Whether you wear corrective lenses or think your eyes are in perfect condition, you should take steps to improve your eye health. Your eyes are a massive part of how you go about your everyday life, and they may be more sensitive than you think. Setting aside time to adjust your daily routine to account for eye healthcare is well worth it! At East Northport Medical Care, our Huntington family primary care is here to evaluate your eyes and help you create a plan that best suits you at our East Northport office! Take care of how you see the world!

Caring for Your Eye Health

While having your eyes tested by your Huntington family primary care is a key component of taking care of your vision; a lot more goes into it. Here are some techniques for improving your vision and maintaining your eye health:
  • Using sun protection
    • Anytime you are in the sunlight, it is important to protect your eyes. Choosing sunglasses that offer 99 to 100 percent UVA and UVB blocking is ideal. Adding a hat with a wide brim can also improve your protection.
    • Taking on the sun without protection could lead to the development of macular degeneration, cataracts, and pterygium, which may blur your vision.
  • Using other protective eyewear
    • When playing sports, dealing with construction, or managing chemicals, wearing proper eyewear is essential. Protective goggles provide an extra barrier between your eyes and chemicals, sharp materials, and more.
    • Opting for a high-quality pair of goggles makes a big difference. The polycarbonate material of many of these goggles is much stronger and safer than other plastic.
  • The 20-20-20 rule
    • For those who spend their work day in front of a computer, giving your eyes a break can help reduce strain. This technique includes taking 20 seconds to look at an object 20 feet away from you once every 20 minutes.
  • Adjusting your diet
    • Incorporating healthy foods with beneficial nutrients is an easy step towards increased eye health. These nutrients include:
      • Zinc and Vitamins A, C, and E – help prevent macular degeneration; can be found in vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and citrus
      • Omega-3 fatty acids – improve eye health; can be found in salmon and flaxseed
      • Lutein and zeaxanthin – carotenoids of the retina; improve eyesight; can be found in broccoli, eggs, and zucchini
  • Hand hygiene
    • The eyes are very sensitive to germs. Touching or rubbing your eyes with dirty hands could lead to infection or irritation, which may worsen your vision. Even putting in contact lenses with dirty hands can cause this.
  • Contact lens hygiene
    • As for the contact lenses, you must only insert disinfected ones into your eyes. It is also important to change your lenses as instructed. Using the same pair of lenses for too long can lead to the accumulation of germs.
  • Do not smoke
    • It is important to understand that when smoking is bad for your whole body, your eyes are a part of that. Smoking increases the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.
    • If you already smoke, stop as soon as possible. The longer you go without smoking once quitting, the better your body will be.
  • Exercising
    • Staying fit and healthy can improve overall health and decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Those with the condition may develop diabetic retinopathy, in which vision is impacted, and the eye’s blood vessels are damaged.
  • Managing eye conditions
    • Whether they be in your family’s medical history or dealt with by you, letting your doctor know about relevant conditions is important. They can help you manage or prevent any that could impact your vision.

Consulting a Doctor

Before trying something new for your eyes or if you are unsure about continuing a current practice, always consult your Huntington family primary care. Professionals in the field of eye health are the best resources for information. It is especially important to visit them if you experience any pain or irritation in your eye. Given the sensitive nature of the eyes, a medical professional is more reliable than any home remedy.

Huntington Family Primary Care For Eye Care

For the best eye care, always visit a medical professional. Our Huntington family primary care, at our East Northport office is here to support your eye health and guide you along your path to improved vision. No matter your starting point, East Northport Medical Care will help you shift your lifestyle to reach healthier eyes. To book an appointment, contact our office today!
Urgent Care Near CommackWhile symptoms may overlap, allergies and common colds have different causes. Due to the overlapping symptoms, many people tend to confuse the two. While most of the time, allergies and the common cold are not severe, they can be annoying and get in the way of your daily activities. Identifying whether you have allergies or the common cold is necessary for determining the best way to start feeling better. East Northport Medical Care is an excellent resource for you if you believe you are struggling with allergies or a common cold. We can help determine what is causing your symptoms and how to treat them best. If you are working to decide whether or not you have allergies or the common cold, we recommend you go to an Urgent Care Near Commack. 

Common Cold Causes

The common cold is a viral infection that impacts the upper respiratory tract. Typically, it is very contagious, and you can get it multiple times a year because there are many different types of viruses that cause these colds. The common cold can impact people of all ages, even infants. A common cold is not usually something to be concerned about; however, the symptoms associated can be annoying and distracting. There are remedies to help alleviate some of the common cold symptoms, so it would be beneficial to go to an Huntington family primary care.

