behaving the way they do yet when human beings do it’s frowned upon. In a lot of ways, we have neglected our primal instincts and replaced them with a superficial structure with a cozy safety net that protects us from any impending harm. This may sound beneficial but it’s actually preventing us from achieving anything worthwhile.

This system was made in hopes to prevent chaos and disorder and yes, that’s ultimately a good thing, but it also separates us from what we truly are. We have designed man-made techniques for ourselves—jobs, healthcare, school, and entertainment, but it’s merely a way of controlling us and how we behave. It’s time to put all that to the side and live freely.

The key is to have a well-rounded emotional outlook. Embrace the entire spectrums of emotion, not just the positive ones. In this modern world of prescription drugs, endless social media, and a non-stop news cycle, it’s easy to suppress our true selves with superficial supplements that are nothing more than a way to numb the pain. Get off your phone, stop waiting around for someone to tell you how to live your life, and make a spontaneous decision because the person you are meant to be is distracted by our contemporary pursuits.

Take A Risk

Why not take a chance and do something bold? Is it because you fear doing it or fear how much you may enjoy it?

If you consider yourself to be cautious and safe, it’s time to switch things up. Commit to doing something based on emotion rather than safety and I can guarantee the rush and thrill you achieve will be worth it. However, if you are going to go down the road of pandemonium, you should do it the right way.

There are certain facts of life that you can’t ignore. Let’s say you’re ready for an adventure. You are done playing by the rules and need some juice of excitement, but you have medical issues that can’t be ignored. There is a major difference between taking a risk and neglecting your health. At the end of the day, the only way you can be a risk-taker and live an extreme life is if you are physically up for the challenge. Get checked out and receive the necessary information you need otherwise; the party will end before it even starts.

Embrace Your True Self

You’ll never know who you really are if you don’t take chances. All of us are on a journey of self-discovery and the only way to find out who you are meant to be is by seeking it. Most people sit around waiting for something magical to happen only to realize that’s not the way life works. Failure and danger are a natural part of life so why not embrace it? The true test of a person’s will won’t be found through easy and safe accomplishments, only when things take a turn for the worst will you discover who you really are.

There is a catch. If you want to roll the dice, you have to be willing to pay the price. At some point, things are going to go sideways, and you need to understand that there will always be consequences for your actions. When that day inevitably comes, embrace it. This is part of the game and is the most important part. This is where life-changing lessons will be learned and is a crucial moment for self-discovery. This may be for better or worse, but either way, you’ll learn something about yourself that you never would have gained if you had played by the rules.

Life is rare and precious. This world will eat you up and spit you out but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. It’s up to you and only you to bring excitement and madness into your life—don’t let anyone tell you how your life should be lived. Be bold and take great chances. Remember, fortune favors the bold and no one remembers those who sat on the sidelines.

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Ask Chai Care: What is a Febrile Seizure?

David W. asks: What is a febrile seizure, and what should I do if my child is having it?

What’s more frightening than watching a child suffer?

If you are having a hard time answering that question, it’s because you’re a good person. As adults, we have a moral obligation to protect our youth and help them in every way we can, but we can only do so much. Unfortunately, unexpected accidents and illnesses do happen but in today’s world, we can easily access proactive information on how best to live our lives so we can educate ourselves on the signs, symptoms, and ways to avoid these medical mishaps.

There are many diseases, illnesses, and viruses that are exclusive to children, but Febrile seizures are one that has been happening more frequently these days. Don’t know what a Febrile Seizure is? Chai Care is here to help.

Febrile Seizures

Essentially, a febrile seizure is a convulsion that a child has when they have a nasty fever. They typically occur on the first day of the fever and generally last only a few minutes. If the seizure lasts longer than five minutes and the child struggles to breathe you should seek medical attention because it has the potential of leading to something more harmful. The good news is most medical professionals would agree that many cases are overall harmless, but that doesn’t mean you should take it lightly.

It’s important to note that if you are in the presence of a child having one of these seizures, stay calm and do your best to comfort them to the best of your ability. It may be difficult to not show panic, especially if this is your child or loved one, but if you show distress and terror, this could heighten the seizure.

