Urgent Care Centers: Advantages & Limitations

Urgent care as an industry began taking shape in the early seventies as a cost effective alternative to emergency room (ER) facilities. This model works as they are designed to serve only the acute medical needs of patients. These clinics are more convenient than a general practitioner (GP) in so far as working hours are concerned and the fact that these clinics qualify as walk-in clinics. One of the primary objectives of urgent care clinics is to ease the burden ERs and accommodate and attend to more people in need of medical attention. Therefore, they can distribute efforts and contain costs.

Features of Urgent Care Centers.

 

Factors like working hours, the scope of available services and the doctor – patient relationship play an important role in distinguishing the functions of an urgent care clinic from that of the emergency room.

•             Unlike your family GP, urgent care centers do not require an appointment. Patients can simply walk-in unscheduled. 

•             Typically, urgent care clinics are open from 9 to 5 on weekdays. Some open earlier, some stay open later, and some also offer limited hours over weekends and holidays. There are also a small number of clinics that are open 24/7.

•             The model assures lower overhead costs by the virtue of their size, scope and staffing policies, which means the centers can then pass these savings along to patients.

•             The centers are a boon for people who are away from home and who are not in position to reach his or her primary GP.

•             Most insurance companies have listed these centers as approved service providers and even offer lower co-pays, thus making it easier for their customers to receive treatment.

•             There are more urgent care clinics in the United States than hospitals and ERs, making it more likely that one will be close and convenient.

•             Urgent care is where a patient can go for temporary medical assistance that is non-life-threatening; or to seek transitory relief until they can consult with their primary GP.

However, urgent care centers are not recommended, nor intended, to treat critical trauma, life endangering issues or conditions that threaten permanent disability. Those issues must be attended to at a hospital’s Emergency Room, which is the only option fully equipped to deal with emergencies. What people usually fail to comprehend is that urgent care is not a full alternative to the Emergency Room. Also patients should not attempt to manage chronic diseases at an urgent care facility. Any condition that requires constant physical examination or follow-up are better treated with a GP.  

Urgent care clinics are extraordinarily useful for when you find yourself with a runny nose and your GP gives you an appointment two weeks away. They are meant to provide outpatient diagnosis and treatment of non-life threatening conditions and can attend to minor lacerations, provide intravenous hydration, or even offer certain therapies. Some of these centers offer advanced imaging services and pathological testing labs but it is a good idea to confirm these services with the center before making the trip. If a patient arrives with a condition beyond the treatment capabilities of the urgent care clinic, the clinic is prepared with transfer or referral protocols to help the patient get the care they need at the proper facility.

Other limitations of Urgent Care:

•             Larger clinics that offer a wide coverage of various ailments and specialty services may have higher costs which get passed on to patients without health insurance.

•             Patient confusion about whether an urgent care center or ER can best treat their condition can lead to longer wait times.

•             Urgent care clinics are not staffed nor equipped to treat severe chronic underlying conditions.

•             Unlike an Emergency Room, most urgent care centers do not offer 24/7 availability. Which means even if a condition is best treated at an urgent care center, a patient will either have to wait or seek treatment at an ER if they must be seen quickly when an urgent care clinic is closed.

•             Unlike at an ER, urgent care physicians do not have the luxury of retaining you until you are fully recovered. They can do no more than examine you, prescribe medication and release you.

•             It would be a wasted trip and wasted time if you end up being referred to the ER by your Urgent Care center.

•             ERs are equipped for with all manner of life saving equipment and are usually attached to a hospital so getting any immediate follow up tests is easy. Urgent care centers typically will not be able to offer the same level of service.

Though the list above provides some examples of the limitations of the urgent care model, they certainly shouldn’t cast a pall on the entire industry. Every system has its own limitations or is meant to address certain issues with great care. Urgent care centers are just a part of the wider health care system, intended to help tackle the wait time and overcrowding problems found in the ER. 

The growth rate of urgent care clinics throughout the country and even in other nations over all these years reflects the marvelous achievement of the industry in retaining the faith of patients and providing quality care at the right price.

Seven Reasons For The Growing Popularity Of Urgent Care Clinics

Sometimes the quickest and easiest way is actually the best way and urgent care centers, popularly known as a “walk-in-clinic” or a “doc-in-the-box”, help illustrate this point perfectly. When a health problem occurs, it does not come with advance notice, nor is it generous enough to occur when we have free time to deal with it. And in those situations, urgent care clinics come to the rescue like a true companion. We can examine the growing popularity of urgent care centers by taking a look at the following seven factors.

