Recent Blog Posts

Can Urgent Care Treat a Sports Injury? Fall Sports Injury Care for Sprains, Strains, Fractures, Cuts & More

Fall sports season in Knoxville has its own soundtrack: whistles on the soccer field, sneakers squeaking across the volleyball court, a marching band warming up in the distance, and a stadium crowd getting louder as the lights come on for Friday night football.  Then there are those crisp Saturday mornings when soccer players, golfers, and cross-country runners head outside while parents debate whether it is still too early for a jacket and hot coffee.  Whether ...

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Could Your Ragweed Allergies Be Ruining Fall? How to Manage Sneezing, Itchy Eyes, and Congestion During Back-to-School Season in South Knoxville

Fall in Knoxville brings a lot to look forward to cooler mornings, football Friday nights, busy school calendars, weekend festivals, soccer practices, marching band rehearsals and afternoons spent enjoying the changing season. But for many families, fall also brings an unwelcome guest ragweed pollen.  If sneezing seems to start just as the kids head back to school, or itchy, watery eyes show up every time you spend an afternoon outside, ragweed allergies could be the ...

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How to Stay Hydrated During the Dog Days of Summer: Tips for Kids, Athletes, & Pets

The “dog days of summer” are traditionally considered the hottest and most humid stretch of the season, running from July through August. The phrase has ancient roots, tied to Sirius, the “Dog Star,” which appears in the constellation Canis Major. While Sirius doesn’t actually cause summer heat, the expression has remained a fitting description for those sweltering days when staying cool and hydrated becomes especially important. During this part of summer, hydration is important ...

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How Do You Know If It’s Sunburn or Sun Poisoning? Symptoms, Treatment & Walk-In Care in Knoxville, TN

East Tennessee is made for spending time outdoors. Whether you're enjoying a weekend on Fort Loudoun Lake, listening to live music at one of Knoxville's outdoor concert venues, cheering on your favorite team at a baseball game, or taking a day trip to Dollywood, sunshine is part of the experience. Unfortunately, too much sun can leave you with more than a painful sunburn. While many people think sun poisoning is simply another name ...

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Where Can I Get a School or Sports Physical Without an Appointment?

The countdown to a new school year always seems to go by faster than expected. Between shopping for supplies at Walmart, organizing schedules, and preparing for practices, it's easy to forget about one important requirement a school or sports physical. Fortunately, getting your child cleared for the year ahead doesn't have to involve weeks of waiting for an appointment. At AFC Urgent Care Chapman Highway, families can take advantage of convenient walk-in physicals ...

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Could Your Rash Be Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Poison Sumac?

Longer days, warmer weather, and weekends outside are some of the best parts of living in East Tennessee. Whether you’re hiking, fishing, gardening, cleaning up the yard, camping, or checking local seasonal events, more time outdoors also means more opportunities to accidentally brush up against plants that leave behind an itchy reminder for days afterward.  If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a mysterious rash and wondering whether it came from poison ivy ...

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Why Are My Mosquito Bites So Swollen? Prevention, Treatment & Skeeter Syndrome

Summer in East Tennessee means longer evenings, backyard cookouts, lake days, and plenty of time outdoors; but it also means mosquito season has arrived. Around Knoxville, warm temperatures and humidity create ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive from late spring through early fall.  Most mosquito bites are nothing more than an itchy annoyance. But occasionally, a bite seems unusually swollen, hot, or painful and leaves people wondering: Is this normal? In some cases, a bigger ...

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How Can You Tell Between Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke?

Summer in East Tennessee is made for getting outdoors. Whether you’re spending the day hiking on trails near Knoxville, cheering on the Tennessee Smokies, exploring the trails at Urban Wilderness, or enjoying an afternoon on the Tennessee River, Knoxville offers plenty of opportunities to stay active during the warmer months.  However, Tennessee summers also bring intense heat and humidity that can put your health at risk. Every year, emergency rooms and urgent care clinics ...

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How Can You Stay Safe Around Fireworks in Knoxville, TN?

There’s nothing quite like the Fourth of July in East Tennessee. By the time July rolls around, Knoxville is buzzing with backyard cookouts, lake weekends, neighborhood block parties, and patriotic celebrations that seem to stretch from downtown all the way to the foothills of the Smokies. This year’s festivities feel even more meaningful as communities across the country prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, making this one of the biggest Independence Day ...

