What is Altered Mental State or status?

An altered mental status (AMS) isn’t a specific disease. It’s a change in mental function that stems from illnesses, disorders and injuries affecting your brain. It leads to changes in awareness, movement, and behaviors.

What are the types of altered mental status?

There are three types:

Delirium occurs suddenly and is a medical emergency. A person with delirium may act disoriented, be distracted and exhibit unusual behaviors. This type of AMS is reversible.
Dementia is a progressive disorder causing a decline in mental function that affects daily life. It primarily affects older adults. In advanced stages, a person loses awareness of their identity and surroundings.
Psychosis, due to a medical condition or medication, is a temporary condition in which a person loses touch with reality. They may experience disturbing thoughts, as well as sights and sounds that aren’t real.

What are the causes of altered mental status?

In people with dementia, progressive mental decline is the natural course of the disease.

A sudden altered mental status, such as delirium and psychosis, can be due to issues with nearly any organ system. Potential causes include:

Central nervous system issues
Brain bleed (hemorrhage)
Brain tumor
Hepatic encephalopathy.
Obstructive hydrocephalus, is fluid build-up in your brain that increases pressure in your skull.
Seizure
Stroke

Metabolic disorders

Dehydration.
Hypothermia.
Low blood oxygen (hypoxemia)
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatremia)
Low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia)
Under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Adverse reactions to prescription drugs

Anti-seizure medications
Anticholinergics, a group of drugs that control involuntary muscle movements
Corticosteroids
Sedatives, which help you relax
Sleeping pills

Infections

Other causes

Cardiogenic and other types of shock.
Overdose or withdrawal from opioids, alcohol, and other controlled substances.
Traumatic brain injury.

What to Expect

When you visit iCare, our team of exceptional and experienced physicians will immediately assess your situation, employ life-saving intervention as needed, assess your medical history and provide a physical examination. Your care team, lead by experience ER Physicians may perform further laboratory tests. Once you are diagnosed, a treatment plan will be provided based on the severity of your condition and symptoms. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

Overview

If you look for the nearest bathroom everywhere you go, then you know that bladder problems can be a huge source of pain or embarrassment. From urinary tract infections to urinary incontinence, our board-certified physicians at iCare ER & Urgent Care in Frisco and South Fort Worth, TX are experienced in treating your bladder problems. With an on-site laboratory, we have the tools necessary to test, diagnose, and treat many urinary tract infections or incontinence.

Bladder Conditions

UTI/Bladder Infections

Bladder infections are a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that are painful infections in the urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and the urethra — any of which can become infected. While bacteria is usually flushed out of the urethra during urination, it can sometimes remain and grow into an infection that travels through the urinary tract system. While some of these infections are simple and can be treated with medication, others are complicated, meaning they may be resistant to medication and can spread. Our experienced physicians can help you find which type of infection you have when you visit iCare. If you experience the following symptoms, you should come in to seek treatment:

Pain while urinating — usually a burning or stinging sensation
A constant or frequent urge to urinate, with little to no urine coming out
Cloudy or reddish urine
Urine with a strong smell
Leaking urine
The need to urinate several times during the night
Pain in the back or beneath the ribs, where the kidneys are
Fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting

Since UTIs can often cause more serious problems when left untreated, you should visit a doctor as soon as you notice the first symptoms of a UTI. Complicated UTIs can spread and cause permanent damage to the bladder and kidneys, or enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. You should come in immediately if you are pregnant, or if you have a fever of 101.5º F or higher. If you have recurring UTIs, we can perform tests to find the right treatment for you. If you’ve already been treated for a recent UTI, but your symptoms persist or worsen after taking antibiotics for 2 days, you should return to iCare as soon as possible.

Incontinence

The causes of involuntary urinary incontinence vary greatly. Most people feel a frequent urge to urinate and may even leak urine before getting to the bathroom. Incontinence can be caused by:

Recurrent coughing with force
Problems with the pelvic floor muscles
Abnormalities of the bladder
Bladder infections
Kidney stones
Neurological disorders

Seeking Medical Care and What to Expect

When you visit an iCare with bladder issues like a urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence, our qualified team of medical practitioners will first conduct a medical history interview. Then our physician will often order lab tests. Our comprehensive laboratory facilities ensure quick results, often within 15 minutes.

Treatment for incontinence varies and is dependent on the underlying cause. Our physicians may prescribe medication, suggest behavior strategies or refer you to a specialist. While bladder issues are usually seen in our urgent care, some instances may require treatment in our ER, such as a urinary tract infection combined with fever, pain, and vomiting.

