Buscar

Wearing headphones or earbuds is a daily activity for many of us. Listening to music, podcasts, meetings, phone calls; there are endless reasons to stick them in or on your ears. However, if your ears start to feel plugged, full; or you feel dizzy, lightheaded or hear ringing in your ears; you may be experiencing ear wax build up where your ear canals become blocked and affect your hearing. If you’ve tried to clean your ears (please don’t use Q-Tips®), but still have symptoms, pain, or hearing loss, it’s time to see your physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or visit Renown Urgent Care. “Ear wax isn’t dirty. It’s normal,” says Ryan Bristol, APRN, Advanced Practitioner of Nursing at Renown Urgent Care. “Ears are self-cleaning miracles, and naturally clean themselves with the help of jaw movement and skin migration. However, wearing headphones or earbuds for hours blocks earwax from naturally draining from the ear. Additionally, the dirt and bacteria that these headphones often carry can cause an infection on their own, and earwax buildup can trap dirt in the ear and block the canal completely. The snug fit of headphones can create a conducive environment for the accumulation of ear wax. It's crucial for individuals to be mindful of this and take necessary precautions to prevent complications." “Individuals experiencing symptoms such as ear pain, decreased hearing, or a sensation of fullness in the ears are encouraged to seek evaluation and treatment at their nearest urgent care facility,” says Rahul Mediwala, MD, CEO of Renown Medical Group. “By addressing ear wax build-up promptly, individuals can mitigate the risk of complications and maintain optimal ear health. Fortunately, prompt, pain-free and effective treatment is available at Renown Urgent Care. We offer professional ear wax removal procedures performed by trained staff, providing relief to those experiencing discomfort or hearing impairment due to excessive ear wax build-up.” The experts at Renown Health gave us some background. What is ear wax and why is it healthy? Ear wax is a protective substance called sebum made of fat, skin cells and sweat. Ear wax is produced by glands in the ear canal. It helps protect the ear from germs and dirt and prevents the sensitive skin of the ear canal from becoming irritated. It is normal and healthy to have a thin lining of ear wax on the canal. Ear wax will sometimes accumulate and move to the outer ear canal, where it would typically fall out or be wiped away. This is also normal. When should I seek care? An ear canal has too much wax if the ear feels plugged or hearing is affected. The accumulation of wax happens very gradually, so ears do not necessarily feel waxy. The problem is usually noticed because of changes in hearing. Over the counter remedies may offer relief. However, in some cases, the earwax has built up or become impacted, and ears need to be treated. What is the treatment? At Renown Urgent Care, we offer professional ear wax removal procedures performed by trained staff, providing relief to those experiencing discomfort or hearing impairment due to excessive ear wax build-up. Wax is flushed from the ear canal using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Most patients find the procedure is fast, pain free and effective. How can I prevent earwax buildup from headphones and ear buds? Most people who wear headphones or use earbuds occasionally or intermittently don’t have difficulties with excessive ear wax. Wax accumulation also depends on the size of the ear canals and the productivity of the oil glands in the ear canal. You can choose to use over the ear headphones. If you prefer to use in-ear headphones, the best modes of excess ear wax prevention are to: Clean headphones and earbuds regularly with a cloth or disinfectant wipes; Avoid sharing headphones or earbuds with other people; Take breaks from headphones and earbuds so ears can breathe and get back to normal; Pay attention to your ear health. Should we talk about Q-tips? Yes! Q-tips (and similar products) are rarely helpful for managing ear wax. The cotton on the end of the Q-tip is usually unable to pull the wax out of the canal. Worse, they can push the wax deep inside the ear canal, and it can end up impacted. Where should I seek care? Individuals experiencing symptoms such as ear pain, decreased hearing, or a sensation of fullness in the ears are encouraged to seek evaluation and treatment at a medical facility. By addressing ear wax build-up promptly, individuals can mitigate the risk of complications and maintain optimal ear health. Renown Urgent Care sees patients 365 days a year for medical concerns that are urgent but not life-threatening at many locations across northern Nevada. Reserve con antelación un lugar en una de nuestras diez ubicaciones de Urgent Care. If you do not see time slots that work for you, you can still go to any location that has "walk-ins available" listed. For more information, or to book an appointment, go to renown.org/Health-Services/Urgent-Care. Renown Health is the region’s locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,200 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.

