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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Sports Physicals: Getting Ready to Go Back to School Before hitting the field, court, or track, there's a crucial checkpoint that ensures the well-being of our student-athletes: sports physicals. These check-ups are a proactive approach to safeguarding the health and performance of young athletes. They not only fulfill school and sports league requirements but also serve as a comprehensive assessment to detect and prevent potential health issues. Pre-Register The Importance of Sports Physicals Physicals ...
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 ...
I Have an STD, But I'm Not Sexually Active If you have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) but are not sexually active, there are a few reasons why this could be the case. "STD" refers to the constellation of diseases that result from a sexually transmitted infection (STI). For example, cervical cancer is an STD from the STI of HPV. Though it is possible to contract an STI even if you are not ...
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 ...
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 ...
We are in the heart of the summer here in the Charlotte area, and we are loving it! The warm weather, sunnier days and time spent with friends and family are priceless. However, that means tick season is still in high gear and we all must remain vigilant. The majority of tick bites aren’t dangerous, but there is always a chance that the tick that bites you is carrying Lyme disease. If you find ...
One minute you are busy running around the kitchen getting dinner together and the next, you turn suddenly and trip over your dog that you didn’t see laying on the floor. As you pick yourself up off the floor, you feel a searing pain in your wrist. Is it broken or just sprained? Getting hurt can be a scary experience no matter how it happens, but that’s why we are here! Our team ...
If you have a broken bone or a fracture, urgent care may be able to help. Learn the different types of fractures (broken bones), what we treat, and when to go to the ER vs. urgent care. How Do You Know a Bone is Broken? Every year, millions of people break a bone. Broken bones typically result from a trauma like a fall, car accident, or sports injury. Medical conditions such as osteoporosis or repetitive ...
While every day is different and brings its own experiences, it can be easy to fall into a relatively predictable routine. From work to dinner to chauffeuring your kids to games, practices or lessons, it can be exhausting! For many, plopping down on the couch in front of the TV after a long day becomes part of the routine. It is important to de-stress every day, but you should also make time often to engage ...
Cancer in any form is always scary. Certain forms of cancer are more common in certain populations, while skin cancer can affect anybody at any age. Skin cancer can often appear quickly, but the skin damage that was done to cause the cancer probably happened a while ago and was compounded over time. The most common cause of skin cancer is chronic overexposure to the rays of the sun and can develop on any part ...
Physical for sports exams, also known as pre-participation physical examinations (PPEs), help determine whether a person is physically fit to participate in organized sports activities. This physical exam aims to identify any possible medical conditions that could put the athlete at risk for severe injury or illness during practice or competition. Sports physicals are typically done annually, though some states may require more frequent exams based on age and the type of sport being played ...
It can be alarming whenever you see your young children in pain or not feeling well. After all, it is your job as a parent and caregiver to care for them! There are many reasons why your little one might be sick, and one of the reasons is commonly some type of infection. Anyone can contract a salmonella infection, including children and even young babies. This is happens when eating or drinking something that was ...
While it is possible to develop lower back and leg pain from COVID, there are also several other causes. As experts in urgent healthcare services, AFC in Ballantyne indicates why you might be experiencing back pain after COVID and explains some other reasons you might have lower back pain. Lower Back and Leg Pain from COVID Lower back pain is a possible symptom of COVID-19. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given ...