Visit one of our locations today. Walk-ins are welcome, appointments are recommended.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a heart condition, which can be chronic, occurring when blood is pumped through the artery walls with more force than usual. Often without a known cause, the symptoms of high blood pressure can include headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, or stroke.

Seeking Medical Care

Since heart conditions can be some of the most serious health risks, we recommend visiting an emergency medical facility like iCare immediately if you experience the symptoms listed above. These conditions can be detrimental to your health if you are not treated medically. If you need emergency care for a heart attack, relief from high blood pressure, or anything in between, come in to iCare for treatment.

What to Expect

When you visit one of our iCare Emergency Room & Urgent Care locations, our team of exceptional and experienced physicians will immediately assess your situation and determine whether you should be treated in the ER or in urgent care. In most cases, patients with heart conditions are sent to the ER, especially if the condition is life-threatening.

After a medical history interview and a physical examination, our team may perform further tests, such as chest X-rays, electrocardiograms and, blood tests. Once you are diagnosed, you will be treated in a variety of ways depending on the type and severity of your condition. For congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure, our team may prescribe varying medications and behavioral changes to manage your symptoms. For heart attacks, treatment may range from anti-coagulant medication, thrombolytic therapy, nitrates, ACLS (advanced cardiovascular life support), catheters, or central venous line insertion. If the patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

Uncontrolled Bleeding, seeking medical care

While some wounds can be treated at home with a little extra care, more serious wounds should be treated by medical professionals. Gaping wounds deeper than 1 inch and wounds that do not stop bleeding after you’ve applied pressure and elevated them for 10 – 15 minutes are usually serious enough to necessitate a trip to the ER. Bite wounds, both from humans or animals, should be treated as especially serious, including painful insect bites. Additionally, wounds caused by rusty nails, glass or wood splinters, or wounds that are showing early signs of infection should be seen by our medical practitioners.

If your wound begins to develop an infection, it is important to recognize the symptoms so they can be treated as early as possible. If redness begins to spread out from the wound, or if it begins to swell and increase in tenderness, or if you see green or yellow pus, you should seek medical attention immediately. Other signs include swollen lymph nodes, body aches, chills, or fever.

What to Expect

When you come to iCare with a wound injury, our highly trained staff will perform a physical exam to assess the seriousness of your wound. Depending on how large, deep, or infected it is, our team will treat you in the appropriate setting. After a medical history review and exam, our qualified doctor and nurses will clean and treat your wound, usually with stitches or antibiotic ointments. They will then dress or bandage your wound.

After your wound is treated at iCare, the practitioner will leave you with specific instructions for caring for your wound after your visit. However, as a general guide, it is best to keep all wounds clean in order to prevent infection. Wash your wound with clean water and a mild soap per your doctor’s instructions. If provided with an antibiotic cream, apply a thin layer before dressing it. Dress or bandage your wound loosely so that blood flow is not restricted, and be sure to change the dressing daily so that an infection does not begin to grow. Refrain from scratching any itchy scabs so that they can heal properly. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

What is Testicular Pain?

Testicular pain is pain that occurs in or around one or both testicles. Sometimes testicle pain actually originates from somewhere else in the groin or abdomen, and is felt in one or both testicles.

Please seek immediate medical attention at a hospital ER if you have a quick onset of sharp, constant testicular pain.

Causes of testicle pain or pain

can include:

Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by diabetes)
Epididymitis (testicle inflammation)
Hydrocele (fluid buildup that causes swelling of the scrotum)
Idiopathic testicular pain (unknown cause)
Inguinal hernia
Kidney stones
Mumps
Orchitis (inflamed testicle)
Prostatitis
Scrotal masses
Spermatocele (fluid buildup in the testicle)
Testicle injury or blow to the testicles
Testicular torsion (twisted testicle)
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)

Schedule a doctor’s visit if you have:

- Mild testicle pain lasting longer than a few days
- A lump or swelling in or around a testicle

Seeking Immediate Care, What to Expect

When you visit the iCare, our team led by experienced ER physicians will immediately assess your situation, and provide a physical examination where the physician may order an ultrasound exam and or lab tests performed in our on-site lab. Once you are diagnosed, a treatment plan will be provided based on severity of your condition and symptoms. If discharged home, the ER physician will provide you with referrals for a Primary Care Physician or Neurologist. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

What are Seizures?

Symptoms of seizures include convulsions, rhythmic jerking, loss of responsiveness while eyes are open, incontinence, abnormal limb movements, abnormal stiffening, barely noticeable breathing during seizure and deep breathing directly after seizure, and combativeness while transitioning back to consciousness.