Extended hours of service- The biggest reason for the popularity of urgent care clinics is their extended hours of operation. Most urgent care clinics offer service from 7 am to 11 pm in order to be accessible to patients who cannot take leave to visit the doctor. By opening early they cater to patients who can visit before their office opens and by staying open late, they can help families with children home from school or employees who can only visit after finishing the day at the office. These extended hours are a significant benefit for those who are too busy to miss work or for those who are unable to postpone a meeting but at the same time can’t go to office without receiving treatment. Some urgent care centers also provide full services during weekends or on holidays which can be of immense help for people who might require urgent medical care during hours where their primary care doctor is closed.

Treatment without an appointment- Before the rise of urgent care clinics it was common practice, except for emergency situations, for people to make an appointment in advance to meet their family physicians.  That meant they had to suffer their through pain until their appointment. And when even a common headache can cause so much discomfort that focus is drawn away from work, time spent waiting for an appointment can cause serious losses in productivity. Here again urgent care clinics offer a convenient solution as you don’t need any prior appointment to see a doctor. That is literally why they are called walk-in-clinics.

Cost and Insurance- To be fair, the cost of treatment can vary from one clinic to another. But in general, when compared to the cost for similar treatment at other facilities, such as the ER, urgent care clinics are cheaper and more affordable. This is a substantial benefit for patients who lack insurance and need to pay for treatment themselves.  For those patients that do have insurance, the co-pays for treatment at urgent care clinics are typically less than those at an ER and are generally on par with a family physician.  And given that these clinics accept most types of insurance plans, patients will rarely need to worry about out of network costs.

Less time waiting- Patients who have a medical issue that isn’t life-threatening have two choices: 1) visit an emergency room or 2) visit an urgent care center.  Emergency rooms are designed to treat true life-threatening medical emergencies.  Patients are admitted based on the severity of their issue, meaning someone with a serious issue like a brain injury or a heart attack will be admitted before someone seeking treatment for an issue with less immediacy.  This order of priority can result in long wait times for someone with a non-life-threatening issue.  Since urgent care centers don’t treat emergency cases, the average time to treat each case is less and because they see patients on a first come, first served basis, patients will more accurately know how they will need to wait in order to see a doctor.

Best for common ailments- Common health problems like the flu, allergies, skin conditions, sinus problem, wounds and minor injuries, minor eye injuries, and upset stomachs can be effectively handled by the health professionals in urgent care centers. Treatment for these ailments are fairly standard and therefore don’t require specialized care in a primary or emergency care unit. However, while these problems may be minor, they do need urgent attention for quick relief from the pain and discomfort associated with their symptoms.  This is where urgent care centers are the best in providing the fastest treatment without any appointment and long wait times.

Availability in your location- Recent surveys have indicated that there are almost 10,000 urgent care clinics throughout the nation and this number is expected to rise to more than 12,000 in the next couple of years. This data indicates the high degree of likelihood that an urgent care clinic will be close to your location. If you search on Google or on online urgent care directories, you can find the location of nearest urgent care clinics with a map to give you directions.

Modern facilities and qualified physicians- Most urgent care clinics are well equipped with modern labs and instruments including X-Rays, ultrasounds, vaccines, and scanners to accurately diagnose your problem.  All of this equipment means that you do not need to go to other facilities for follow up tests. The health professionals at these clinics have typically trained as emergency care doctors and are well qualified to treat a wide range of issues. They can serve you like a family physician or may refer you to emergency care for critical issues. Or if you have chronic health problem that requires longer treatment, they can provide recommendations to an appropriate specialist.

Individual opinion may differ from person to person based on one’s experience in urgent care facilities, but thanks to the above factors, urgent care centers are without a doubt one of the fastest growing segments of our modern health care system.

Urgent Care Clinics In Illinois: Why They’re Beneficial Patients

Over the years, urgent care centers have been gaining substantial popularity, not only in Illinois but also across the country, as a practical and attractive medical alternative for time-pressed, busy families.  These centers present a better alternative for them in order to avoid spending grueling hours in emergency rooms among sick crowds, simply in the hopes of seeing a doctor. 

