On behalf of the CDC and the team of medical professionals at AFC Urgent Care Bedford, it is recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months should get their annual flu vaccine. Continue reading to find some answers to frequently asked questions about this flu season. Come visit our urgent care clinic for your walk-in flu vaccine today! How serious is the flu? To some patients, the flu can feel like a really severe ...
We’ve all been there– the cold weather creeps in and suddenly we aren’t feeling our best. Well, the term “under the weather,” makes a lot of sense when you think about how much our health seems to correlate with a change in temperature. But is it really the change in weather that’s making us sick? It’s important to understand how weather changes affect our well-being. Some of us may experience seasonal ...
As we move into colder months, certain illnesses rise to their peak and spread throughout schools and workplaces. Our immune systems weaken during the fall due to temperature drops, dry cold air, and lack of Vitamin D from the sun. Children are back in school, and the cold air drives us indoors– all leading to an environment for germs to thrive. These factors increase our susceptibility to a number of illnesses, such as the common ...
Monkeypox and chickenpox are both caused by a virus, but there are some big differences between the two. Monkeypox is much rarer than chickenpox, and it can be more serious. Learn more about monkeypox in this post. AFC Urgent Care Bedford is here to provide chickenpox vaccines to any child or adult in need. We can also provide health recommendations for patients who test positive for monkeypox. If you think you may have either virus ...
Walk outside on a summer day, and it's likely you'll see at least one bee or wasp. Both insects can deliver a painful sting, but are they really that bad? Let's take a closer look at the differences between bee and wasp stings to find out which is worse. AFC Urgent Care Bedford can help patients with any insect sting. As long as symptoms are not at the emergency level, our medical ...
Both poison ivy and poison oak have a toxic oil that can cause an itchy rash for up to two weeks. This oil is called urushiol, and most people are allergic to it. There aren’t many differences between poison ivy and poison oak, but recognizing the plants can help save you an unpleasant few weeks this summer. AFC Urgent Care Bedford provides treatment for poison ivy. Depending on how much of your body the ...
Mono can cause painful symptoms, but they will typically go away on their own without medical intervention. It’s caused by a virus, so there isn’t a medical treatment that will make the disease go away. Patients can only maintain their symptoms. Symptoms are similar to that of the flu, so it can be easy to confuse the two conditions. AFC Urgent Care Bedford provides testing and treatment for mono. Don’t let yourself ...
There is a lot of speculation going around about the potential long-term effects of COVID. Is it a plague? How will it affect our economy? What should we do to prepare? Scientists are still working to determine what the future holds, however, there are some things we can do to help minimize the risks. In this blog post, we'll take a look at what we know about COVID and its potential long-term effects so ...
Millions of women currently live with or will have a major illness in their lifetime. While there are many illnesses that are more common in women, these diseases can affect anyone, regardless of gender. It's important to be aware of the most common illnesses affecting women so that you can get the appropriate treatment if needed. AFC Urgent Care Bedford offers both primary care and routine physicals to all patients. Our board-certified providers know ...
There are four categories when it comes to asthma, and they are based on their severity. Asthma causes inflammation in the airway, which can make it difficult to breathe. Asthma attacks can be very severe and even life-threatening in some cases. It’s important to always have an inhaler with you to be prepared for an attack. If you think you may have asthma or notice your symptoms getting worse, visit AFC Urgent Care Bedford ...
Tick bites are the worst, there's no doubt about that. Not only is it disturbing to get the tick removed from your skin, but you need to also be aware of any symptoms of Lyme disease. Some people may experience itching at the site of the bite, so is this a sign of Lyme? The providers at AFC Urgent Care Bedford can remove ticks and remove a tick head embedded into your skin. Our ...
When life happens, stress happens. There is no magic cure that can take the stress out of someone's life, but there are ways you can learn to handle it in a healthy way. Reducing stress can help with any physical or mental symptoms you're having from too much stress. AFC Urgent Care Bedford has the tools you need to live a healthier lifestyle. We want the best for our community, so visit our ...
Excessive drinking is a common occurrence for many Americans. It leads to over 140,000 deaths each year and can shorten someone’s life by 26 years. It’s critical to understand the short and long-term effects of excessive drinking and how to slow your drinking. AFC Urgent Care Bedford has the resources you need to live a healthier lifestyle. Our providers can give you the tools you need to turn your bad habits around ...
Sleep is integral to overall health, and it is part of the balance that the body and mind require to function properly. While its obvious rest is necessary and can't be avoided, it may not be as obvious how important it is. Since sleep affects mood, weight, energy, and focus, it is essential to strive to make it a top priority. AFC Urgent Care Bedford has your health at the top of our priorities ...
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is a scary condition. It comes on suddenly and affects the eyes, which are extremely sensitive. Pink eye is unsightly as it affects the lid covering the eye, making it appear pink or red. Pink eye is very common, and many people will encounter it at some point in their life. It is important to identify the symptoms and causes of pink and how it is best treated. The ...
How would you help a child who just fell off a bike? How do you treat accidents? Injuries, especially household injuries, are quite common and difficult to prevent; there is a need to own a remedy or solution tool that can provide immediate relief. First aid is a compilation of tools, materials, and medications that can help treat minor household injuries. Some materials and medications in first aid include pain relievers, elastic bandages, gauze, and ...
As parents, there are times your kids get sick at off-hours when their official pediatrician is unavailable. Do you wait till the following day or rush your kid into the Emergency Room? A new medical concept, the pediatric urgent care service, has been developed to allow parents to access medical facilities for their kids during work-free hours. Pediatric urgent care services work during evenings and weekends, allowing parents to come in at any time of ...
Walk-in urgent care centers are becoming more and more popular throughout the United States. Many people realize they’re spending too much time and money in the emergency room or waiting for an appointment with their physician. This is where AFC Bedford comes in. Our providers can treat a wide variety of conditions at low costs. Our providers are all board-certified, and you don’t need an appointment for urgent care services. Our wait time ...
A big yes! COVID-19 is a severe viral infection. It's highly possible to contract it again if you contact an infected person. When this occurs, we call it "reinfection." However, COVID-19 reinfection is rare as most people who have once been infected don't get re-infected. Only about 0.7% of people who have once contracted COVID-19 got re-infected. AFC Urgent Care Bedford provides COVID testing to all patients. While our tests will not ...
Bronchitis is a condition that occurs when the lining of your throat that carries air to your lungs becomes inflamed. It can cause an increase in mucus, and it can be either acute or chronic. Chronic bronchitis is more likely to occur in those who smoke. Acute bronchitis is typically cleared up within ten days. While acute bronchitis can be caused by a variety of illnesses, it is still contagious. The illness is very common ...