Leer más About Let Those Ears Breathe! Increased Headphone and Ear Bud Use Leads to Ear Wax Build Up; Renown Urgent Cares Offer Relief

Renown Health is thrilled to announce the successful grand reopening event of the remodeled and expanded outpatient Advanced Wound Clinic at 1500 East 2nd Street in Reno. The event, which took place on 30 de abril de 2024, welcomed patients and guests to commemorate this significant milestone. Attendees were treated to a series of activities, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, keynote speaker and a tour of the newly refurbished facilities. “The expansion of the Advanced Wound Clinic at Renown signifies a tremendous leap forward for our community and is a testament to the dedication of our patients. The purpose of wound care is to help you heal faster so you can get back to your life. A chronic wound can detract from your quality of life and prevent you from doing things you enjoy,” said Dr. Derek Freiheit, Medical Director, Renown Advanced Wound Care. “I am proud to witness the collective impact of our efforts as clinicians in partnership with patients, to enhance access to essential healthcare services, heal their wounds and improve their lives." “This event reaffirms our commitment to advancing access to healthcare,” said Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Renown Medical Group. “With the expansion of our state-of-the-art Advanced Wound Clinic, we’re not just healing wounds; we’re pioneering innovative solutions, transforming lives and reaffirming our dedication to exceptional patient care. Together, we are working to improve access to advanced wound care for all in need, including providing training and resources to rural home health agencies and clinics so that all patients can receive care they need, close to home.” A highlight of the event was the inspiring words delivered by Richard Peraldo, whose remarkable journey has touched the lives of many in the northern Nevada community. Richard was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and his story served as a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience and community support in overcoming adversity. His presence lent a profound sense of purpose to the occasion, reinforcing Renown Health's commitment to providing compassionate care to all those we serve. “The people in this clinic saved my life and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn't for them,” Richard said. “When I first came to the Wound Clinic, this was a team of doctors and nurses, but when I left, they were family and friends.” The successful reopening and expansion of the Renown Advanced Wound Clinic marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to provide best-in-class healthcare services to the community. About Renown Advanced Wound Care: Renown Advanced Wound Care is the largest provider of outpatient wound care in northern Nevada. With a highly trained team of certified professionals, the team at Renown Advanced Wound Care provides treatment of acute and chronic wounds and ostomy education and care. They specialize in the treatment of complex wound care, collaboration with other specialties and coordination of community resources. While access to wound care in rural areas has been a challenge for patients, the team at Renown Advanced Wound Care has been instrumental in providing training and resources to rural home health agencies and clinics so that patients can receive care closer to home. Renown Advanced Wound Care Also Specializes In: Care of acute and chronic wounds Pressure, vascular and diabetic ulcers Negative pressure wound therapy Selection of appropriate wound dressings and treatments Interdisciplinary limb preservation service rounds Diabetic Foot Care: Nos especializamos en el cuidado y la educación del pie diabético para ayudar a los pacientes y sus familias a adaptarse a un estilo de vida saludable y activo. Los servicios incluyen: Diabetic foot wound care Comprehensive foot assessment to identify risks for skin breakdown Assistance with shoe inserts Education and tips to care for feet Ostomy Care: Somos la única ubicación en la región que ofrece servicios de ostomía completos, incluida la educación para pacientes con ostomías y fístulas. To improve quality of life for ostomy patients, our team helps with the following: Pre-surgical markings Selection and fitting of medical bags for fecal containment Prevention and treatment of skin problems related to having an ostomy Purchase of medical supplies Supportive care coordination Post-surgery ostomy care Wound Care Treatments Include: Negative pressure therapy, where controlled pressure is applied to draw out fluid Biological skin substitutes, where cell therapy is used to “jumpstart” a stalled wound Offloading techniques, such as padding or dressing to take pressure off a wounded area Surgical debridement, where dead or damaged tissue is medically removed Speak with your primary care physician or advanced practice clinician to obtain a referral to Renown Advanced Wound Care. ### About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 6,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.