Symptoms of a seizure

Uncontrollable, spastic movements of your body, particularly your arms or legs
Stiffening and then loosening of limbs or muscles
Loss of consciousness
Staring into space
Confusion
Sudden emotional states that can include a feeling of doom, deja vu, fear, or euphoria
Sweating and nausea
Involuntary movements of your tongue or mouth, screaming, or crying
Rapid blinking
Falling to the ground

Common Treatments

Medication
Surgery
Nerve stimulation

Seeking Care and What to Expect

When you visit the iCare, our team of exceptional and experienced physicians will immediately assess your situation, employ life saving intervention as needed and provide a physical examination. Your care team may perform laboratory testing from our on-site lab. Once you are diagnosed, a treatment plan will be provided based on severity of your condition and symptoms. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

Abdominal Pain

Overview

When you are experiencing abdominal pain, it’s hard to get through your day. Abdominal pain is a common condition that can affect people for a variety of reasons and has different levels of severity. Causes of abdominal pain can range from mild heartburn and indigestion to more severe conditions, like gallstones, a perforated intestine, or appendicitis. If you are experiencing abdominal pain and your symptoms do not improve at home, you should seek medical treatment. If the pain is new or different, intense, constant, or accompanied by other symptoms, getting medical care is even more important. These symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fainting, fatigue, weakness, bloody stools, or shortness of breath. At iCare ER & Urgent Care in Frisco and Fort Worth, TX, we have all of the latest testing equipment and tools necessary to properly diagnose a painful abdominal issue. Our dedicated and highly trained team of physicians will work with you to understand your symptoms and then direct you to the proper treatment.

Abdominal Pain Conditions

Some conditions that can cause abdominal pain are less serious, but still very painful. Many times symptoms pass on their own; however, there still may be a reason to visit our urgent care center. Some examples of these conditions are below:

Constipation
Food allergies or symptoms associated with lactose intolerance
Food poisoning
Heartburn, indigestion, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Stomach flu
Stomach virus
UTI or bladder infection

There are also conditions that cause abdominal pain that can be more serious, and in most cases, should be diagnosed and treated in our 24/7 emergency room. Examples of more serious abdominal pain conditions include:

Appendicitis
Bowel obstruction
Cancer of the stomach or colon
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Diverticulitis (inflammation and infection of the colon)
Endometriosis
Gallstones
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
Kidney stones
Pancreatitis (swelling or infection of the pancreas)

Finally, there are some known conditions that can threaten a patient’s life that requires a very rapid diagnosis and treatment. This level of abdominal pain is a serious health risk and would be considered an emergency case at all times. Examples include:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Ischemic bowel (low blood flow or blockage to the intestine)
Perforated stomach or intestine

What to Expect

When you visit an iCare Emergency Room & Urgent Care location with any level of abdominal pain, one of our board-certified ER physicians will first perform a medical exam and ask questions about your medical history to try and uncover the root of the problem. Depending on the symptoms and level of pain, our physicians may perform or request further tests, like an ultrasound or a blood test. Our onsite laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment that allows us to get results within several minutes. After diagnosis, our expert team will work to administer medications and a treatment plan to get you feeling better again. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

What is Shortness of Breath?

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, can sometimes be harmless as the result of exercise or nasal congestion. In other situations, it may be a sign of a more serious heart or lung disease.

Symptoms/Causes of Shortness of Breath

Allergic reactions
Heart disease or heart attack (in this case, shortness of breath may be accompanied by swelling of the feet/ankles).
Lung disease
Emphysema
Pneumonia
Asthma or allergies
Anemia
Panic attacks
Airway obstructions, exposure to cigarette smoke or extreme exposure to dust or fumes.
Obesity or lack of exercise
High altitudes
Blood flow disruption in getting oxygen to the brain
Intense emotional anxiety or stress

What to Expect

When you visit one of our iCare Emergency Room & Urgent Care Locations, our medical team, led by an experienced ER physician will immediately assess your situation, employ life saving intervention as needed and provide a physical examination. Your care team may perform laboratory testing from our on-site lab. Once you are diagnosed, a treatment plan will be provided based on the severity of your condition and symptoms. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

An allergic reaction is not only inconvenient, but it can be life-threatening without immediate medical treatment. If you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, then it is essential to visit the nearest ER as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a Severe Allergic Reaction

It is common for people to have mild allergic reactions due to seasonal pollen or animals. In some cases, a patient has a strong reaction to an environmental compound. Symptoms might include difficulty breathing, dizziness, chest tightness, hives, wheezing, increased pulse rate, swelling in the throat, lips, tongue, or face, diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergic reaction and can be life-threatening if it blocks a person’s ability to breathe. This reaction is rare and requires immediate medical services. The symptoms usually start suddenly and intensify quickly, eventually leading to cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory distress, seizures, shock, and even death… which is why treatment should never be delayed.