Signs of a Febrile Seizure

Typically, when a child is undergoing one of these seizures they will shake and at times lose consciousness, however, there are times when the person may become stiff and only twitch in one area of the body.

If the child has over a 100-degree fever, vomits, has breathing problems, loses consciousness, experiences extreme sleepiness, or their arms and legs shake or jerk, they are most likely experiencing a Febrile Seizure. But there are two kinds: Simple Febrile Seizures and Complex Febrile Seizures.

A simple one would be if the child has a seizure for only a few seconds and it would not happen again in a 24-hour period.

A Complex Febrile Seizure can last longer than fifteen minutes and would occur more than once in a single day. If this is the case, seek medical attention ASAP because it is an emergency.

What to Do if Your Child is Having a Febrile Seizure

Whether it be a simple or complex Febrile Seizure, after it’s over, you should consult a medical professional, because it can be a sign of something worse and it never hurts to play things safe, especially when it comes to children.

Fortunately, Chai Care is a reliable urgent care facility that will always be here when you need us most. Our trained staff will do their best to offer you top-notch treatment and inform you of ways how you and your family can stay healthy!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Nov 15, 2022

Honesty Is The Best Health Policy

“Never stab a man in the back. Stare them in their eyes when you strike, that way they can die with honor,” he told me with red in his eyes.

Loyalty

I was too young to understand what my father meant when he said this, and I think I’m not old enough to feel the pain he then felt but I’m closer now than I was before. There are many moments in life when we are presented with two choices: act with loyalty or betray those we love. It’s never an easy decision and sometimes we don’t even recognize when it’s happening which is why it’s so important to always be honest and a straight shooter. Finding out someone you believe to be trustworthy is lurking in the shadows of deception is no easy feat to overcome. It will sting and build massive tension, so much so that it can literally cause you both physical and emotional pain.

When going about your life, establish who you are and how you interact with your loved ones in a straightforward and loyal manner. Whether you are rich or poor, no matter your background, ethnicity, creed, or religion, loyalty is one of the few things in life that is free but extremely valuable. It’s the best way to not just gain respect from others but also live a healthy and meaningful life.

Don’t Get Trapped

Think about the last time you got into a big fight with a loved one and for some reason, you couldn’t bring yourself to apologize or even accept their apology. Tension began to build, didn’t it? You became a shell of yourself—the real you began disappearing. You started following back into nasty habits like smoking, overeating and drinking too much alcohol. Your energy levels decreased leading to so much stress, anxiety, and depression that the overwhelming nature of this fight has caused literal pain to your body when it all could have been avoided with a constructive conversation.

One of the worst things you can do is manipulate those you love. It can be hard, especially since you know so much about the person, their wants and needs, but they have put their trust in you and to betray their loyalty is equally as wrong as it is selfish. You can feel it too, can’t you? That gut-wrenching feeling was like a twisting dagger.

That’s your body telling you to stop.

All this tension and built-up resentment are known to be harmful to the body. Is it the same as a broken arm or concussion? No, but stress and anxiety can lead to plenty of cardiovascular issues and other mental health problems. Every healthy relationship is built on communication and a willingness, to be honest. Without these two things, it is impossible to have a healthy connection.

Manipulation And Health

For most people, the art of manipulation begins in childhood. I call it art because in a lot of ways it is. To become good at it requires practice, discipline, and an emotional response from those who are participating. It’s a sadistic game for people who don’t know how to properly resolve issues but in the long run, this is going to have serious health effects.

This probably sounds strange—how could manipulating someone actually have health consequences? For starters, these lies, and half-truths are building layers of stress and pressure which lead to very negative thoughts of yourself and even the world. It will build and build until there is an inevitable breakdown which hopefully, doesn’t lead to needed medical assistance.

Then there’s the flip side—you’re the one being manipulated, watching someone you trust and love lying straight to your face. This has led many people to spiral out of control, completely changing whom they are by making unhealthy life choices like drinking and indulging in drugs which could ultimately have grave consequences. 