While they are known by a few different names, such as immediate care, urgicare or even ‘docs in a box’, these urgent care centers offer a wide range of walk-in medical services and extended hours in order to provide for the treatment of minor ailments and injuries to their patients.  The sort of ailments and injuries that are commonly treated are issues like sore throats, ear injuries, sprains or fractures and other non-life-threatening medical issues.  Since these centers are generally well staffed with board certified doctors and assisted by qualified and trained nurses, you can expect quality treatment for your medical needs.  Besides, these centers also have onsite x-ray and laboratory services to make things easier for you and save you the hassle of visiting multiple facilities for these services.  Even more beneficial is the fact that most of these centers are open 365 days a year and that they accept most insurance policies.  Thus, if you have insurance, you will likely be covered and co-pays for urgent care clinics are usually cheaper than an ER visit.

Due to their convenience oriented and customer-friendly design, urgent care centers are getting a boost from hospitals and many private firms including those like Walgreens, CVS and Wal-Mart as they enter the market. As a result, we find a number of retail clinics developing in established and public places all over Illinois.  Patients find these centers easy to access and very affordable, charging much less than emergency rooms.  Insurers are aware of this popular trend and they are keen to keep costs down in order to encourage people to use these urgent care centers as an effective alternative to emergency rooms, or even a primary care physician, especially when they are closed on weekends and evenings.

However, it should be remembered that urgent care centers are only for common medical conditions.  Symptoms like difficulty in breathing, fainting, sudden dizziness, changes in mental status, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea, uncontrolled bleeding, a change in vision and pain or pressure in the chest or upper abdomen need to be treated in an emergency room.  These symptoms can be the indicators of serious and life-threatening issues only an emergency room is specifically equipped to address. Therefore, when considering where to go for care, patients need to make an informed and conscious decision regarding which facility, emergency room or urgent care center, is best for their medical problem.  Evaluating the symptoms and knowing the difference between the treatment options is critical for identifying the level of treatment needed.  Minor medical issues can be handled more conveniently and efficiently in urgent care centers than in other alternatives. 

While urgent care centers are a vital part of the health care system, there are varying levels of urgent care.  Some clinics offer full a full staff of MD’s, while others have a team of physician assistants, who are supervised by a doctor.  It is advisable for patients to check out the scope of services offered, the credentials of the staff and the hours of operation before visiting one.  Fortunately, it is quite easy to find this information about a center thanks to the power of the internet.  A  quick online search will reveal specialized urgent care directories that have aggregated this information for clinics in your area or you can make a call and find out if a center offers a particular service or not.  In the case of finding treatment for babies and infants, you need to ask specific questions, such as whether they offer pediatric care.  You should also inquire about other important issues, like insurance coverage, as it would lengthen your wait for care to have to visit multiple urgent care centers before finding one that accepts your insurance.

As a good sign, in Illinois hospitals are building immediate care centers to ease pressure on their emergency rooms and enhance patients’ access to non-emergency care.  Many for-profit firms that specialize in this field of health care are also taking part.  With this corporate backing and some of the finest medical schools in the country, it can easily be said that the urgent care facilities in Illinois are some of the best in the country.

The Importance Of Online Urgent Care Directories

The way that people search for information has drastically changed even in the last few decades and it is not an exaggeration to say that information technology has revolutionized the way society seeks and consumes information.  The yellow pages, or a phone book, were the previous method used by people in order to look up the services they needed to use.  However, the very nature of these old directories meant that the amount of information available was limited, usually to just a name and phone number.  With the advent of the internet, consumers now have an immensely powerful tool to find information about almost any business or service they need.

Online directories are a very easy and convenient way to search through the massive amounts of information available on the internet.  Information only has meaning to the people who find it relevant and can find it quickly when needed.  The rise of smart phones has only seen this become even more true, as people have become accustomed to being able to find the information they need instantaneously, and in great quantities. Online directories have been vital as a means of making sense of all this information and bringing this information to people’s fingertips. 

Google and other search engines have recognized the importance of sifting through the overwhelming amount of information available, and attempting to highlight local results in their searches.  However, only a specialized online directory can do a satisfactory job of providing a complete listing of relevant results with all the information needed by the consumer.

There are a very few industries which have been benefited more by the presence of online directories than the healthcare industry.  The importance of online healthcare directories cannot be overstated especially when viewed in the context of the urgent need and typical stress being experienced by the people who are searching for care.urgent care directories are designed to be very easy and convenient to use in order to help facilitate the care process, not impede it.

