Many businesses and industries were greatly impacted by the pandemic, and the healthcare industry certainly saw some of the most changes! We were grateful to continue to serve our communities during this time of uncertainty. Now that the pandemic’s emergency status is set to expire in May, some aspects of telemedicine will be affected. That shouldn’t worry you, though! With an in-person visit to one of our AFC Urgent Care NC locations, you ...
Urgent care providers offer convenient, time-saving alternatives to visiting an emergency room for minor, non-life-threatening medical conditions. These healthcare centers typically have shorter wait times and offer services like X-rays, urgent treatment of colds and flu, sprains, strains, and fractures, on-site lab tests, and physicals. Urgent care centers provide efficient diagnoses of various health problems, ranging from minor to severe. Some are also equipped with on-site lab testing capabilities so that patients can get results ...
A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is a frustrating ailment that causes a runny nose, congestion, swollen and/or itching eyes, a sore throat, headaches, and other symptoms. While there isn’t necessarily a quick sinus infection cure, there are certainly ways that you can ease your discomfort and speed up your recovery. If you’re suffering from sinusitis, know that you aren’t alone; approximately 90% of patients with colds have an element of viral ...
Local urgent care centers in Charlotte, or family walk-in clinics, offer patients convenient and affordable urgent healthcare services. When you visit a family walk-in clinic, you can expect quick, quality care at a fraction of the cost of your local emergency room. Emergency rooms tend to be very busy and crowded and are associated with longer waiting times and higher fees. By going to a walk-in doctor’s office for a non-life-threatening illness or injury ...
The winter season can affect all of us differently. Some people embrace the change in weather and truly enjoy the colder temperatures and new activities, while others dread December–February. If you fall into the latter category, you may be more susceptible to symptoms of something called seasonal affective disorder. Regular exposure to sunlight is not only important in maintaining healthy vitamin D levels, but it also helps support our mental health to help avoid ...
What is an urgent care clinic? And how does it differ from the emergency room? When should you go to the emergency room, and when should you go to an urgent care center? Whatever questions you may have, AFC has the answers. What Is An Urgent Care Clinic? Urgent care is the level of healthcare that lies between your primary care physician (PCP) and the emergency room. When you go to urgent care, you can ...
We are all so busy these days, so it can be especially frustrating when you are going about your day and start to feel sick. Being sick can make it hard to go about your day-to-day life and keep your household running smoothly, so seeking relief or encouragement is probably in the forefront of your mind. At this time of year, viral infections are common and relatively widespread, so chances are that you are suffering ...
So many illnesses are already making the rounds this season, so chances are that someone in your household has already gotten sick. While there are a wide variety of symptoms that come with being sick, one common symptom across many illnesses is a fever! In most cases, fevers are our body’s natural immune response when fighting off illness, which aids in helping you feel better. Our AFC Urgent Care NC team explains how fevers ...
Head pain has many causes, so it’s natural to start to wonder what is causing your head starts to hurt. Thankfully, the vast majority of headaches can be attributed to minor issues and can be treated quickly. In rare cases, headaches can indicate a serious issue that can be dangerous or even deadly. This is why it is always important to take severe or persistent head pain seriously. Read on as the AFC Urgent ...
If you suspect you have a bacterial infection, one of the most reliable ways to seek relief is through antibiotics. They are incredibly effective at ridding your body of the bacteria causing the infection and can make you feel better within a matter of a few days. You have to be careful, though, if you are on another medication! Some interactions between medications and certain antibiotics can produce unpleasant or dangerous side effects. That is ...
If you have had sciatica before, even thinking about the pain and discomfort can produce unpleasant memories! The burning, sharp shooting pain from your back down into one of your legs is enough to stop anyone in their tracks. The good news is that the flare-up most likely will go away within a week or two, but that can seem like a long time when you are in pain. Our AFC Urgent Care NC team ...
If you have asthma, chances are that you developed it as a young child. Many cases present themselves when you are younger when your body reacts to the triggers that irritate your lungs. But did you know that you can still develop asthma as an adult? Just because you avoided the diagnosis as a child doesn’t mean you will avoid it for life. It is not unheard of for people in their 50s or ...
Choosing to visit an urgent care center to get non-emergency care doesn’t have to be a tough decision. Although it can be difficult to trust the medical providers that are associated with some urgent/family care centers, you don’t have to worry about that with us! Our AFC Urgent Care NC team is chocked full of medical providers who are not only experienced but who also care deeply for their patients. Read on ...
If you will be spending time outdoors this summer, it is important that you practice good sun safety habits in order to protect your skin from harm. Regular sun exposure, even without getting a sunburn, can increase your risk of developing skin cancer later on in life—but fortunately, you can prevent this by avoiding direct sunlight and wearing sunscreen when you go outdoors. To help you determine how to be as sun-safe as possible ...
Mesenteric adenitis is a tricky condition. It’s most common among children and teens, but it’s often confused with appendicitis, due to the fact that they both share a common symptom of lower right abdominal pain. The difference between the two, though, is that mesenteric adenitis is almost always caused by a prior infection while appendicitis isn’t. Read on to learn more about mesenteric adenitis from our AFC Urgent Care NC team. What ...
AFC Urgent Care NC isn’t like other urgent care chains—we deliver on what we promise. When we say we will provide quality care in under an hour, we deliver. When we say your checkup, vaccine or rapid test won’t cost an arm and a leg, we deliver. We are proud to provide quality care at an affordable price and quick pace, and we highlight how we make that happen below. Keep reading ...
Bumping into something and then waking up with a gnarly bruise the next day is a common occurrence; however, waking up the next day with a gnarly bruise with no real explanation isn’t. If this has happened to you, what’s the cause? Our AFC Urgent Care NC team provides some helpful explanations below, so keep reading! What Is a Bruise, Exactly? Blood vessels beneath the skin pop as a result of force or ...
Mono is a common viral infection that primarily affects young adults and teenagers. The condition is often called the “kissing disease,” due to the fact that it is often spread through direct contact with saliva. Mono can be spread other ways, though, so read on as our AFC Urgent Care NC team further highlights this common viral illness below! What Is Mono? Infectious mononucleosis, as it is medically known, is a group of symptoms that ...
The increased viral activity that we have been seeing this winter is no coincidence. Just like the flu, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has a tendency to get worse during the colder weather, but why does this happen? Our AFC Urgent Care NC team provides some helpful answers below, so keep reading! Do Viruses Get Worse in the Winter? They become more common. While viruses do cause greater damage in the winter, that does not ...
Strep throat is a generally preventable, treatable infection, but it can cause some serious complications if it isn’t treated correctly or quickly. With the winter months being prime strep throat season, it’s especially important to keep this from happening and to be aware of the common strep throat symptoms. Our AFC Urgent Care NC team highlights what you need to know about strep throat below, so keep reading! What Is Strep Throat? Strep ...