Check-in With Yourself

It’s important to not just see the signs but to always do something about them. If you are someone who has faced issues like this before, then you know how much of a toll it can take on your health. It can be hard to get out of that funk and it’s a battle to drag yourself out of bed to receive help but that’s what medical attention is for. There are many resources that are here to help and nowadays many urgent care companies are offering programs and treatments to recognize such things.

In life there are times when someone will break us and only, we can be the ones to put the pieces back together. It’s cruel and unfair but no one said it would be easy. The best and healthiest way to combat this is a simple lesson that we all learned in our youth—treat others the way you want to be treated and honesty is the best policy. It’s a simple rule to follow that will allow you to be your best self and live a proactive life.

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Sex, (Prescription) Drugs, And Optional Rock ‘n’ Roll

I’m just going to call out the elephant in the room: Some time ago, and it may have been a while, your mom and dad had unprotected sex.

They may have done it a few times. Naughty!

How do I know? Simple: You exist.

Enjoy Yourself

Human beings are passionate creatures, driven by the pursuit of pleasure and connection. Science can do its best to explain why and how we get these powerful and sometimes uncontrollable feelings but at the end of the day, there is no explanation needed. When you lock eyes with that special someone, flirting and bonding, there is no proper combination of words that can truly describe the feeling.

Whether you like to take things slow or consider yourself to be someone who moves at a quicker pace, there are many different points of view on whether this is healthy or not. The answer is always changing and evolving but that’s only because of how personal physical intimacy is with the specific individual that you are talking to. If you ask me, the more the merrier.

Healthy Sex

Most people will claim that sleeping around is sleazy and even unhealthy. Honestly, these are the same people who have a hard time maintaining a constructive relationship and typically are not great when it comes to the game of love. It’s easier for these people to make rude accusations about others, rather than focusing on their own faults.

It is perfectly healthy to live a sexually active life, and please go ahead and do whatever makes you happy! – however, there are some guidelines you should follow if you want to stay in the game.

First things first, use your head (the one on your shoulders). It’s fun to be bold and live dangerously, but there’s a difference between being spontaneous and making a stupid decision. Situations are hard to read, and every circumstance has its own unique factors, but keep your head on a swivel. When flirting and dating new people whom you don’t know much about, you’re entering a potentially threatening world. This isn’t to say you should be paranoid the whole time, just understand that this person may not be exactly what they are making themselves out to be and could have cruel intentions.

You leave the bar, you’re both on the same page about where the night is heading, and things are beginning to get intimate.

To wear or not wear protection, that is the question. The answer is simple.

No matter what your friend claims to be true and how they “have never had an STD”, just wear one. Do condoms make the experience slightly less enjoyable? Definitely, but the risks are greater than the reward. STDs and unexpected pregnancy can really throw a wrench in your life and this seemingly small risk is not worth a lifetime of regret.

Communication is key when it comes to sex. If you and your partner trust each other and have both been tested for various STIs, have a conversation and as long as you both are on the same page, the choice is yours. Sex is an activity for responsible adults which puts both parties in a situation to make mature choices. If you want to take a risk, be prepared to face any potential consequences.

I would know.

Be Responsible

If you roll the dice enough times, you are eventually going to lose. Unfortunately, my time was up. Let’s just say after what I thought to be a safe and intimate experience, well, I started to feel not well and needed a check-up. Most people would agree with me when I say taking that trip to the urgent care facility, sunglasses on and hat down low is a brutal journey that no one wants to make. After eagerly waiting for my results, I received the unfortunate news that I contracted an STD. Fortunately, it was one that was treatable and after one week I was as good as new.

Now What?

So, what is the moral of the story? In my opinion, it is to use your best judgment. Looking back at that experience there were many red flags I ignored because I had too many cocktails and I didn’t follow my gut. This isn’t to say that the woman I was with is a bad person and knowingly had an STD but believe me when I tell you that there were plenty of conflicts of interest and I should’ve been more responsible and used protection.

