Our team at AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga realizes that eating fresh foods instead of processed is what many say they’ll do every year—possibly even every week. Then the next thing you know, we’re sitting in our car at a local fast-food drive-through. But in honor of National Nutrition Month, it’s time to get our eating habits under control! Eat Right to Feel Better While that juicy cheeseburger might taste good, who ...
While medical visits are a necessity throughout life, especially when you’re sick, they can be nerve-wracking. But it’s important not to let your fear win out over your motivation to go to the doctor! Avoid White Coat Syndrome Believe it or not, there’s actually a syndrome for people who experience fear or anxiety when visiting the doctor. It’s called “white coat syndrome,” and it happens when a patient’s blood pressure ...
Every heartbeat bears your name / Loud and clear they stake my claim / My red blood runs true blue / And every heartbeat belongs to you! Maybe Amy Grant had the right idea—every heartbeat does belong to us. So why aren’t we living a lifestyle that promotes a healthy heart? Starting today, do everything you can to improve your heart health. Your Daily “To-do” List for Your Heart You can start by paying attention to ...
We want to be able to do it all, but the reality is that we can’t. No matter how hard we try, something is going to fall through the cracks. And to make things worse, our health often suffers from the stress we put on ourselves. Stay Away, Stress! One of the best ways to avoid getting burnt out in life is to reduce stress before it gets to the point of no return ...
Now that the holidays are over and a new year has begun, it’s time to get back on a regular, healthy schedule—and that includes sleep! Sleep Tight A bad mood and a rough start to your day aren’t the only things caused by a poor night’s sleep. Did you know that sleep problems can lead to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, among other health conditions ...
How many times have you told yourself, “This year is the year I’m going to get healthy!”? We know: A lot. But 2017 IS actually going to be the year that you get your health on the right track, because you will do it with our help. To Good Health First things first, it’s time to get serious about your healthy resolutions. Year after year, many of us make resolutions come the first ...
There are many things to look forward to this December—lights, holiday festivities, family gatherings, ice skating, etc. There are also things that come with the colder months that aren’t as enjoyable, such as sneezing and endless coughing. But with these tips, you don’t have to suffer with a cough during your holiday. Goodbye, Cough At the first sign of a cough, start managing the symptom with these at-home treatments. As in all ...
The last trick-or-treaters have devoured their newfound candy riches, the first Thanksgiving family gatherings are already beginning to come together and Christmas music is being played in every store across America. So with festive meals and family traditions on the horizon, how can you stay healthy? Well, it takes a little bit of extra effort and a lot of perseverance, but it is worth it. Here are three ways to bring good health to the ...
Every winter, millions of Americans are sidelined from their jobs, forced to cancel plans with their friends and left feeling terribly because of one single culprit—the flu virus. So how can you avoid the flu and make sure that you stay productive, healthy and happy? Well, there’s one way that’s been proven over and over again to help prevent the flu—the flu shot. However, it seems that the flu shot is ...
Every day in America, countless accidents happen, injuries occur and people all around the nation are in need of urgent care. When you’re in pain, there shouldn’t be a delay in your care. Unfortunately, this is simply not often the case. Emergency rooms, which were designed for those in life-threatening situations, have become full of patients who don’t have severe emergencies, putting a strain on the physicians who administer care. This is ...
In the age of social media and internet research, you would think that health rumors would be quickly pointed out, attended to and subsequently dispelled, but you would be wrong. In fact, with every new “health” website and online diagnosis center comes a new round of rumors, falsehoods and confusion. At AFC, we want to provide you with the most accurate information available. In that spirit, here are three commonly believed health ideas that are ...
Every year, millions of Americans look forward to September and the coming fall season, but it’s generally accepted that the unofficial fall season begins Labor Day weekend with the kickoff of college football. Now that fall is underway, many youth leagues have either started up already or will be starting up play in the coming days and weeks. The question is: Should your child participate in youth football? While that decision is ultimately up ...
Have you ever had one of those lazy days? You know the days—you sit at home, watch tv and dream of being able to find the motivation to get up off the couch, go outside and accomplish something. Well, workout buddies can help with days like those. You see, everyone has days where they lack the motivation to meet their goals, but there is strength in numbers. Here are three reasons you should have ...
Believe it or not, despite what the temperature outside may tell you, fall is coming, and it is coming swiftly. With the onset of fall comes a changing landscape, both in the culture and in health circles. You see, each season has a distinct set of health advantages and disadvantages. Fall often proves to be a very versatile season in the health world. Here are three ways that fall can benefit your health: 1) Weather ...
When we think of health in America, quite a few things come to mind. A healthy heart, a healthy weight, and a healthy diet are all things that may comprise a healthy lifestyle to many Americans, but there’s more to it than that. In addition to these tried and true health cornerstones, we also must make sure that we are taking proper steps to take care of our livers. Livers in the U.S ...
Every day in America, the epidemic of obesity is on the rise. You’ve heard the rhetoric: America is underworked, overweight, and on the quick slope to nowhere fast. However, this rhetoric fails to take into account the effort that Americans make each year to slim down, even though these efforts often come up short. So, why do these efforts not always bring incredible results? The answer may be in exercising. We try hundreds of ...
A good job, 2.5 children, a white picket fence, and finding a diet that actually works—these are all familiar parts of the American dream. No matter who you are, or how good of shape you’re actually in, everyone has spent time wondering how they can slim down for summer. Now, losing weight for the sake of it isn’t advisable, but oftentimes weight loss comes with health benefits, especially if you are ...
We all know that hydration is a vital part of our general health, but do you know why exactly it’s so important to drink your fair share of water? What is it about being hydrated that makes it the focus of advice, public health campaigns, and doctor recommendations? How much water are you currently drinking? Studies show that it isn’t enough. So sit down, pull your laptop close, and get ready to learn ...
School is finally out, your kids are running around outside playing, and the heat is upon us. Although summer is an excellent time in the health of your child, due to the increased physical activity that great weather and empty days provide, it still is important to keep safety in mind. So, what things should you and your child keep in mind while they try to score the winning goal in their neighborhood soccer game ...
No matter what meal you are eating in your day, there are definite advantages to that meal being a healthy meal. You may have heard “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper,” but we’re here to tell you that you can eat well each meal and be satisfied—the two are not mutually exclusive. So, how exactly can you eat a great meal and still have enough ...
