Category Archives: Diagnostic testing

Lupus Awareness Month is May

The month of May is Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect any area of the body. Lupus is caused when the immune system can no longer fight off the bacteria and viruses anymore. This is due to the body having difficulty telling the difference between the body’s healthy tissues and the foreign attackers. Because of these viruses, the human body is not able to produce proteins, like antibodies, which causes pain, inflammation, and damage in certain areas of the body. This can lead to emotional issues, such as depression and stress, among people with lupus.

Dealing with Stress

Being diagnosed with lupus, symptoms can be made worse by daily stress and stressful life events. Illness and mental stress travel thLupus Awareness Monthrough the same pathways in the human brain, which activates inflammation. The more stress being produced, the more sickness that’s created. When the human body is under stress, a stress hormone called epinephrine is released. Once that hormone is released, it passes through different areas of the brain. This results in receiving certain symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, fatigue, and confusion.

It is normal for people who have lupus not to feel well physically and emotionally. Such feelings can cause one not to do the things they would like to do. It can also increase stress levels, making it harder for them to relax during a tough time.

Diagnosing, Testing and Treatment for Lupus

There is no one method to diagnose Lupus. The symptoms can appear randomly over a period of years. Other conditions may overlap and mask a positive diagnosis. Only after a series of signs, symptoms and tests, can a diagnosis it be made. This article on Lupus from the Mayo Clinic gives some very good information on:

  • Testing associated with Lupus
  • Medications used in the treatment
  • Home remedies and lifestyle recommendations
  • Alternative medicine
  • Coping & Support

The professionals at Westland Clinic can discuss symptoms and testing of your illness and make professional recommendations and referrals if need be. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We are here to help you.

New Diagnostic Testing Now At Westland Clinic

Westland Clinic sets the bar high when it comes to treating patients. Being in business for over 40 years now, we are determined to provide excellent medical care and treatment to surrounding areas, such as Westland and Livonia. Speaking of medical care and treatment, we’re constantly trying to find ways to help our patients. Recently we added some new areas of diagnostic testing at our Westland Clinic.

Here is a list of out new diagnostic testing services:

new diagnostic testing services Westland

  • Stress Testing
  • Nuclear Studies
  • Stress Echo
  • Bone Scan
  • Thyroid Scan
  • HIDA Scan

New Diagnostic Testing Services

Below are except descriptions to help you get a better understanding of these services.

Stress Testing

Stress testing, also known as stress echo, is normally done to provide information on how your heart works during physical stress. Some heart problems are easier to detect when your heart is working hard and beating fast. When doing a stress test, you are doing some form of exercise as tests are being run to see what’s going on.

Nuclear Studies

Nuclear studies are exams that are done to examine and capture images of your heart. This procedure is painless and causes little to no side effects. With the images, it reveals how the blood flows to the heart and how your heart functions at rest and under stress.

Bone Scan

A bone scan is a nuclear medicine test that is done to view and document metabolic activity within the bones. It is used as a way to determine whether cancer has spread to the bones from another area of the body, such as breast and prostate. Bone scans can take anywhere from two to five hours for the tracer to attach to your bones, so it’s recommended to bring a book or something that will keep you busy.

Thyroid Scan

A thyroid scan is a procedure that is done to measure how much tracer the thyroid gland absorbs from the blood. Using a special camera and a radioactive tracer, it travels through the body and gives off radiation signals. The camera then senses the signals and takes pictures of the thyroid gland at three different angles.

HIDA Scan

A HIDA scan is a diagnostic test done to capture images of the gallbladder, liver, bile ducts and small intestines. This helps to diagnose medical conditions related to those organs and detect other blockages within the human body.

Contact Us!

Are you looking for the right medical center in Westland or near Livonia who is able to perform these medical diagnostic testings? Contact the Millennium Medical Group at our Westland Clinic! We understand how important it is to have the latest diagnostic services at a local medical center you can trust.

Treatment for Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn

You’re at the beach, enjoying the salty breeze, crisp air, and beaming sun. With all of the excitement, sunscreen becomes a thought long forgotten, whisked away by the glory of summer. Hours pass and you notice that your skin is highly irritated, blotchy, and red. Your arms, legs, and face are stinging. The misuse of sunscreen launches its way back into the forefront of your mind and you begin to regret that long stretch of time spent in the blazing sun.

Researchers and scientists often term severe sunburn as sun poisoning. This is usually a burn from ultraviolet (UV) radiation that inflames your skin. When the skin is exposed to too much UV radiation from the sun or artificial sources like sunlamps, sunburn can occur. Sunburn can be easily prevented however; with the use of sunscreen or simply by avoiding long periods of time in the sun and/or artificial sources. Of course for many it’s already too late for that.  So, it is important that you get treatment for sun poisoning or severe sun burn and possibly skin testing for even more serious conditions including skin cancer.

Sunburn Facts:

  • According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 42% of people get a sunburn at least once a year.
  • All it takes is approximately 15 minutes to become sunburned. But the signs of sunburned skin might not show immediately–it could take hours until the redness and discomfort introduces themselves.
  • If you stay in the sun for long periods of time without sun protection, have light skin, and fair hair, you’re more likely to sunburn.

Treating Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn

To easily remedy severe sunburn:

  • Say “NO” to further sun exposure.Sunburn treatment and Skin Testing
  • Cool your skin off!: Take a cool bath or shower or apply cool wraps or compresses.The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend keeping cool compresses on affected areas for 10-1
    • 5 minutes a few times every day.
  • Kick up the fluid intake for a week or so. Water is preferred!
  • Pain relievers will do just that! Ibuprofen are recommended.
    • Hydrocortisone cream (0.5-1%) reduces pain and swelling while speeding up the recovery process.
  • Use moisturizer on sunburned skin. Aloe gel is really effective for healing, protecting, and rejuvenating skin.
    • Try to avoid petroleum based products. Petroleum traps heat in the skin!
  • If you must go outside, make sure your skin is covered and protected!

Symptoms of Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn

Seek medical attention if:

  • Your sunburn forms painful blisters, peeling, or covers a vast area of your body
    • Resist breaking your blisters: Open blisters slow the skin’s healing process and increase the risk of infection. If a blister accidentally breaks, be sure to clean the area gently with water and soap, applying antibacterial cream to protect the area with a wet dressing and/or gauze.
  • Your face is swelling
  • You’re experiencing a fever and chills
  • Your stomach is upset or bothered
  • You’re experiencing headaches, confusion, or faintness
  • Signs of dehydration are evident

Skin Testing

If your sunburn leaves behind skin abnormalities like; blisters, rashes, hives and itching, it would probably be a good idea to have your skin tested. Skin testing is done to evaluate skin irregularities that are caused by overexposure to sunlight. There are several physical and equipment methods used in testing the skin. One of our physicians in Livonia or Westland will perform tests after first physically examining the affected areas.

Risks and Complications

  • A positive reaction to skin testing may result in pain, blisters, itching, redness at the tested sites, skin pigment change, infection or scarring. However, it should be noted, that side effects are rare.
    • If you have a positive skin reaction, your doctor will try to diagnose the cause of your disorder based on your history, symptoms, and results of other tests.
  • If the test results are negative, the doctor may suggest more tests to determine the origin of the problem.

Getting the right medical treatment and skin testing is important if your skin has been highly exposed to the sun. At the Millennium Medical Health Clinics in Westland and Livonia Michigan, we care about your health and sun safety. If you have any questions regarding sun exposure, treating sunburns, or doing skin testings, please feel free to contact us.