What Happens During an Allergic Reaction?

When these symptoms are occurring, it means the body is overreacting to a substance and an attack is happening within the body. An allergen can be any product or compound that causes an immune system response. Common allergens include:

Insect stings, from wasps, bees, hornets, or fire ants
Latex
Food ingredients, such as peanuts, soy, eggs, fish, milk, or wheat
Medications, such as penicillin or other antibiotics

Why do some people suffering allergies while others don’t experience these reactions? It is suspected that certain people are hypersensitive because of genetic predispositions.

ER Treatment for Severe Allergic Reactions

When someone knows that they have a severe allergy, it is common to carry an epinephrine autoinjector (often called an “epi-pen”). Having this medication on-hand can save a person’s life if they are exposed to an allergy trigger. This injection provides the first aid that is needed, giving the person more time to get to medical treatment. It is always important to talk to a doctor, even if an injection is used, and the symptoms are starting to calm down.

If you are having the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction and don’t have an epi-pen, then it is essential to either call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room right away for immediate treatment.

Initially, medications will be administered to counteract the allergic reaction. The doctor will likely recommend additional testing to identify your allergy triggers. It is important to know what is causing the symptoms if you experience a serious allergy response to food or something in the environment. Then, you can avoid the trigger to minimize the risk of an allergy emergency in the future.

SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT

People can experience a vast range of allergic reactions, from mild to severe. When you come into iCare, our team of physicians will determine whether your reaction should be treated in our urgent care or in the emergency room.

Mild symptoms often include sneezing, watery or itchy eyes, a rash, a runny nose, nasal congestion, or slight swelling. More severe symptoms can include the above reactions, combined with a tingling in the mouth, intense swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat, nausea and vomiting, chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, stomach pain, diarrhea, or vasodilation. For severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, this usually involves an epinephrine injection to relax the muscles in order to allow you to breathe. For less severe allergic reactions, treatment can involve allergy shots — usually for allergic asthma, insect stings, hay fever or other medications.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When you visit one of our iCare Emergency Room & Urgent Care locations, our medical team, led by an experienced ER physician will immediately assess your situation, employ life saving intervention as needed and provide a physical examination. Your care team may perform laboratory testing from our on-site lab. Once you are diagnosed, a treatment plan will be provided based on severity of your condition and symptoms. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

If you or a child has been exposed to poison, either through swallowing or through skin contact, symptoms may include redness or a burn around the mouth, vomiting, seizures, drowsiness or unconsciousness, confusion, agitation, and difficulty breathing, it is important to seek help quickly.

Call Poison Control- (800) 222-1222

Visit your nearest ER

WHAT TO EXPECT

You can expect the best of both worlds at iCare, as we combine urgent care and emergency medical service in one location. Depending on the severity of your condition, our doctors will perform a physical exam and run necessary tests, such as a CT scan or blood tests. For your convenience, we have an onsite laboratory and imaging suite where our staff can have your diagnostic tests and digital images that result in a fraction of the time that it will take a hospital-based ER to complete your tests

In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

PATIENT REVIEWS

The staff at the Frisco location were courteous and supportive. The doctor as well as nurse practitioner were attentive to my needs and provided necessary healthcare recommendations as well as informative information to understand what numerous results would be detected from test results. I would highly recommend this facility for any healthcare needs.

Tomeka W.

I went there for a flu shot. They have online check-in, and you can wait in your car. The staff were wonderful.

D. M.

By far the best urgent care center I have been to. I don’t go anywhere else, now. I have never had to wait long, which is awesome… especially compared to the last place I went, where we were there for hours. They are very friendly, and I feel that they really listen to my concerns. I have been there for everything from allergic reactions to heart palpitations, COVID testing, and sinus infections. I take my sons there, too. Very good experience all the way around.

Renee E.

This E.R./urgent care was more than amazing. The staff was extremely tentative and detailed while in their care. I appreciate the care and service that I received. Thank you to the entire staff and facility for their service and care during our nations pandemic and the way you all gave excellent care.

M. Moore

I would surely recommend this place for anyone’s Urgent care needs. The entire staff from registration , nurses, x-ray techs, and doctor were extremely friendly, compassionate, timely, and thorough.