Recent Blog Posts

Food Poisoning: When and Why to Visit AFC Knoxville TN Food poisoning is an unwelcome and often unpredictable health concern that can strike when we least expect it. Defined as an illness caused by consuming contaminated food or beverages, it can manifest as various symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe gastrointestinal distress. While some cases resolve on their own with rest and hydration, there are instances where seeking prompt medical attention becomes crucial. ${custom_link_1_title ...

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The Connection Between Humidifiers and the Flu With winter arriving on Chapman Highway in Knoxville, TN, the community embraces local places like CommonPlace Coffee + Community and the 1783 Eatery to enjoy our community’s historically favorite dishes. Amidst the seasonal buzz, explore the unique boutiques and cafes, or take an adventure to Zoo Knoxville or Market Square. No matter where you are in Knoxville this holiday season, it’s important to know how to prevent ...

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Is an Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic Like Going to the ER? If you find yourself with an emergency medical condition that needs to be dealt with, it can often become an overwhelming situation. Thoughts of long waits, expensive treatments, and procedures at a hospital emergency room (ER) may cross your mind. However, the ER isn't always your only option - have you ever considered visiting an urgent care walk-in clinic? Urgent care clinics like AFC ...

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With all of our favorite holidays right around the corner, it can be so easy to fill your days with shopping, events and making plans to meet up with friends and family to celebrate the season. While you are busy enjoying all that these months have to offer, you also have to be aware that different illnesses are always just lurking out of sight. A single infection could sweep through your household and cause everyone ...

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Getting Strep Without Tonsils? Is It Possible? AFC Knoxville TN Has Answers for You Is getting strep without tonsils possible? The short answer is yes. Strep throat is caused by a particular strain of bacteria, group A Streptococcus. These bacteria can live in the nose and mouth.  The bacteria are spread through an infected person's saliva or mucus and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. A person without tonsils can contract the infection if ...

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Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia?  Can bronchitis turn into pneumonia? In some cases, this happens when the inflammation of the bronchial tubes persists for some time and is not treated properly, leading to a bacterial or viral infection that can cause pneumonia.  When bronchitis becomes severe, the tiny hair-like structures (cilia) that line the bronchi can become damaged, making it difficult for mucus to clear from the lungs. This trapped mucus creates a breeding ground ...

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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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Getting sick during the fall and winter seasons is always annoying, but it is unfortunately the most common time to fall ill. With all of the increased time spent indoors and the rise in different infections, getting sick is sometimes just a part of life. One of the frustrating things about this time of year is that many circulating infections can share similar symptoms, so it can be hard to know what you are suffering ...

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Yes, of course! We will always recommend that everyone eligible should get a flu shot as early as possible in the season. The flu, COVID-19 and other infections are on the rise already this year, and we expect another few months of high caseloads. Getting sick is always a possibility, so why not arm yourself with the antibodies you need to ward off influenza this season? Come see us at AFC Urgent Care Chapman Highway ...

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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 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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So, you woke up with a scratchy throat and suspect that if you took your temperature, it would probably read a fever. There’s no doubt about it—you’re sick. There are many different illnesses that could produce these symptoms, so it can be hard to tell what you are sick with on your own. That’s where we come in! Our team can test you for COVID-19, strep throat and influenza in a ...

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We have been through a lot together over the course of the last few years. While we are grateful to have those intense months and years of the pandemic behind us, COVID-19 is still circulating in our community. Different strains and variations still have the possibility of making you really sick, so you can’t let your guard down. This is especially true as we are headed into the cooler months, and we have already ...

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Living a long and healthy life is a goal for so many of us, and we all work hard every day to take care of ourselves through our diet and exercise routine as well as maintaining meaningful social relationships. However, aging is inevitable and certain risks increase as we get older. Falling at home is a risk that certainly affects the older population more significantly, and the older you become, the greater the risk of ...

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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 ...

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We are so glad you are curious to know the answer to this question! That means that you have already considered quitting and making a healthy change in your life. Smoking is incredibly harmful to your entire body and negatively impacts your health in almost every conceivable way. Chronic smoking leads to serious physical ailments as well as an increased risk of developing deadly diseases like cancer. Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Chapman ...

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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 ...

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Diagnosing conditions is kind of like an art form. There are many different mediums and avenues about going about it, and each one is personalized to each patient. Thankfully, we have many different diagnostic tools at our disposal to help us provide the most accurate diagnosis as possible for each of our patients. One of the things that sets our center apart from others is that we have a full lab on site to help ...

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One of the best parts about living in the Knoxville area is all of the fun outdoor opportunities, especially in the summertime. Whether you are laying in the grass near campus or are exploring one of the many parks in town, you are bound to come into contact with bugs. Bugs can be a nuisance in and of themselves, but they can be even more frustrating if you get bitten or stung! Allergic reactions are ...

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Contracting an STD is common across the country, especially on college campuses. While STDs should be treated like any other illness that you come down with, many people hesitate to be seen out of the sensitive nature or uncomfortable feelings they may experience during the process. You should never ignore any symptoms of a possible STD! Your sexual health is part of your overall health and should be treated as such. Our AFC Urgent Care ...

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