Not everyone knows best. In fact, most people don’t which is why you shouldn’t immediately take advice from other people. Be an adult, analyze the situation, and weigh the pros and cons but consider the possibility that things can go sideways. No matter what anyone tells you there is no way to know how things are going to play out so you might as well make the safe play and use protection!

But, if you happened to have taken the risk, the smartest thing you can do next is get tested for STD as thoroughly as you can. It’s a right thing to do, and you deserve respect for doing the right thing. Chances are, you’re perfectly fine, but should the test find something, it would be absolutely essential to have it treated right away.

Chai Care offers discrete, respectful, thorough STD testing service in all our locations. If you find yourself in a situation when STD testing is a wise action to take. just find the Chai Care location near you, check the work hours, walk in and get tested today, without delay. Walk-ins are welcome, and no questions are asked. If you’d like to commit to a certain specific time slot for your STD test, you can also book an appointment at the nearest location.

(Booking an appointment is a purely psychological thing, it’s more for you than for us. We’ll welcome you anytime, even without any appointment, but having an appointment sometimes help your mind to focus on doing what needs to be done.)

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Nov 10, 2022

Get It Clear: Your Body Is A Machine

It is easy to forget who we are. Or should I say… what we are.

Lack of Clarity

In today’s world, we are surrounded by advanced technology, constant cycles of communication, and never-ending waves of information—true and false. At times, it can be hard to understand our relationship with this modern world but that’s mostly because of our lack of clarity. That is with ourselves.

Of course, as a child having clarity and an understanding of the world is virtually impossible. But as we get older, become wiser, and experience the trials & tribulations of the world, we begin to further understand who we are, how we operate, and the most optimum ways to live a proactive life. When it comes to healthy living you can ask 100 different people and receive 100 different answers but there are certain philosophies of life that will always stay true.

Ghost In the Machine

A term coined years ago but putting it simply—the conscious mind is separate from our physical body. Part of the reason why human beings are such complex creatures is that we are the only beings that have a wide range of emotions—love, anger, fear, and humor, these characteristics have made us incredibly unique, but this has also isolated our species from all the other animals on the planet. But luckily for them, we have discovered and created medicines that will help all of us.

It’s no secret that the greatest gift human beings have invented is medicine. Without such revolutionary cures, we would all still be living in the Stone Age. However true this may be, people forget that our bodies operate and perform just like any plane, train, or automobile. We need fuel, constant check-ups, and rest. Our emotions have convinced us that we are something different, but the hard truth is we need to constantly repair ourselves if we want to live a healthy life.

Engine Check

What an engine is to a car, the heart is to a human being.

Think about all the different parts, bolts, and nuts that help hold a vehicle together, making sure it runs smoothly. Now think of all the different body parts that need to function properly for a person to live a proactive and healthy life. Pretty similar, right?

You are driving along, and suddenly dark smoke begins to billow from your hood. Without hesitation, you begin searching for the nearest body shop to get your car checked by an expert. For some bizarre reason, people don’t always do this with their bodies. Whether it be a headache, wound, or sore throat, most people will ignore it and just wait for the problem to go away rather than receive a diagnosis.

Makes no sense, does it?

The major problem with ignoring your body besides the obvious one of feeling pain is that you are neglecting the option to receive much-needed information.

Sometimes your body is responding the way it is due to an overdue “engine check”. You have been ignoring signals that your body has been desperately trying to show you and if you don’t listen, well, the consequences can be grave.

Optimal Efficiency 

If you want to live a healthy life and see the best results from the way your body performs, constantly check in on yourself. Don’t ignore the signs but embrace them. Yes, it may be a nuisance to your everyday life, but doesn’t that minor inconvenience outweigh potentially life-threatening news?

Be smart, check your body’s engine, and read the signs before it’s too late. Life is fragile and it would be terrible to waste even a moment of it just because seeking medical attention seems unnecessary. These professionals are here to help us, supply advice, and teach us how to live our best lives so make sure to take advantage of it!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Fair Is Fair: Your Body Deserves Care

Today we live in a world where the philosophy of fairness has been questioned.