Urgent care centers are a modern concept within the healthcare system based on the ideas of fast, convenient and quality healthcare for patients, and here the importance of online urgent care directories is even more obvious.  Patients searching for urgent care need information quickly, and do not want to waste their time having to do multiple searches in order to find urgent care near them.  These clinics are oriented towards treating urgent medical issues and the best online

Accordingly, it is now quite easy to find care at urgent care centers.  A good online urgent care directory will have thousands of listings covering most cities across the country.  At the very least, some basic information should be available to let a patient know the hours of operation as well as the contact information for the clinic.  New advances have seen these directories roll out the ability to search for a provider with the use advanced searches for a clinic via a patient’s location, insurances accepted, type of treatment needed and other specialty options. Patients can also find information about various laboratories or other services managed by these centers.  These advanced capabilities give patients the flexibility they need to easily locate an urgent care center or walk-in clinic that matches their health and payment needs. 

Yet a quick word of caution.  The information available on online urgent care directories is generally quite accurate as the information is usually updated often.  However, it is worthwhile to look for signs that the listing is actively being managed by the clinics themselves in order to be assured of the validity of the information shown.  And if there are any questions, it is well worth a call to contact the clinic itself in order to verify that the patient’s insurance is accepted, or that the clinic offers the specific service needed.  Things like accepted insurances can be subjected to frequent change so making sure that the chosen clinic participates as an in-network provider can help to manage costs and prevent denied claims. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when choosing an urgent care center, in addition to the other important points like the hours of operation, driving directions, distance, and any requisite forms for pre-assessment. 

Today, we are living in the age of social media and networking sites.  Health care companies of all sizes are using online marketing techniques to attract new patients and improve their bottom line.  But in order to actually reach patients, online healthcare marketing efforts must be thoughtfully planned with a long-term commitment to build a brand that lasts.  Things such as blogs, social media like Facebook and Twitter, and the facility’s own website should all be utilized.  Urgent care directories offer a great way to reach a large number of interested patients with relatively little effort and a potential large return on investment.  For this reason, they should be a cornerstone of any marketing strategy for urgent care clinics.

Life And Medical Care Services In Pennsylvania

As a responsible and caring head of a household, there are certain details about a city and state that are particularly important to consider before moving to settle there.  These details can be broken down in to several categories, such as the overall environment of the area, which takes into account the general lifestyle and people in the area, the weather and type of climate. Entertainment is another important category which is concerned with the proximity of outdoor activities as parks, mountains, rivers, and beaches as well as the local culture, festivals available and, for those young enough, a vibrant night life.  The neighborhood itself should also be carefully considered with an eye towards the type of housing available, and their proximity to things like grocery stores or restaurants. But above all, the biggest concerns about a new place to live should be around the basic public services and facilities like schools, libraries, and available medical services within the community.  These services and facilities are essential for ensuring a certain quality of life.

Let me share my story about how I considered all these factors and why I chose to relocate my family to Pennsylvania in order to enjoy my retirement years.  For those who know me, the choice of Pennsylvania may have come as a bit of a surprise. My family is traditionally from the South and I have quite a few medical issues that will require regular medical check-ups for the rest of my life.  Though my ailments are fortunately not serious ones like cancer or memory loss, I am a diabetic and suffer from high blood pressure.  In view of my advanced age, my doctors have recommended that I receive frequent and regular check-up sand stay on medication.  And because of these ailments I have to constantly measure my blood sugar as well as blood pressure and keep detailed records of these measurements.  The small town I’m from offered only limited medical resources to help take care of my conditions.  For my minor ailments, the choice was either the emergency room, or the one primary care doctor in town.  The emergency room constantly had extremely long waits, just to be taken back to a room and wait even longer.  I can understand that other, more serious issues were treated first, but my entire day would be wasted waiting on my treatment.  The primary care doctor in town was wonderful and knew my history, but as the only doctor in town, he had a long list of patients, and getting a same or next day appointment for those times when my issues flared up was out of the question. 

