Recent Blog Posts

Is There a Difference Between Telemedicine and Telehealth Urgent Care?

December 18, 2023

Telehealth is a broad term for tech-enabled healthcare services, while telemedicine specifically refers to remote medical services via video or other technology. Telehealth aims to improve healthcare access by meeting people where they are, while telemedicine focuses on remote diagnosis and treatment. Telehealth is becoming increasingly important in healthcare, offering convenience, cost-effectiveness, and improved access for vulnerable populations.

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Food Poisoning: When and Why to Visit AFC Charlotte NC

December 18, 2023

Food poisoning symptoms range from mild to severe. While rest and hydration often help, urgent care is needed for persistent vomiting/diarrhea, severe pain, high fever, dehydration, or if you're in a high-risk group. Ignoring symptoms can lead to complications.

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Why Do I Feel Sad During the Winter?

December 15, 2023

A Guide to Boosting Vitamin D and Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) The holidays bring a lot of travellers through Ballantyne this time of year, whether to visit family or to venture out to the nearby Grayson Highlands State Park. It’s a busy time for everyone finishing up holiday shopping at shops like Ballantyne Village or grabbing an extra dose of energy at local favorites like Brakeman’s Coffee & Supply. No matter what this ...

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Is Going to Urgent Care Like Going to the Emergency Room?

December 1, 2023

Urgent care centers offer fast, convenient medical care for non-emergency illnesses and injuries. They are open extended hours and provide a cost-effective alternative to the ER. They also bridge the gap between primary and specialty care, streamlining referrals and follow-up treatments.

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Can I Stay Healthy Throughout the Holiday Season?

November 15, 2023

This is the question we all want the answer to! Staying healthy at this time of year is crucial so you don’t have to miss out on the fun family events, holiday traditions and quality time spent with your loved ones. However, with all of the different infections and illnesses circulating around, it can sometimes be hard to do. We want you to stay as healthy as possible this year, so taking care of ...

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Can You Get Strep Without Tonsils?

November 14, 2023

Is getting strep without tonsils possible? Yes. Strep throat is caused by bacteria that can live in the nose and mouth, spread through saliva or contact with contaminated surfaces. Strep throat symptoms include sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, red/swollen tonsils, and swollen lymph nodes. Tonsillitis and strep throat are different. Strep throat is caused by bacteria, while tonsillitis can be caused by bacteria or a virus. If you think you have tonsillitis or strep throat, visit an urgent care center for diagnosis and treatment.

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Here Are the Facts: Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia?

November 10, 2023

Bronchitis, an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, can sometimes develop into pneumonia if left untreated. This is more likely in individuals with weakened immune systems. Pneumonia is a lung infection with symptoms such as cough, chest pain, chills, and fever. Both conditions require medical attention, but treatments differ depending on the cause and severity.

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What Are the Degrees of Burns? A Guide to Identifying Burns

November 7, 2023

What Are the Degrees of Burns? A Guide to Identifying Burns So, what are the degrees of burns? If you’ve been wondering how to identify burns, we’ve got the answers for you. Burns are a common injury that can occur from various sources, including hot liquids, fire, chemicals, and sun exposure. Depending on the severity of the burn, it can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, it is crucial ...

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Does My Baby Have the Flu or RSV?

November 3, 2023

Respiratory infections are really common at this time of year. Since everyone is spending much more time indoors during the colder months, infections can easily pass from person to person and that can increase caseloads from November to April. There are many different kinds of infections that your baby could contract at any point, including the flu and RSV. Knowing what he or she is sick with can help you manage any symptoms more confidently ...

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Will the Flu Last Longer if I Don’t Get a Flu Shot?

October 24, 2023

It’s that time of year again where we start encouraging our community to get vaccinated against the flu! Influenza has the potential to make you really sick, and high caseloads can have a huge impact on our community. Avoiding illness altogether is always the best case scenario, and that starts with getting your annual flu shot early in the flu season. You can come to AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne any day of the week ...

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Urgent Care Experts Offer Alternatives to Phenylephrine

October 7, 2023

As a prominent care provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine services nationwide, American Family Care (AFC) is uniquely positioned to guide and educate the public on pertinent health issues, such as the FDA’s recent decisions on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine.  The FDA held a Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting on September 11-12, 2023, to deliberate on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cough ...

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Why You Should See an Urgent Care Doctor for Wart Removal

October 2, 2023

Why You Should See an Urgent Care Doctor for Wart Removal Home remedies for warts might not be as effective as you hope, so we recommend seeing an urgent care doctor for wart removal to treat these pesky growths at their source. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can appear almost anywhere on the body, causing both physical discomfort and self-consciousness. This article takes you through everything you need to know about ...

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Does a Sore Throat Mean COVID-19?

October 1, 2023

There are so many ways that you can get sick these days that it can be really hard to tell what illness you have on your own. Colds, the flu and even COVID-19 can all cause similar symptoms, so getting a proper diagnosis is always recommended. We have a variety of rapid tests at our disposal that we can run to help determine what you have. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team is here to ...

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Is COVID-19 Still a Threat?

September 15, 2023

We are so grateful that the height of the pandemic is currently behind us, but we can’t change the fact that COVID-19 is still in our community and will continue circulating and mutating into different strains. The different strains and outbreaks come in waves, and we have recently seen an uptick in cases in the southern states. This means we all need to be hyper-aware of our surroundings to avoid getting sick. Remember, you ...

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How Long Does a Typical Fever Last?

September 14, 2023

We can’t believe we are already in the full swing of back-to-school season in the Charlotte area, and with that, we assume you have already seen at least one illness make its way through your house. That’s just the nature of this time of year when students come back under one building once more. Most contagious illnesses are usually just minor inconveniences and cause mild symptoms, one of which is a fever. If ...

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Sports Physicals: Getting Ready to Go Back to School

September 10, 2023

Back-to-school sports physicals are vital for student athletes. They ensure health and meet requirements. Urgent care clinics offer quick, comprehensive exams with convenience and confidentiality. AFC provides affordable physicals, prioritizing your child's well-being.

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Does AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne Do Blood Draws?

August 15, 2023

There are unfortunately many different ways that you can be sick nowadays. Viruses and bacteria can cause stubborn infections or conditions, and any sort of imbalance in your body can make you feel under the weather. While simple illnesses like the common cold or seasonal allergies can be diagnosed at home, others may take a little more investigative work. That’s where we come in! Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne center is equipped with a ...

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Can You Get an STD Without Having Sex?

August 11, 2023

If you have an STD but haven't been sexually active, you may have contracted it through sharing needles, tattoos/piercings, blood transfusions, or other means. Some STDs are asymptomatic but can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated. AFC urgent care clinics offer confidential STD testing and treatment.

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Why Should I Stop Smoking?

August 1, 2023

Habits can be really hard to break. While some habits like reaching for a bottle of water instead of a soda can be a bit more manageable, quitting a lifelong habit like smoking is a much larger and more intensive task. Even though it may seem overwhelming or impossible, you deserve to live a smoke-free life! Smoking has no health benefits to you and only increases your risk of long-term health complications. Our AFC Urgent ...

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What Happens if I Have an STD?

July 15, 2023

Getting sick is a natural part of regular life, even if it is a bit frustrating or inconvenient. While you probably associate sickness with illnesses like colds or the flu, STDs should also be considered a part of this list. Even if thinking about STDs makes you uncomfortable, they are really common! One in five Americans experience one in any given year, making them one of the most common types of illnesses. Routine STD testing ...

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