A Fair Life

What is fair and how does one be fair without hurting anyone’s feelings? It’s hard to say because it’s impossible to know what someone is truly feeling on the inside, but a great starting point is to never be biased and treat everyone the same. Even if what you are suggesting to someone might sting, if you are being truthful and genuinely trying to help the person then you are completely in the right.

But fairness can be applied to all aspects of life, however, there is no more important place than fairness in health.

Fairness & Family

Family is the most important thing in life which is why it can be so hard to give an honest, unbiased opinion. These are the people whom you have spent your entire lives with so when someone begins to exercise less, gain weight, and is clearly in need of a wake-up call, being the one to do it is no easy task. But as difficult as this may be, the cornerstone of true love is brutal honesty because, in the long run, they will thank you.

If you are the type of person who has a hard time having these types of conversations, it’s best to put yourself in their situation. Wouldn’t you want someone to have your back, giving you words of encouragement? Of course, you do, who doesn’t? Sure, it may sting but this is your family. You’ve already been through the trenches together so it’s only fair to help them in a time of need.

Sometimes it isn’t that easy. You may have a hard-headed family member who is as stubborn as they are naïve and will always think they know what’s best for them because after all, you can never truly know a person, right?

Wrong.

You do know this person! You grew up together and spent years of time with one another, and as much as they might think you don’t understand them, this is the most important time to reach out and help because they are so far removed from themselves that they need someone to come in and support them, whether they know it or not. This will only create a stronger and deeper bond between you and when there comes a time in life when you need someone to show the same kind of fairness, they will gladly be there to offer it.

Be Fair to Yourself

For some people helping others is easy. They have no problem being unbiased and supplying the truth where it is needed, but when it comes to practicing what you preach, that’s a whole other story.

This may sound strange but being unfair to yourself is incredibly selfish. Yes, it’s important to put others’ feelings ahead of yours, but that’s only true sometimes. The same way you should be fair to your family, you should also be fair to yourself. It’s easy to look around and help everyone else, pointing out how and where they should improve their lives, but talk is cheap. It’s time to apply the same unbiased words to yourself.

It’s an easy system to follow. When you’re good, reward yourself, and when bad punish yourself. Now, this isn’t meant to be viewed in extreme circumstances but offers a healthy way of acknowledging when you’re right and wrong. After a week of exercise, healthy eating, and long hours at work, take a night off to let loose. But if you’re the opposite, eating junk food and slumping on the couch all week, then it’s time to put down the chips and hit the gym.

Accountability

Let’s say your brother has an injury that won’t go away, and he complains about the pain but won’t seek medical attention. It’s easy to hold him accountable believing him to be responsible for his own body, however, this is your brother. You care about him, right? Sure, you do. So now it’s your job to help and offer a sense of tough love. Be the one to hold him accountable and be so persistent that he finally gets a check-up. After he heals, you’ll get all the credit.

This exact example applies to you as well. Don’t just sit around waiting for your body to heal when you can just as easily go to your nearest urgent care facility and get a check-up. The truth can be intimidating but be fair to yourself because when it comes to staying healthy, it’s better to hear the hard truth than face grave consequences!

Stay True & Fair

When it comes to your health and the health of your loved ones, always be fair and help where you can. As tough and awkward as it may get, these are the moments when you need to step in because if we can’t count on family then who can we count on you? Even if you get backlash, it’ll be worth it in the end because you know in your heart that you are being unbiased and only trying to help.

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Nov 09, 2022

Rationalism vs Rationality vs Rationalization

Living a proactive and healthy life is simple if you let it be.

Smart Choices

You know the rules, don’t you? Eat healthy, exercise, get regular check-ups, and receive medical attention when needed, and you will have the much-desired lifestyle that you have only read about, yet most people have a difficult time following this structure. I’m sure you have made the typical excuses, “I worked all day and don’t want to go to the gym”, or “I’ll be fine, I’m sure I didn’t break anything”, and the coveted “I don’t want to waste my time at urgent care”. These are all rationalizations that lead to lazy, destructive lives due to a lack of knowledge on how to improve your decision-making. Lucky for you, there is a formula.

