Everything You Need To Know About Abscess Drainage and Incisions

At some point of time, everybody has experienced the development of a red bumps on some of their body. These bumps might get filled with pus and cause serious infections. It is  best if the abscesses are drained to curb the spread of infections. You can visit urgent care clinics in order to get the abscess injected and drained. 

What exactly does an abscess mean? 

An abscess can be defined as a tender skin mass that is surrounded by a tissue wall. It is generally filled with pus. Abscesses get developed when the body tries to control the infection and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. The lump of pus can pose discomfort and can also be very painful to touch. 

The abscess can be pink or red in color. A majority of abscesses are caused due to infection but can be easily cured with the help of the incision and drainage method. The most common areas that the abscess can build up is around the tooth, armpits, anus, and any other part of the body. Abscesses that are a result of the inflammation of hair follicles are known as boils. You can visit a walk in clinic in order to get the abscess cured. 

What is the cause of the development of an abscess? 

The skin has many layers. When these layers get infected, the normally functioning skin barrier might get ruptured. This can be because of minor trauma or cuts and tears. Through these cuts, bacteria can seep into the skin and cause abscesses. The body reacts to this and develops an abscess. In the process, the body tries to kill the germs or bacterial infection. There are various other reasons behind the development of abscesses. Such as inflamed hair follicles or a cyst in the skin.  

What are the symptoms of abscess?

An abscess, most commonly, gets converted into a painful mass of pus. It is often red or pink in color. Abscesses can be very painful to touch. Some of the symptoms of abscesses are mentioned below:

• Abscesses can be popped if they are minor. You can clench the abscess and see the pus ooze out. 
• If left unattended, the abscess can worsen over time and cause more problems. 
• In case the abscess spread into the deeper skin layers, an individual might develop mild fever which can be treated by a doctor. 

On visiting a Walk In Clinic, the doctor will make an incision in the abscess and drain out the pus. This will reduce the pain and swelling. If the abscess is larger in size, the doctor at the urgent care clinics will prescribe some over the counter medicines.

Cholesterol screening test: Things you need to know!

Gone are those days when you had to wait for hours to get your injured arm treated or get your screening tests done. But, today, you don’t need to get a prior appointment from the doctor or wait in the long queue for non-life-threatening conditions. All thanks to a walk-in clinic!

Apart from this, visiting an emergency room is more expensive than an urgent care center. This is why, if your health condition is non-life-threatening, it’s advisable to choose an urgent care clinic over an emergency room and primary healthcare center. And most walk-in clinics also have screening tests facility. So, if you’re considering getting cholesterol screen tests, choose an urgent care clinic.

However, before you dive into the cholesterol screening test procedure, it is important to know everything about it. This includes how to prepare yourself for the test, whether you are the right candidate for it or not, and what to expect before, during and after the test.

When is the right time to have a cholesterol test?

People of age 20 or above can get a cholesterol test done every five years. However, the following are the people who need a cholesterol test more often, including:

• A woman above 50.
  
• A man above 45.
  
• If someone has cholesterol more than 200.
  
• A person with low HDL, which means the “good” cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL for males or less than 50 m/dL for females.
  
• People who are obese or have high blood pressure or any other condition have a higher risk of high cholesterol.
  

How to prepare for a cholesterol test?

Yes, you need to prepare yourself for a cholesterol test. To do this, you shouldn’t eat and drink anything at least nine hours before the screening test. And avoid taking medication until your doctor asks you. In case, you eat medicines before your screening test, it may affect the results.

Which is the right place to have a cholesterol test?

As recommended by the American Heart Association, it is better to have the screening test at your doctor’s office. However, you can also get your test done at a diagnostic center or at a hospital. By choosing your doctor’s office for the cholesterol test, you’ll have the peace of mind by knowing:

• The test is performed by an experienced and qualified person.
  
• The resulting reports are accurate.
  
• The follow-up care after the test is personalized depending on your needs.
  

Hopefully, now you know whether you’re the right candidate for the screening test or not. And if you’re eligible to have a cholesterol screening test, you know how to prepare yourself and where to go. Want to have a cholesterol screening test? Contact the best urgent care clinic in your area.