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Why Obesity Has Become a Global Epidemic

Obesity, or the accumulation of excessive fat in the body that could be detrimental to health, has become a health crisis and a global epidemic. It is defined as a condition wherein a person’s body mass index (BMI) is above 30.

Obesity has been linked to various diseases like diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure and even early death. That’s why Urgent Care of The Palm Beaches wants to raise global awareness about this silent disease.

“From 1999 –2000 through 2017 –2018, US obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 42.4%. During the same time, the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%”, as per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The cost of obesity does not just impact health services or human capital loss, but also in the way governments around the world could manage finite resources. 

Causes of obesity

There are two main factors that affect the rate of obesity, according to the World Health Organization. This epidemic has been linked to:

  • An increased intake in foods that are high in fat
  • An increase in sedentary lifestyle because of urbanization 

Those who live in progressive cities have several options for food and beverages that are highly processed, or high in salt, sugar and saturated fat. City dwellers also have access to better options for transportation, communication, and recreation with the emergence of various digital devices.

People who work in urbanized areas likely have a job that isn't physically very demanding. These scenarios limit the way people expend their energy hence the likelihood of weight gain. 

According to Scientific American, urbanization remains a major factor to impact obesity even as rural areas today also have access to modern food supply and mechanized farming or transport. However, the risk of obesity in regions previously affected by hunger and wasting is already there. One day soon, even those in Africa, South Asia, and other countries may face an obesity epidemic instead of starvation.

More eating, not enough burning

The human body is designed to endure hunger hence in the primitive period, humans hunted and scavenged for food and get the most of the calories their body needed while eating everything fresh.

Today, however, humans can easily buy packaged food anywhere and store these in the fridge or cupboards for eating at any time. Humans can also simply pick out food from a number of restaurants around them, which serve large portion sizes to consume beyond their body's caloric needs.

Our walk-in clinic doctor says that burning those calories with exercises and physical activities should do the trick, but people today are eating more than their bodies can burn. So, while some individuals might stay off pizza or fast-food to start eating healthy, they would still need to exercise regularly if their job entails sitting on the computer most days or if their lifestyle lacks activities.

Physical education classes are becoming obsolete in some schools as well. Thus, there is a need for the community to come together to combat this epidemic by creating more opportunities for activities and access for recreation among people of all ages. Local programs that help reduce obesity should gain proper support from political, business, socio-economic, and healthcare leaders. 

Untitled-design-34 Why Obesity Has Become a Global Epidemic

Know your BMI! Visit one of our walk-in clinics in South Florida

The first step towards treating obesity is awareness of the condition. To find our what your BMI is, visit our Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches. We are here to help you!

We accept patients who have made appointments, as well as walk-in patients. We have several locations for your convenience, including:

Are you concerned about COVID-19? Would you like to have rapid COVID testing or PCR testing? We are happy to assist you with COVID-19 testing in Palm Beach Gardens or any of our urgent care centers. 

We offer: 

  • Rapid Covid Antigen Test
  • PCR testing
  • IgG Antibody Test for immunity

The tests are available at all of our 3 locations.

For common conditions that can easily be treated from home, we offer telemedicine urgent care.

Feel free to contact our clinic or make an appointment now. We are more than willing to answer any questions you have in a partnership to keep you well!

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

Florida is known for its spectacular weather, which also means a longer allergy season. 

It can be challenging for those who have both allergies and asthma to understand what is triggering the symptoms. With COVID, it is even more challenging to self-diagnose at home. Is it allergies? Asthma? COVID? A combination?

Most often, allergies trigger asthma symptoms. COVID symptoms are usually noted early on and may worsen as the illness progresses. Knowing the key differences between the three can help you determine what symptoms you are experiencing and the root cause. 

This article will address the differences between allergies, asthma, and COVID-19 to help you understand the symptoms you are experiencing. You can then make the best decision as to when it is time to seek help at urgent care or through telemedicine urgent care

The difference between allergies and COVID-19

Both COVID-19 and allergies often start with a dry cough. If you usually experience allergies, you may be unsure if it is COVID. Also, with both, you may notice you have a mild sore throat, runny nose, or sneezing. 

The most important difference is if you are running a fever. 

Fevers are prevalent in patients with COVID. Patients with allergies do not run fevers. Allergies are also unlikely to cause other symptoms that are experienced with COVID, including: 

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle Aches

 

Asthma and COVID-19

Many asthma patients know the signs when they have an asthma attack. Asthma and COVID-10 can also share similar symptoms, such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing. However, since the outbreak of COVID-19, it isn’t unusual to question if some of these symptoms may be caused by the virus rather than an asthma attack. 

Again, a fever is the best way to identify the difference between an asthma attack and COVID-19. It is easy to get rapid covid testing from an urgent care to get a correct diagnosis if you are unsure. 

Preventing COVID-19

If you have asthma, it is even more important you protect yourself against the virus by getting vaccinated. If you have had the initial vaccination and are eligible for booster vaccination, make sure you receive your booster vaccine. 

Patients with respiratory conditions are especially at risk of becoming more ill from the COVID-19 virus, so prevention is critical. 

If you are having symptoms, you will only know for sure by having a COVID-19 test, either PCR testing or the Antigen COVID test. We offer both at Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches. 

Untitled-design-28 How to know the difference between allergies, asthma, and COVID-19

If you have any respiratory concerns, our urgent care is here to serve you

Whether it is a treatment for your allergies, asthma, or if you need COVID testing in Palm Beach, we can help you get the proper diagnosis to get the best treatment plan started. 

We offer COVID 19 testing at the following locations: 

Do not hesitate to visit one of our centers today, as walk-ins are always welcome, or make an appointment. We look forward to assisting you in your healthcare needs! 

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

© Urgent Care of the Palm Beaches 2022.

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