Most people don’t know the difference between rationality, rationalism, and rationalization. They all may appear similar, but they are strikingly different from one another, so much so that your entire life can change just by understanding these individual philosophies. Each idea represents and examines concepts and strategies in life, however, depending on which one you choose your existence will either turn out to be one with good health and happiness and the other, well, not so much.

Rationalism:

An Invisible Examination

Although the words may sound similar, rationalism is much different from rationality. The main point is that rationalism is knowledge that cannot be confirmed with observation.

The best, albeit counterintuitive example would be intuition (see what I did there?). This is the ability for people to know things that are determined by the unconscious mind, in other words, something that you don’t see but can feel. We all have had moments where we have some sort of gut instinct that something eerie is lurking in the shadows and perhaps it’s best to take a taxi home rather than walk only to discover the next day that there was a mugging at that very spot. Coincidence? It’s impossible to say because this philosophy is cloaked by its own theory, thus making it more skeptical than rationality.

Think of it like this, you step on a jagged piece of glass, and it punctures your heel. You aren’t sure how deep the cut is so you don’t think it may be worth visiting an urgent care facility because it is a waste of time. The wound won’t stop bleeding and the pain won’t decrease. Is it better to listen to your gut where there is no visible proof or take an easy ride to a medical facility to have it examined? The choice is simple, get it checked. It sounds obvious but the safer play is to always use legitimate proof.

But really, at the core, rationalism simply means the school of thought that argues that the truth can only be found through mental operations that bypass the evidence offered by senses. René Descartes is arguably the most famous rationalist philosopher famous for his extremely skeptical attitude to the input from senses, and for stating “I think, therefore I am” – the quintessential example of deriving the truth by logical reasoning from the data available to the mind without the input from senses.

Rationality and Health

Rationality is the method for solving problems with logic and well-structured thinking.

If X than Y.

If you eat unhealthy food, your body gains fat. If you smoke cigarettes regularly, you are more likely to have lung cancer. If you break your arm, you should visit an urgent care facility and get a cast.

These are simple examples of cause and effect. If you do “X” then “Y” will happen. It’s a simple mathematical equation that can radically improve your life, but many people have a hard time solving it. The conundrum isn’t that the equation is confusing but that it requires consistent discipline, sacrifice, and most of all, toughness. Whoever said that working out every day and eating clean is a simple task was a liar and most likely was preaching to the choir. This formula is simple in theory yet difficult to live by due to the everyday struggles that people have. Children, work, relationships, and personal obligations all can complicate this equation yet it’s crucial not to fall into the trap of excuses.

Having a sense of rationality will not only construct a proactive life but will also help you sustain one. It’s an important foundation to live by because it will create a consistently safe and well-thought-out strategy on how to avoid danger and physical harm while simultaneously helping maintain your health and safety. With that being said, don’t confuse rationality with rationalism.

Rationalization: A Wrong Way to Use Logic

The worst thing you can possibly do is rationalize a situation. This is an act of attempting to explain or justify behavior with logical reasons even if they are not appropriate.

Cigarette smokers are the best example of this. Take John. His boss has been chewing him out all day due to his lack of accomplishments. He is then asked to stay late so he rationalizes to himself that a few puffs will calm his nerves and give him some newfound energy even though it is scientifically proven that cigarettes are extremely harmful to the human body and don’t really supply any organic vitality.

People are always looking for ways to rationalize their self-destructive behavior so they can ignore the problems that they are too scared to face. This negligence is not only harmful to yourself but to those around you. Think of your children, partner, or friends. These people care deeply about you and want what is best for you so when they suggest you should change your eating habits or pay a visit to a nearby urgent care facility for a physical, listen. To rationalize make-believe stories about your health is as foolish as it is incorrect.

These are the moments when it’s time to use the basic rationality formula—if you have been feeling unwell, then you should seek medical attention to receive a diagnosis.

A Healthy Philosophy

The best approach to pursuing a proactive life is to live with a sense of rationality. Be calculated and wise with your decisions rather than following unproven theories because when it comes to your health, it’s never safe to trust anything besides facts.  Be smart, be safe, and always use your head rather than your heart!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.