Tailored Treatment and Proactive Care For Warm-Weather Healthcare Concerns
Most people breathe a collective sigh of relief when temperatures finally warm up and winter is safely behind them. Communicable disease cases for cold and flu significantly drop, as do ice-related slip and fall accidents. But spring and early summer aren’t without their fair share of health concerns.
As your outdoor activities increase and plants and insects spring to life, you risk a new wave of healthcare issues that can keep you from fully enjoying the season. Fortunately, having access to direct primary care in Overland Park or North Kansas City will help you safely navigate it.
Keep reading to learn about the top healthcare concerns during outdoor sports and allergy season, and how your direct primary care physician can help you prevent, manage, or treat them.
Allergies
Spring allergies are among the most common health complaints this time of year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly one in three U.S. adults and more than one in four U.S. children reported having a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy.
As pollen counts rise, so do cases of itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and postnasal drip. Tree pollen and grass allergens are the primary culprits, especially in the Kansas City area where seasonal blooms are widespread.
Your direct primary care physician can help you pinpoint your allergy triggers and recommend a tailored treatment plan. This might include prescription antihistamines, nasal sprays, or allergy testing if symptoms persist. Because direct primary care gives you 24/7 access to your provider, you won’t have to wait weeks to get relief.
Asthma Flare-Ups
Asthma is a common problem affecting approximately 28 million people in the U.S. Pollen, mold, and changes in temperature and humidity all contribute to breathing difficulties for people with asthma. Outdoor physical activity can also trigger exercise-induced asthma symptoms, including wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Your direct primary care physician can help monitor your asthma and adjust your medication plan based on seasonal triggers. They’ll also ensure you have updated prescriptions for rescue inhalers and controller medications and work with you to create an asthma action plan tailored to your lifestyle.
Rhinovirus (Common Cold)
Although colds and respiratory infections are more common in the winter, rhinoviruses thrive in warm weather, too. Environments like schools, sporting events, concerts, and other places where people are in close quarters make it easy to contract and spread the common cold.
One of the key advantages of having access to direct primary care in North Kansas City or Overland Park is you can contact your doctor at the first sign of symptoms. This allows your doctor to address the problem during the earliest stages and prevents the issue from potentially becoming worse.
Lyme Disease
Warm weather means hiking, gardening, camping, and enjoying the local parks, all of which carry the risk of tick bites. Deer tick bites specifically can lead to Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that causes rash, fever, headache, fatigue, aches, and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, Lyme disease can even cause heart problems, arthritis, or paralysis.
You can prevent tick bites by applying insect repellant spray and wearing high socks or pants when in wooded areas or walking through tall grass. If you discover a tick bite, your direct primary care physician can examine it and deliver treatment, if necessary. A tick typically needs 36 to 48 hours to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, so prompt removal is essential.
Norovirus
Spring also sees occasional outbreaks of gastrointestinal viruses, including norovirus. This highly contagious virus causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and dehydration. It spreads through contaminated food, water, and surfaces, especially during group gatherings, outdoor picnics, sporting events, and travel.
If you or a family member begin experiencing symptoms, your direct primary care physician can help manage it. Rest, drinking plenty of fluids, over-the-counter stomach medications, and a few short-term dietary adjustments are usually enough to help you overcome norovirus. If your symptoms worsen, a direct primary care membership allows you to bypass crowded urgent care clinics and get help right when you need it.
Sun Damage
Many people underestimate the spring sun’s impact, especially on cloudy days or during short bursts of outdoor activity. Spending extended time outdoors without proper skin protection can lead to sunburn and long-term damage.
Your primary care physician can help you understand your risk for sun-related conditions, recommend appropriate sunscreen and protective measures, and check for signs of skin changes that require further evaluation. Routine skin checks are an important part of preventive care, and direct access to your doctor makes it easy to stay on top of them.
Sports and Exercise Injuries
Spring means more running, biking, lifting, and recreational sports, all of which can lead to injuries like sprains, strains, joint pain, and overuse injuries. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just getting back into shape after a long winter, it’s important to recognize when soreness crosses the line into injury.
Providers of direct primary care in Overland Park and North Kansas City can evaluate musculoskeletal injuries and offer treatment plans to promote healing. If your injury requires an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, your direct primary care membership allows you to get that at a discounted or at-cost rate.
Stay Healthy This Season With a Direct Primary Care Membership
Direct primary care gives you greater control over your health by enhancing your access and putting a greater emphasis on doctor-patient relationships. Whether it’s allergy management, injury prevention, or early illness detection, having a dedicated physician who you can contact the moment you need them makes a significant difference.
If you’re looking for personalized, year-round healthcare that adapts to your lifestyle, consider partnering with a provider of direct primary care in North Kansas City or Overland Park.
A ProPartners membership covers all your primary care needs under a flat monthly fee. No insurance required. No more waiting in line for a doctor. And no copays or coinsurance.
Take charge of your health this season. Contact us today to learn more about joining our direct primary care practice by calling (913) 451-5709.