Different illnesses and conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms, and each person can experience those symptoms differently. That can sometimes make it harder to diagnose yourself at home! The internet searches can sometimes be helpful, but more often it will just leave you with more questions and anxiety. Leave it to the experts at AFC! Our providers are really efficient at diagnosing patients, and we have a variety of diagnostic tools at our ...
If you are sexually active, STDs are always a lingering threat no matter how careful you are. STDs can spread quickly, especially through dense populations. While some STDs cause some very obvious symptoms, others can be present without any symptoms at all. Untreated STDs can impact your life in a significant way down the road. Our AFC Urgent Care NC team explains more about STD testing and the importance of it below, so read on ...
Being an adult means that you have a predictable, albeit sometimes chaotic, daily life of work, school, dinner, practices and bedtime. By now, you probably have a really good system in place to ensure all of your people are where they need to be and when! At the end of the day when the kids are finally asleep, it can be really hard to find the motivation to get off the couch and take care ...
Cancer is a scary health condition no matter what type you have. Each case and personal experience is so different that it can be hard to generalize symptoms and outcomes. For certain types of cancer, like skin cancer, it can be easier to notice if a patch of skin changes or a mole starts to grow or change color. This is why it is important to investigate any changes quickly so you can catch a ...
We all eat to support our bodies and feel satisfied throughout our days. Whether or not you think about it, the foods you choose to eat have a direct impact on your health and overall well-being. A varied diet of healthy proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains often takes the spotlight when it comes to talking about a healthy diet, but don’t forget about minerals! Minerals like calcium play a vital role in the ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Studies show that getting outdoors can actually help you feel healthier! Vitamin D is readily available while hiking and it is necessary for building and maintaining healthy bones. Hiking is an activity that is possible while maintaining social distancing and is a great way to get some exercise without going to the gym! (And honestly, there’s really nothing more beautiful than a hike through our mountains as the leaves change.) Read on as our ...
We’re already somewhere between “worried about” and “fed up with” COVID-19. Yet here’s flu season, just around the corner. Is anyone actually worrying about the flu in 2020? The answer is yes. COVID-19 is still raging, and the flu also has the potential to cause overcrowding in emergency departments as people try to sort out flu symptoms from COVID symptoms. So, we’ve established that we’ll soon be looking not one but ...
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 ...
At best, getting a rash due to exposure to poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac is a nuisance, and at worse, it can be a serious condition that requires medical treatment. When you come into contact with one of these plants, the oils from their leaves can penetrate the skin, and if you are in the 85% of the population that is allergic, you will generally develop an itchy, irritating rash. While you can ...
We’ve been hearing about COVID-19 for months now, seemingly everywhere we turn. But many of us still don’t have a good understanding of what the condition actually is and if we’re at risk. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care North Carolina is dedicating this blog to answering a few common questions about the virus. Read on as we offer some insight. What’s My Risk of Getting COVID-19 We ...
The word cholesterol is used often enough that it can sometimes be confusing. You may see it on food labels, but you also hear it at the doctor’s office. Not sure how to make heads or tails of it? Our team at AFC Urgent Care North Carolina wants to shed some light on what cholesterol is and how you can maintain a normal cholesterol. Why Is High Cholesterol Dangerous? To really understand what high ...
More than 100 million Americans are living with high blood pressure, which is why it is so important that we tackle the risk factors that can increase our chances of high blood pressure, including stress. During National High Blood Pressure Education Month this May, our team at AFC Urgent Care North Carolina wants to share how stress can affect your blood pressure and what you can do to better manage your stress. How Does Stress ...
Did you know? Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. During Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, our team at AFC Urgent Care North Carolina wants you to know how you can best protect your skin, especially when it comes to skin cancer. Is Skin Cancer Common? Yes, skin cancer is incredibly common. In fact, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with some type of skin cancer by age ...
We are all working to transition our lives into a new normal, which for most of us means staying home all the time. However, when it comes to social distancing, what do we do if we feel under the weather? Even while we try to flatten the curve, everyday illnesses such as sore throat, seasonal allergies and pinkeye still crop up. What do we do then? For those types of everyday health issues, our AFC ...
