Summer should be fun — health issues, though? Not fun. That’s why you should stay on top of your wellness this season, as activities and temperatures ramp up (...all the way to a heat index of 102.2° this July, apparently).
Cempa Community Care can help. Their “We Do Care” philosophy means just that: The local healthcare experts offer excellent, affordable care through primary care (now accepting new patients) and several other health services — and they actually care about Noogans’ health and well-being.
Here are a few reasons to have Cempa on speed dial (or opened up in a mobile browser tab) this summer:
1. Summer is full of activities + travels.
Summer means more hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, and swimming; plus extra travel, social events, and sun exposure — increasing the risk of cuts and scrapes, broken bones, insect bites, sunburns, and disease exposure.
- Cempa’s Primary Care + Mobile Clinic (available weekly in a neighborhood near you) physicians can treat non-emergency injuries (like sprains from hiking Cloudland) + illnesses (like a mid-summer cold or mosquito-borne illnesses from the backyard BBQ). Bonus: Get travel-ready by making sure your vaccinations are up to date.
- Summer is full of Instagrammable moments. Make sure your pearly whites are pearly white (and healthy) with Cempa’s Dental Services.
- On the run and need medicine? Cempa has a full-service, on-site pharmacy, too.
- As a leader in HIV care since 1986, Cempa’s infectious diseases services offers HIV testing, PrEP, and treatment.
2. Our environment can work against us.
The local summertime UV index ranges from 8 to 10, meaning it can take just 15 minutes to get a sunburn. Add that with dehydration, heatstroke, allergic reactions, or a flared-up autoimmune disease, and you’re all set for a ruined summer weekend.
The good news: You can avoid that by scheduling these health screenings:
- Primary care physicians can help you with a basic metabolic panel (BMP) or electrolyte panel to check your kidney function and electrolyte levels, which are important for hydration balance.
- An immunoglobulin E (IgE) test or basic allergy screening can make sure you’re prepared for your reaction to the heightened tree and grass pollen counts — and, potentially, risky food allergies.
- An iron profile can reveal potential iron deficiencies, which can impact energy levels — especially if you’re planning on being active during the hot + humid months.
3. Chronic conditions can flare up.
Many chronic illnesses flare up during the summertime, so it’s best to care for yours by talking to a primary care doctor or to proactively schedule a health check-up. Seasonally-impacted illnesses can include:
- Eczema and rosacea (from increased sweating)
- Asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis (which can be aggravated by summer’s air quality)
- Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (which can be worsened by sun exposure)
- MS (heat intolerance is a common symptom)
- Fibromyalgia (increased pain and stiffness in hot weather)
4. Our schedules are a little more flexible.
This one speaks for itself. Summer often means school breaks and more flexible schedules, making it a great time to set up routine check-ups, screenings, specialty appointments, and necessary procedures that may be more difficult to swing during the busy school year.
Get started with a primary care physician.
