March is full of national holidays, celebrations, and plenty of history. In fact, this month is Women’s History Month! In honor of the rich and deeply rooted month-long holiday, we’re highlighting how vybe urgent care can help women in Philadelphia live their healthiest lives.
As your local urgent care, your health is our priority. We’re here for you when your doctor is booked, or when you need answers quickly. Let’s talk about some conditions that are prevalent in women and what you can do to protect yourself or someone you know.
Although heart disease is commonly considered an issue that is more prevalent among men, more women than men die from heart disease each year — it’s actually the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
More importantly, women tend to have different symptoms than men and tend to discount their symptoms as not being heart related. When it comes to the heart – pay attention to how your body is feeling and get seen quickly. Don’t delay in seeking medical care. If you feel your symptoms are urgent, go directly to an ER. For other symptoms, vybe urgent care is here 7 days a week to help assess your health concerns.
Of course, the best way to prevent heart disease is to be proactive! Having a healthy heart and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is of the utmost importance for women who are susceptible to heart disease. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking are factors that can contribute to heart disease. Get regular examinations so you understand your health status and how to maintain or improve it.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health issue – over 50% of women will get at least one UTI during their lifetime. For sexually active females, those odds increase to almost one UTI per year. A leading risk factor for the development of UTIs is intercourse. One of the best ways to minimize the risk of a UTI following intercourse is to urinate after sex. This can help prevent bacteria from accumulating in the bladder and causing infection.
In women who may not recognize the symptoms, a simple bladder infection left untreated can spread into the kidneys and blood stream and can become a more serious illness. This is why it is important to see a clinician if you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI. Visit your local vybe urgent care to get treated immediately and begin the road to recovery.
Currently called sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), these have also been called STDs and venereal disease in the past. These terms all refer to the same issues that affect a woman’s physical and reproductive well-being.
STIs are on the rise. Every day in America, approximately 12,000 teenagers contract a sexually transmitted illness. One of the top health concerns we treat at vybe urgent care is related to female sexual health. From vaginosis to STIs, or simply re-filling birth control pills, we can handle many of these issues. While vybe can’t perform all the preventive services your OB performs, there’s a lot we can do for you, and a lot you can do for yourself, including:
Certain STIs — such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis — can be passed from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or delivery. STIs in infants can cause serious health problems. All pregnant women should be screened for these infections and treated.
Put simply, there are more health issues to navigate when you’re pregnant, including, “Which doctor should I visit for which condition?” While vybe urgent care isn’t a replacement for your OB/GYN, vybe can help with other issues that may put pregnant women at risk, such as STIs, UTIs, and other illnesses or injuries. We get lots of questions from patients around their first pregnancy. And hey, we provide pregnancy tests, too! Seven days a week.
About one in eight women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in women. By keeping up with breast exams and yearly physicals, you can put yourself in the best position to detect breast cancer early on. It doesn’t hurt to know your facts about it either!
Other cancers that affect women in high numbers are cervical and ovarian cancer. Although symptoms can be vague and sometimes go undetected, these cancers are complex! At vybe urgent care, we suggest educating yourself and being proactive about getting answers to your health questions/concerns. See a clinician at the first signs of anything that doesn’t feel right. We’re here to help, answer questions, or give referrals — just pay us a visit!
Urgent care isn’t just for cuts and scrapes or bumps and accidents; it’s a viable and affordable health care option for you and your family. It is best to see your primary care physician for yearly physicals and preventative care for many reasons, including most insurance requirements. However, if you have an immediate concern about any health condition, we are here to help you find answers.
At vybe urgent care, we’ll make sure you’re seen urgently and treated kindly!