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Spring Tick Season: What to Do After a Tick Bite

Spring in Knoxville means more sunshine, more time outdoors, and more opportunities to enjoy local favorites like Ijams Nature Center, The Urban Wilderness, and hiking trails near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But as East Tennesseans spend more time outside, tick season also ramps up across the region.  Ticks are especially active during late spring and summer in Tennessee, and experts are already warning that 2026 could be one of the busiest tick seasons in ...

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When to Use First Aid at Home and When to Seek Urgent Care

Accidents happen when you least expect them. Whether it’s a cut in the kitchen, a fall during outdoor activities around Ijams Nature Center, or a sudden choking incident, knowing basic first aid supported by guidance from trusted organizations like the American Red Cross can make all the difference in those critical moments before professional care is available.  At AFC Urgent Care, we’re here to treat non-life-threatening injuries quickly and efficiently, but what you ...

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Spring Gardening Injury Care Near Me

As the weather warms up and everything starts to bloom, it’s the perfect time to get outside and dig into your garden. Whether you’re planting flowers from Stanley’s Greenhouse, pulling weeds, or tackling a long list of yard projects, spending time outdoors can be incredibly rewarding.  But as relaxing as gardening can be, it’s also more physically demanding than many people expect. Repetitive motions, heavy lifting, sun exposure, and contact with ...

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Concussion Symptoms: What to Watch for After a Head Injury

Spending a warm spring day at the Regal Soccer Stadium, a neighborhood playground, or a ballpark like TriStar Park – Badgett Field is a great way to enjoy the season and soak up some much-needed sunshine. But with all that activity, accidental falls and head bumps can happen. When they do, it’s not always easy to tell if it’s just a minor bump or something more serious like a concussion. Here’s how to ...

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Spring Allergies or Sinus Infection? How to Tell the Difference and When to Visit Urgent Care

Spring brings warmer temperatures and better weather for outdoor activities. Shopping at your local plant nursery like Stanley’s Greenhouse to update your flowers beds or visiting the Knoxville Botanical Garden for inspiration is one enjoyable way to spend a warm spring afternoon. Unfortunately for those living in the South, we know all too well about spring pollen season as the trees and flowers begin to bloom out. Congestion, sinus pressure, and a runny nose ...

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Measles: What Causes it and Can I Still Get Measles if I am Vaccinated?

Whether you’re trying to enjoy a rare warm winter’s day with your kids on a neighborhood playground like Lakeshore Park or visiting a local jump park such as Sky Zone Trampoline Park to get rid of cabin fever, being aware of germs and illnesses may not be your primary concern. However, with the latest uptick of measles cases across the country, it may be a good idea to refresh your understanding of the ...

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Can Light Therapy Help with Seasonal Affective Disorder?

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, meeting up with friends, visiting with relatives, gift exchanges, and lots of great food; winter can seem never ending. The nights are longer, the weather is colder, and even though you may be embracing that New Years resolution to visit the local gym or get more steps in at a local Knoxville park; your mood may be low.   Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression ...

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Norovirus GII.17 Symptoms, Treatment, and When to Visit Urgent Care

During the winter months, many people try to find ways to stay entertained but out of the elements. One activity many turn to is going to see a movie. There are many movie theaters such as Regal Cinebarre West Town Mall or Regal Riviera in Knoxville advertising new films for us to enjoy while eating popcorn in the comfortable, warm seats of the theater. However, public spaces, including movies, can also increase your risk of ...

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Can COVID-19 start with stomach issues, or is that a sign of something else?

Whether you’re grabbing groceries at Food City, attending a local school event, working out at Planet Fitness, or enjoying a community gathering, everyday activities can increase your exposure to viruses like COVID-19. While many people think of COVID as only a respiratory illness, some infections begin differently; sometimes the symptoms include stomach issues. Understanding how COVID can affect your digestive system can help you recognize symptoms early and get the right care.  If you ...

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How Long Do Respiratory Infections Last? When to Seek Care

We’ve all felt it coming on, the scratchy throat, stuffy nose, congestion, and fatigue associated with a respiratory infection. You could be out enjoying a beautiful winter’s snowy day sledding around UT’s campus at Reese Hall or walking around the Fort Sanders area but later feel more exhausted and run down than normal. Often, these are the first symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, also known as a URI. Respiratory infections are ...

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When Should You Visit Urgent Care for a Cold That Won’t Go Away?

Winter in Knoxville is the season of sniffles, sore throats, and lingering coughs, whether you’re catching up with friends at the Peter Kern Library or competing in a lively game of bowling at Maple Hall with family, no one has time for a cold that just won’t go away. While most colds clear up within a week or two, symptoms that just won’t resolve can be frustrating and concerning. Is it simply ...

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