December 6th marks the beginning of National Influenza Vaccination Week. It continues through to December 12th. National Influenza Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of individuals receiving their yearly influenza vaccination. As long as different strains of the flu virus continue to spread and cause illness, choosing to get a vaccination will help protect you and those closely around you from the flu. It is highly recommended by ...
Sniffling coworkers, wheezing kids and running out of tissues or hand sanitizer can make the months of flu season extremely stressful. Every year, American businesses lose billions of dollars in sick days and lost productivity. Experts estimate the economy will lose about $20 billion in productivity to workers who either stay home with the flu or come to work too sick to focus. The shortage of supply in the flu vaccination this year has increased ...
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. One out of every 11 Americans has diabetes, and 86 million more are pre-diabetic. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the United States spends about $245 million every year on health care for people with diabetes, and recent projections have determined that as many as one in every three adults will have diabetes by 2050 if nothing changes. Type 2 ...
AFC Bridgeport wants to make sure that you have all the information you need to keep your kids in the game during the fall season. Whether you are an athlete, parent or coach, we have the sports injury prevention tips and tools to make sure safety is your first priority! Athletes – Full speed and any direct contact are the two most common causes of injuries. Regardless of protective gear, it is still possible for you ...
This year on September 18th 2015, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is being recognized. The purpose of this day is to focus on the issues that the aging population is facing regarding HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. Currently in the United States there has been a growing population of people at the ages of 50 and older that are living with the HIV infection. In 2011, there were 1.2 million people ...
What is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs to survive. There are two kinds of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol and LDL is known as the “bad” cholesterol. When talking about high cholesterol LDL is what is being referred to. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood it could build up on the walls of your arteries and form ...
Not only is back to school season back in swing, but now flu season will be sneaking up on us very soon. Flu season can be very unpredictable. New viruses appear each year so you need to be prepared to protect you and your loved ones. The timing, severity, and length of the season varies every year as well. There are ways to protect yourself and your family from the virus. It is recommended by ...
If you have recently come into contact with a poison ivy plant and are starting to develop an irritating and uncomfortable rash, here are a few things you can do to prevent the rash from spreading and treat the discomfort. Immediately rinse your skin with warm, soapy water Wash your clothing and everything that may have come into contact with the plant Do not scratch, this can lead to infection Consider using a calamine lotion ...
Summer is officially in swing, which means everyone is outdoors enjoying the weather as much as they can. This is also the time of the year that sometimes we forget how important is it to stay hydrated on these hot summer days. Dehydration is a condition that occurs when there is a loss of body fluids, mainly water, exceeding the amount that is taken in. We lose water every day in many ways that include ...
An abscess is a raised bump on the skin that is red or pink in color. They are easy to identify as they are painful to touch and have pus and debris in their center. Abscesses are generally caused by a blockage in the sweat or oil glands, inflammation of hair follicles and penetration of the skin. This causes the center of the abscess to convert dead cells and bacteria into puss creating pressure and ...
A laceration is a cut on the skin that is irregular and separates tissue that connects the skin. These torn wounds are typically uneven and cause blood to flow out of the wound. Symptoms of a Laceration include: Bleeding An open gap or cut on the skin Pain at the injury site Fortunately, lacerations are easily diagnosed and cared for. Treatment for lacerations depends on the severity, with minor cuts being able to be cared ...
Ah-Choo! Spring allergy season may begin in February and last until the early summer, but this year it looks like allergies are sticking around much longer. During the summer time different kinds of grasses – Timothy, Johnson, Rye- release allergy-causing pollen. Allergy symptoms can also be caused inside of your home by indoor allergens that include dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Keeping an eye on your local allergy forecast as well can help. Pollen levels ...
This year, National HIV Testing Day is on June 27th. .This day was created as an annual observance in order to promote the importance and awareness of HIV testing. Throughout countries around the world, including the U.S., HIV and AIDS have proven to be a continuing problem. It is not only important to prevent yourself and others from contracting the disease but to also be treated properly for those who do have it. HIV ...
May 18, 2015 Fairfield County’s Doctors of Distinction is a unique award program celebrating the accomplishments of five physicians in Fairfield County judged by a panel of peers and scholars to be the most exemplary in the programs’ categories. Dr. Steven Heffer received the Community Service Award for his role as Owner and Medical Director of AFC Urgent Care in Bridgeport. Dr. Heffer was recognized for developing an urgent care facility in Bridgeport to ...
The cost of an Emergency Room (ER) visit can be a burden on your wallet. AFC Urgent Care in Bridgeport, CT provides treatments for most non-life threatening injuries and illnesses. If you are unsure where to get treated, check out a list of ailments and injuries that we can treat at our urgent care center. AFC is an affordable alternative to the emergency room, and 9 times out of 10 what you went to the ...
2015 Fairfield County Doctors of Distinction Award Granted to Bridgeport Physician (Bridgeport, Conn. – April 27, 2015) – Dr. Steven Heffer, Medical Director and Owner of AFC Urgent Care in Bridgeport, has been awarded the Community Service Award in the second annual Fairfield County Doctors of Distinction award program. This award, hosted by the Fairfield County Business Journal, Citrin Cooperman, and the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, has been granted to Dr ...
Work demands, financial pressures, family problems, and many other things can cause stress. Luckily, there is a low-cost, fast-acting and highly effective treatment available. It’s called “relaxation.” To celebrate National Stress Awareness Month, Federal Occupational Health (FOH) is providing online tips to help employees unwind, de-stress, and recharge through conscious relaxation and meditation. To find some tips on deep relaxation and meditation got to the Federal Occupational Health’s “Stress Awareness” page at http ...
This winter has not been very kind, and the month of February has been no exception. Temperatures have reached dangerously low extremes, causing fear of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone stepping outside. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur when temperatures reach frigid extremes, causing your internal body temperatures to drop. Symptoms of hypothermia include violent shaking, confusion, exhaustion and poor muscle control. Frostbite is most common on external extremities such as your ears, toes, nose and ...
AFC Hits A Home Run! AFC Urgent Care becomes Corporate Sponsors for the Bridgeport North End Little League (Bridgeport, Conn. – February 4, 2015) – AFC Urgent Care is extremely excited to announce that they will be a corporate sponsor for the Bridgeport North End Little League (NELL) for the upcoming season. Dr. Steven Heffer, Medical Director and Owner of AFC in Bridgeport, prides himself focusing on the families in the community above all else. “When the ...
Though earaches commonly occur with a cold, sometimes a middle ear infection (otitis media) can occur as a secondary symptom. Earache from a cold can range from mild to very painful and can be a sharp, dull, or burning pain. The middle ear is the tympanic membrane and the bones are immediately behind it. These small body parts are important because they are the building blocks of our ability to hear. The outer ear is ...