I think by now you might have guessed one of the major reasons why I opted to relocate to Pennsylvania for my post retirement life.  In addition to offering a fantastic mix of outdoor activities and modern city life, Pennsylvania is also known to have a number of excellent healthcare resources for older Pennsylvanians with facilities like modern urgent care clinics in almost every city and borough throughout the state. When researching the medical resources available in places to live, I came across the urgent care concept and immediately knew that it could help me with my issues.  Rather than having to wait several days for an appointment with a primary care doctor, or spend all day waiting in an emergency room, urgent care centers offer walk-in appointments for urgent, but non-life-threatening issues.  The doctors typically have experience in an emergency room, which means they’re well trained to take care of almost any urgent issue and the caring, courteous staff that I’ve encountered make for a much friendlier environment than a sterile ER.  Never once have I felt that the level of care I received wasn’t of the highest standards.  Making sure there are appropriate medical facilities during my travels is also important to me and I even had the occasion to visit a walk-in clinic in Gettysburg when I went to view the site of the Civil War battle. 

This is not to say that there aren’t a full set of medical services available in Pennsylvania.  There are plenty of emergency rooms available but they are no different from others I have visited. They are literally packed with people who are suffering from major and serious problems and you must endure the typical piles of paperwork just to have a 5 minute visit with a doctor. Pennsylvania also has significantly more medical specialists than my hometown, so I feel comfortable knowing that if I develop any further serious medical issues as I age that I will be able to find treatment.  However, for the moment, knowing that an urgent care center is available to provide quick treatment whenever needed is quite comforting.  And while receiving quality medical care was the primary factor in my decision to move, other people will love the history of the state, the beautiful scenery and all the outdoor activities.  For all of these reasons, I have greatly enjoyed living here in Pennsylvania.

Urgent Care Centers In California

There are many reasons why urgent care centers are growing in popularity, not only in California, but all across the country.  When you have a medical issue that can’t wait for an appointment at your regular doctor, there are generally two options that you can choose from.  You can either go to an emergency room at your local hospital or a private medical facility such as an urgent care center.  These walk-in clinics are an alternative to emergency rooms for when you aren’t suffering a true medical emergency.  Though they are typically privately owned, they are still managed like an extension of the public health system.  The clinics are usually ideally located in busy and convenient public places in cities and towns all over California.  Many people don’t seem to yet realize the growing popularity of these medical facilities and what sort of services they can provide. But the fact is that more and more people, after having a bad experience in an emergency room or facing a long wait to get an appointment at their doctor, are looking at other available options and realizing that minor medical issues can better be handled in urgent care centers than in the ER.  Healthcare experts and policy makers have also acknowledged the role of these auxiliary medical facilities, praising them for doing a great job in aiding and assisting the entire medical process, especially in easing the pressure on emergency rooms. If used in an appropriate manner as a supplement of primary and emergency health care, an urgent care clinic can be a critical part of the medical fraternity and aid in the mission to provide practical and effective healthcare to the public. 

In the present environment of healthcare reform, the excessive use of emergency rooms at hospitals needs to be assessed.  Various studies have shown that upwards of 17% of all visits to an Emergency Room could be better treated at other facilities.  And the savings that could be realized with a better utilization of other options could be upwards of $4.4 billion.  Almost any medical condition that doesn’t qualify as a true medical emergency can safely be treated at an urgent care center or walk-in clinic.  California is home to an excellent network of urgent care centers, with several hundred throughout the state.  And as far as healthcare reforms are concerned, California is recognized as being ahead of the curve in implementing the law.  As a result, hundreds of thousands of low-income Californians have better access to health care and medical services like urgent care centers have a greater role to play in delivering value to those patients.   

There are several reasons to go to an urgent care facility.  It is not only the cost of treatment at an urgent care center in California which is significantly lower than other medical facilities, but also the wait time and time for treatment.  However, benefits like a personable staff and significantly more available locations when compared to emergency rooms shouldn’t be discounted.  These urgent care centers are generally open nights and weekends, and accept walk-ins without an appointment.  They treat very common injuries and illnesses like cuts and lacerations, sprains and strains, urinary tract infections, vomiting and diarrhea, flu like symptoms and minor burns. Some clinics are even equipped to take X-rays and perform simple blood, urine and drug tests. According to the Urgent Care Association of America, an estimated 3 million patients visit them each week.  All of these advantages just serve to further justify the rapid growth of urgent care centers all over the country.