Leer más About Renown Health Celebrates Grand Reopening of Expanded Wound Clinic

El equipo de Renown Urgent Care lo prepara para mantenerse alerta y seguro en esta temporada y está disponible para la asistencia médica los 7 días de la semana, en 11 ubicaciones en todo el norte de Nevada. In June, staffers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a Health Advisory requesting that clinicians and caregivers watch for the respiratory syncytial virus, usually known as RSV, an infection that puts thousands of toddlers and senior citizens in the hospital each year with pneumonia and deep lung inflammation. Según los CDC, el VRS provoca aproximadamente 58,000 hospitalizaciones y entre 100 y 500 muertes cada año entre niños menores de cinco años, así como 177,000 hospitalizaciones y 14,000 muertes entre adultos mayores de 65 años. La agencia advirtió que el VRS estaba apareciendo en 13 estados del sur y el sureste, y que los médicos debían hacer pruebas para detectar el virus si los niños presentaban estornudos, sibilancias o poco apetito y la garganta inflamada. Usually a winter infection, RSV is usually gone by June. Instead, this year, it is spreading—and has since continued to spread across the country, and to northern Nevada. “Sabemos que muchos de los buenos hábitos de higiene que desarrollamos para defendernos de la COVID-19 alteraron el panorama viral en los últimos 16 meses, y suprimieron las infecciones de casi todos los patógenos. Now RSV’s out-of-season return tells us that we need to continue to be on the alert,” says Robert Thole, MD, a physician with Renown Urgent Care. “We are surprised to be seeing so many kids with RSV right now.” “We ask parents and caregivers to keep a watchful eye out for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Symptoms are usually mild and resemble those of the common cold. RSV infection sometimes leads to bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or both. Symptoms of these complications include; difficulty breathing; wheezing; coughing that is getting worse; lethargy, increased tiredness, decreased interest in surroundings, or loss of interest in food,” explains Dr. Thole, who is board certified in family medicine. Catching and spreading the virus People with RSV infection may spread the virus through their secretions (saliva or mucus) when they cough, sneeze, or talk. You can catch the virus by: Touching an object or surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth without first washing your hands. El virus puede sobrevivir durante más de 6 horas en las encimeras y otras superficies firmes, como los picaportes, y durante 30 minutos en las manos, la ropa o el papel tisú. Close contact. If an infected person coughs or sneezes near you, you could breathe in RSV that is in his or her saliva or mucus. The virus spreads easily in crowded settings, such as childcare facilities, preschools, and nursing homes. Children attending school often spread the virus to their parents and siblings. El período de incubación (el tiempo que transcurre desde la exposición al VRS hasta que tiene síntomas) varía entre dos y 8 días, pero generalmente es de entre 4 y 6 días. Las personas tienen más probabilidades de contagiar el virus durante los primeros días tras el inicio de los síntomas de la infección por VRS y siguen contagiando durante 8 días. Los bebés y los niños pequeños pueden propagar el virus durante 3 o 4 semanas como mínimo. Most children and adults feel better after a week or two. Treatment For an otherwise healthy child who has symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, such as a cough or runny nose, home treatment usually is all that is needed. It is important to watch for signs of complications, such as dehydration. Watchful waiting may not be a good choice when your child with an upper respiratory infection has an increased risk for complications. Watch your child closely if there are symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. If symptoms get worse or new symptoms develop, see a doctor right away. There is no vaccine and few specific treatments aside from supportive care, such as administering pain relievers and fluids. In the most severe cases, some children or adults might need additional oxygen. Not just in kids, older adults at risk Dr. Thole explains, “RSC is not only seen in children. Los adultos mayores de 65 años tienen un mayor riesgo de complicaciones tras la infección por el VRS. Pneumonia is a particular risk, especially if other health problems exist, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure. It may take older adults longer to recover from RSV infection and its complications than people in other age groups.” Llame 911 a los servicios de emergencia de inmediato si ocurre alguna de las siguientes situaciones: Your child has severe trouble breathing. Your child's breathing has stopped. Start rescue breathing. Call your doctor now if your baby or child has moderate trouble breathing. Call a doctor if your child: Breathes slightly faster than normal and seems to be getting worse. La mayoría de los niños sanos respiran menos de 40 veces por minuto. Has cold symptoms that become severe. Has shallow coughing, which continues throughout the day and night. Has a poor appetite or is being less active than usual. Has any trouble breathing. Hospitalization Doctors sometimes give a monoclonal antibody treatment to high-risk babies throughout the respiratory season to prevent them from catching the virus or developing a severe infection. Some hospitals have started to increase use of the prophylaxis in response to the recent uptick in RSV cases. “Those kids were being protected,” said Kristina Deeter, MD who was quoted in a July 1st Wall St. Journal article on this topic. Dr. Deeter is a pediatric intensivist and medical director at Renown Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care and Hospitalist Medicine. Dr. Deeter, who also oversees Pediatrix Medical Group’s critical-care team in dozens of pediatric intensive care units across the country, said hospitals are also considering taking additional precautions in the neonatal intensive-care unit similar to some wintertime protocols. At Renown Children’s Hospital, there were no children hospitalized with RSV throughout the winter season, Dr. Deeter said, when there are normally hundreds of cases in our county- many of which do not need to be hospitalized.” Se ha informado un total de 31 casos en el condado de Washoe, Nevada, desde abril, y 26 de estos casos ocurrieron dentro de las últimas tres semanas. Preventing infection To prevent infection, or at least to mitigate them, wear masks, stay home when sick, and washing hands could make a difference in how the next viral season unfolds. For more information on RSV, visit renown.org. Renown Urgent Care Renown Urgent Care está disponible para proporcionar asistencia médica los 7 días de la semana en 11 ubicaciones de todo el norte de Nevada, y brinda tratamiento para una amplia variedad de lesiones leves, enfermedades e inquietudes médicas que son urgentes, pero no suponen un riesgo para la vida. Si requiere atención médica en el mismo día, puede evitar los tiempos de espera prolongados y los altos precios de la sala de emergencias en 13 ubicaciones convenientes, incluidas Reno, Sparks, Carson City, USA Parkway, Fallon y Fernley. You can walk-in or book ahead online. Acerca de Renown Health Renown Health es una red de atención médica integrada de administración local y sin fines de lucro que brinda servicios al norte de Nevada, Lake Tahoe y el noreste de California. Renown es uno de los mayores empleadores privados de la región y cuenta con una fuerza laboral de más de 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown tiene una larga trayectoria y un compromiso de larga data con la mejora de la atención y la salud de nuestra comunidad. Visite renown.org para obtener más información.

Leer más About ¿Tiene tos, secreción nasal, dolor de garganta y fiebre? It Might Be RSV Virus