Acute Illness
Illnesses and injuries need urgent medical care to treat the problem and relieve your symptoms. If you're dealing with a sudden illness, Rapha Health and Wellness is here to help. To schedule a visit, you can call our Houston or Sugar Land offices in Texas, or use our online booking option anytime you require help.
ACUTE ILLNESS
Acute Illness Management
Illnesses and injuries need urgent medical care to treat the problem and relieve your symptoms. When you need acute illness management, Nneka Edokpayi, MD, and the team at Rapha Health and Wellness offer prompt appointments and provide skilled treatment for most acute health conditions, ranging from colds and flu to cuts and asthma flare-ups. To schedule an in-person or virtual visit, call the office in Houston or Sugar Land, Texas, or use the online booking feature as soon as you need help.
What is acute illness management?
Acute illness management involves the diagnosis and treatment of health problems that need immediate attention. By definition, an acute illness appears quickly and lasts a short time (days or weeks) before it heals. Some acute illnesses (like a cold) may cause symptoms you can feel building for a few days, while others seem to appear overnight. Or you could sustain an injury. You may need acute illness management for a sudden flare-up of a chronic disease. For example, conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), and inflammatory bowel disease cause acute flare-ups that need prompt medical care.What conditions are treated during acute illness management?
The team at Rapha Health and Wellness provides comprehensive care for teens and adults who develop many types of acute illnesses. The most common include:
● Flu● Sore throat● Common colds● Sinus infections● Asthma attack● Skin rash● Earaches● Severe headaches● Stomachaches● Abdominal pain● Vomiting and/or diarrhea● Urinary tract infections● Cuts and abrasions● Sprains and strains
The team also treats acute respiratory infections such as bronchitis, COVID-19, and pneumonia.Can acute illness management deal with medical emergencies?
Rapha Health and Wellness treats minor injuries, from cuts and minor burns to ankle sprains. But you need a different level of care for severe injuries and life-threatening conditions, such as:
● Heavy bleeding● Seizures● Serious burn● Traumatic brain injury● Compound fractures (broken bone with open wound)● Known or suspected poisoning● Loss of consciousness● Heart attack● Stroke
Signs of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pain in your jaw, shoulder, arm, or back. A stroke causes symptoms such as weakness in one arm, difficulty speaking, and drooping or numbness on one side of your face.
During a medical emergency, call 911 rather than getting a ride to your local emergency room. The medical techs can begin immediate treatment that can save your life.What services might I need during acute illness management?
Your Rapha Health and Wellness provider focuses on quickly diagnosing your condition and providing the immediate treatment you need to heal and get relief from your symptoms. They provide the full range of services and treatments, choosing the one that’s best for you. If you need medical attention for an acute illness, call Rapha Health and Wellness or schedule an appointment online today.
ACUTE ILLNESS
Primary Care
Internal medicine physicians are experts in all aspects of teen and adult health care. They also serve as primary care providers, giving you a medical home, personalized care, and prompt attention. Nneka Edokpayi, MD, and the team at Rapha Health and Wellness specialize in primary care and internal medicine, offering comprehensive treatment that supports each patient’s optimal health and wellness. Whether you need a sick visit, annual exam, or chronic disease management, call the office in Houston or Sugar Land, Texas, or use the online booking feature to request an in-person or virtual visit today.
What are primary care and internal medicine?
Primary care refers to health care providers who serve as your first point of contact when you need medical attention. You call them first, and they provide the care you need when you’re sick, have an injury, or need ongoing management for a chronic disease. If you need a specialist, they make the referral and coordinate your care. Internal medicine physicians specialize in adolescent and adult medicine. They provide preventive health care and diagnose and treat the full range of adult health problems. Your Rapha Health and Wellness provider specializes in holistic and integrative care. They learn the root cause of your symptoms and treat all aspects of your physical, mental, and emotional health that are contributing to the problem. They also draw from conventional, regenerative, and alternative medicine to build a tailored treatment plan targeting your unique needs.
What conditions do primary care and internal medicine providers treat?