Common Cold Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of a cold are:
  • Congestion
  • Coughing
  • Low-grade Fever (100.4 to about 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Mild Headache
  • Runny/Stuffy Nose
  • Slight Body Aches
  • Sneezing
  • Sore Throat
You may experience one or a combination of these symptoms if you suffer from the common cold. It is vital to keep an eye on the discharge from your nose as it will change colors through time as the virus runs its course. Again, while the symptoms may not be severe, they can cause discomfort that may need to be addressed by a doctor or over-the-counter medication. If you have severe irritation and over-the-counter medication isn’t cutting it, we recommend visiting Huntington family primary care.

Allergies Causes

When you are experiencing allergy symptoms, this is the body’s reaction to a foreign substance that has entered the body. More specifically, this is the immune system’s response to a foreign object in the body. The body’s immune system is in charge of protecting the body from danger through antibodies. Danger can include foreign substances, viruses, and more. Allergies impact people because the body has created an antibody against a specific allergen. When the particular allergen enters the body, the body’s immune system begins fighting against the allergen, even though the allergen is not harmful. Allergies range in severity depending on the person. Some people have severe allergic reactions that can cause death. However, most people with allergies experience discomfort due to the body fighting the allergen. Below are a few of the most common allergens that can cause a reaction of some sort to occur:
  • Pollen
  • Bee or Wasp Sting
  • Penicillin (Antibiotic)
  • Mold
  • Mites
  • Animal Dander
  • Peanuts
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Fish
  • Latex
Everyone is different in terms of what allergens impact them if any at all. Allergies are usually not severe but can be very uncomfortable and may impact your daily life.

Allergies Symptoms

Since everyone’s immune system is so different and can react to other allergens in various ways, there are many symptoms associated with allergies. It is essential to keep track of your allergy symptoms as they will indicate how severe the reaction is. Below are some of the common symptoms associated with allergies:
  • Sneezing
  • Hives
  • Swelling of areas such as the throat, eyes, or face
  • Coughing
  • Itching of the nose and eyes
  • Running nose
These symptoms don’t require you to see a doctor most of the time. However, if your symptoms are constant or become more severe, you must go to Huntington family primary care. A doctor can give you medications or other remedies to help relieve the symptoms or prevent them in the future.

How To Determine The Difference?

As you can see, there are different causes of allergies and the common cold. The common cold is caused by a virus, whereas allergies are the body’s response to foreign substances that are not harmful. They have overlapping symptoms; however, there are specific symptoms that differentiate the two. For example, those suffering from allergies likely have more itching, but those with the common cold may experience a low-grade fever. Additionally, the common cold is highly transmissible. However, allergies cannot be spread to others as no virus is involved. If you are in doubt about what may be causing some uncomfortable symptoms, we recommend you go to Huntington family primary care.

Contact Huntington Family Primary Care

East Northport Medical Care would like to help relieve you of those uncomfortable symptoms you may be having. We have the tools and expertise to differentiate between allergies and the common cold. By determining which you are suffering from, we can help you get the best treatment to feel better in no time! Please get in touch with us today to make an appointment to help determine what is making you feel under the weather!

What is obesity?

Obesity is when body fat is above a certain level. Body mass index (BMI) is a way to measure obesity. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A BMI of 25 to 30 is overweight. A BMI over 30 is obese. We can calculate your BMI for you. You can also use a BMI calculator online to find out your BMI.

Why see a healthcare provider for weight loss?

If you are obese, it’s important that you get the right treatment. Obesity can lead to serious health problems, such as:
  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Sleep apnea
  • Liver disease
  • Certain lung diseases, such as asthma
    • Certain cancers

What to expect at your first visit.

At your first visit, we may: ● Ask about your health history. This includes your history of eating habits, exercise, and weight loss. ● Give you a physical exam. This includes BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Order certain tests to check health factors related to obesity, looking for health problems that can cause weight gain. You may have tests such as:
  • Blood sugar levels, to check for diabetes
  • Lipid and cholesterol levels
  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels
  • Liver blood tests
  • Kidney function blood tests
  • Vitamin D levels
  • Electrocardiogram, to look at your heart rhythm
  • Exercise testing, to see how well your heart works during exercise
  • Resting metabolic rate, to look at how many calories you burn at rest

Creating a treatment plan: Huntington Family Primary Care

We will create a treatment plan for you. The plan is based on your medical needs and preferences. They will:
  • Find out how ready you are to begin an exercise program
  • Help you make realistic weight loss goals
  • Give you a nutrition plan
  • Tell you to keep a food diary
  • Talk with you about a weight-loss medicine, if needed
We will give you information about:
  • Healthy eating habits
  • Healthy exercise habits
  • How to change health behaviors
  • How mental health affects obesity
  • The complications of obesity
  • The benefits and risks of medicines
Give us a call today to begin the journey to take back your health.