It is a fact that the walk-in model has always been one of the most appealing features for consumers when they are seeking immediate treatment.  For modern society, convenience can be as equally important as other factors.  Advances in technology means patients can now use computers or their smart phones to make good use of their time and wait comfortably at home until the doctor is ready to see them.  Busy people value convenience and appreciate the ability of urgent care centers to bring a convenient solution to their medical needs.  For all of these reasons, it is quite apparent as to why urgent care centers have been booming in California and why they will continue to increase in popularity. 

Fasting Is Not Healthy

Some evidence shows that certain forms of fasting are good for health but may not  appeal or be appropriate for ever one. Hypoglycemic or diabetics should think properly before they fast as they may suffer from low blood sugar which can lead to many health problems. Fasting is not something that should be taken lightly. You need to pay careful attention to your body, your energy level and how it makes you feel in general while fasting. If fasting is not done carefully and properly then it could produce adverse effect with some people.

Fasting for a short time leads to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, abnormal heart rhythm and low blood pressure. When people have these side effects they may have problem while driving a vehicle, operating machineries and sometimes working in office also. Fasting can be especially dangerous in people who are already malnourished, such as those with some forms of advance cancer. Death results when fasts outlast the body’s supply of stored energy.

In your plan to lose weight fast, you may consider the option of fasting. Many medical experts and dietitians warn against the practice of fasting for weight loss. It has been proved that the prolonged fasting is not an effective way to lose weight it can be very unhealthy and dangerous. Fasting is a natural process that occurs when you do not consume any food for three to five hours and during sleep. Natural fasting is an essential process and it is not harmful to the body. Prolonged fasting, which is not eating food for 16 to 20 hours each day and it practiced continuously for many days or weeks leads to many health problems. While some people only abstain from solid food allowing fruit juice and water, others insist they should not eat or drink anything for several days in a row. This is a very dangerous way of fasting to lose weight.

When you are fasting, your body will go into a self preservation more to counter starvation. It will begin to slow down your metabolism and increase the production of cortisol.  This cortisol is a stress hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. When you are suffering from illness or stress, there will be larger than usual amount of cortisol in your body. A high amount of cortisol can make you physically, mentally or emotionally stressed. When you are not taking enough food, the cortisol in your body will try to release certain amino acids from your muscles and convert them to sugar. By releasing amino acids, cortisol is actually breaking down your muscles tissues. Losing muscles can slow down weight loss because you need muscles to burn excess fat in your body. Cortisol releasing amino acids also affects brain, kidney and red blood cells.

If you fast and do not consume food for a prolonged period of time, your body will produce fewer thyroid hormones. The loss of thyroid hormone will slow down metabolism significantly. When you begin to fast, your appetite hormones will be suppressed but they will be fully active when normal eating resumes resulting in increased hunger. With slower metabolism and increased appetite, you will begin to gain weight fast instead of losing weight.

Prolonged fasting can deplete the supply essential nutrients in your body, such as carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, minerals and electrolytes. This can lead to the development of various health problems such as fatigue, headache, dehydration, dizziness, constipation, hypoglycemia, anemia, muscles weakness, gall stones and mental confusion. Muscles tissue is spared during the time of fasting due to the effects of glucagon and growth hormone. This hormone protects our muscles from being used as energy to prevent our own organ tissues from being broken down. Using muscles as energy is the body’s last resort once our body fat stores have run out.

Fasting usually reduces the amount of stomach acid, which digests food and kills bacteria. Some people develop gastrointestinal problems. Digestive enzymes are secreted in the stomach which moves in high concentration and need food to act upon. In the absence of food, these digestive enzymes keep circulating within the stomach and damage the lining of the digestive tract. This leads to acid reflux, gastritis problems and even ulcer.

Another area of concerned is the gall bladder, which is like a balloon that holds bile for digestion. Eating forces the gall bladder to contract, pushing bile in to the digestive tract which helps digestion. In the absence of food, this bile keeps accumulating inside the gall bladder. Gradually it can turn in to sludge, leading to the formation of stones.

Traditionally fasting has been associated with meditation and less activity. These days, people continue with their everyday activities while they fast. This is very unhealthy, as the body needs proper nutrients for activities. This leads to dehydration and fatigue. Not eating or fasting reduces the immunity level as the body is deprived of vitamins and nutrients essential for effective functioning. This is vulnerable to all types of diseases such as increase glucose intolerance, cardiac problem and sometimes hypertension also.

If you are suffering from any kind of health problem, it is advisable that you do not fast because you will be more susceptible to other diseases also.