Rapha Health and Wellness provides acute illness management, treating the many conditions needing immediate attention, from flu, colds, and sinus infections to skin rashes, abdominal pain, and allergies. The team also diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal disorders and provides ongoing care for chronic diseases, such as:
● Arthritis
● Diabetes
● High blood pressure
● High cholesterol
● Asthma
● Heart disease
● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Without consistent treatment, chronic diseases get progressively worse and cause life-threatening complications. Your provider prevents or delays disease progression by creating a holistic care plan. For example, you may need dietary and exercise recommendations, weight loss management, smoking cessation, and medications to prevent or delay disease progression.What services do primary care and internal medicine provide?
Rapha Health and Wellness offers comprehensive services, including (but not limited to):
● Sick visits
● Annual physicals
● Allergy services
● Immunizations
● Medication management
● Women’s and men’s health
● Hormone replacement therapy
● Immigration evaluations
● Weight loss management
● Chronic disease management
● Cardiac evaluations
If you have symptoms of a heart problem (chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fast heartbeat), the team at Rapha Health and Wellness can perform a quick and accurate echocardiogram. Echocardiograms use ultrasound to produce images of your heart and blood vessels. Using the images, your provider can diagnose conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart muscle disease, atrial fibrillation, and inflammation around your
heart. If you need a primary care provider and internal medicine specialist, call Rapha Health and Wellness or book an appointment online today.
ACUTE ILLNESS
Allergy Services
Whether you have a runny nose, itchy eyes, or an unbearable skin rash, allergies can make you miserable. Nneka Edokpayi, MD, and the experienced team at Rapha Health and Wellness provide comprehensive allergy services, including allergy testing, allergy shots, and other treatments tailored to ease your symptoms. If you need allergy relief, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call the office in Houston or Sugar Land, Texas, or request an in-person or virtual appointment online today.
When do I need allergy services?
Allergies develop when your immune system mistakenly identifies a safe substance as harmful. Every time you encounter that substance (your allergen), the immune system triggers a response that causes your allergy symptoms. The most common allergens include:
● Pollen (trees, flowers, grasses, weeds)● Poison ivy, oak, and sumac● Mold spores● Dust mites● Pet dander● Food proteins● Insect venom● Nickel● Latex
You can also develop allergies to many medications, including penicillin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).What symptoms indicate I need allergy services?
Your specific symptoms depend on the type of allergen. As a group, allergies cause:
● Sneezing
● Runny nose
● Stuffy nose
● Coughing
● Red, watery eyes
● Dark circles under your eyes
● Itchy nose, throat, and eyes
● Skin rashes
● Hives
● Abdominal pain
● Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Allergies to food, medicine, insect stings, and latex can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. During an anaphylactic reaction, you have sudden symptoms such as hives, swelling in your tongue and throat, and difficulty breathing. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that can lead to loss of consciousness and a coma.
You need to inject epinephrine (if you have it) and call 911 immediately.What type of testing will I get during allergy services?
Allergy testing determines if you have allergies and identifies the precise allergen causing your symptoms.
Skin prick testMost people have a skin prick test. Your provider places small drops of possible allergens on your arm, gently pricking the skin under each allergen. You wait in the office for about 15 minutes. If you’re allergic, you have a skin reaction at the site of the allergen.
Patch test
This test identifies allergies to substances that come into contact with your skin, like poison ivy and latex. Your provider puts your suspected allergens on a self-adhesive patch, then places the patch on your skin (usually on your back). You wear the patch for a few days, then go back to the office, where your provider checks for skin reactions.
Blood test
If you can’t have a skin test, your provider draws a blood sample and tests it for allergen antibodies.What treatments do allergy services provide?
After evaluating your symptoms, doing a physical exam, and performing allergy tests, your provider creates a treatment plan that includes any of the following:
● Decongestants● Nasal sprays● Food avoidance● Dietitian support● Antihistamines● Steroids● Mast cell stabilizers● Self-injectable epinephrine● Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, better known as allergy shots, desensitizes your immune system with regular injections of your allergen.
If you struggle with allergy symptoms, call Rapha Health and Wellness or book an appointment online today.
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