St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and those celebrations bring green beer and pub crawls. This St. Patrick’s Day, the team of physicians at your local AFC Urgent Care wants to raise your awareness of binge drinking and the harmful effects that it may have on your health. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings the blood ...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incidences of the mumps have decreased 99 percent since the era before widespread vaccinations. But tell that to the 10 states that have seen outbreaks of the mumps in the past month. So far, there have been 69 reported cases of the mumps this year. It seems to have started in Iowa, but it quickly spread to places like Colorado, Indiana and Massachusetts. The mumps virus ...
It’s the middle of February, which means our New Year’s resolutions are either new habits or fond memories. We at AFC Urgent Care are hoping that one of your resolutions was to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to help you stay on track, we have compiled a list of things to look out for when you’re evaluating your health. As February is American Heart Month, we’ll go over what could indicate ...
Most medical experts recommend that people have a primary care doctor who knows them well. When a person has an ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor, they get a better quality of care. Unfortunately, too many people use the emergency room for medical care instead. This is one of the most expensive places to get medical treatment for anything. In 2009, the average cost of multiple emergency department trips was about $1,318, and ...
Mosquitoes have always been a source of annoyance and big, itchy, red bites. Usually we only need to worry about them in the summer, but the Zika virus outbreak is causing people to sweat throughout the world. So, what exactly is Zika? We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about Zika virus. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus has been known to ...
Mosquitoes have always been a source of annoyance. Usually we only need to worry about them in the summer, but the Zika virus outbreak is causing people to sweat throughout the world. So, what exactly is Zika? We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about Zika virus. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus has been known to circulate Africa, the Americas, Asia ...
The United States is one of the most diverse nations in the world. As different as we may seem, our health issues can be very similar. Health care trends tend to be pretty consistent across large swaths of the population, so it’s important to pay attention when one becomes widespread. Your local AFC/Doctors Express can advise you on which conditions should concern you and how to take action to prevent them. The No ...
Here is the second part of our series on flu season! We hope you took our advice from last week and got your flu shot! We’re going to get a bit more into the nitty-gritty about how the flu spreads and what makes the flu vaccine work. So hang on, we’re diving right in! The influenza virus is a respiratory virus, and it spreads primarily through contact with respiratory droplets. However, these droplets ...
When the New Year rolls around, people are quick to make resolutions that they likely won't keep. Some say they want to start eating healthier and then order some fast food the next day. It's tough to make entire lifestyle changes overnight, which is why a lot of resolutions don't stick. It's important to want to make healthier changes, even if they don't start right on January 1st, but there ...
When the New Year rolls around, people are quick to make resolutions that they likely won't keep. Some say they want to start eating healthier and then order some fast food the next day. It's tough to make entire lifestyle changes overnight, which is why a lot of resolutions don't stick. It's important to want to make healthier changes, even if they don't start right on January 1st, but there ...
The influenza virus is a seasonal epidemic that typically hits the United States around October and can last until May. Even though this is a yearly occurrence, there are still some misconceptions about the flu and what people should do to protect themselves. To keep our readers informed, we are doing a two-part series on important facts people should know about the flu. Part two will be released next week. The flu is not just ...
After an unseasonably warm start to the winter, we’re finally feeling its chill. It might seem like yesterday that high temperatures were breaking records all over the place, so it can be easy to disregard the recent cold. Winter weather can present a lot of hazards though, so it’s important to be aware of what might happen in your area and be prepared for what winter may bring. Here are some tips to ...
The rise of urgent care centers in the United States has given way to much easier access to quality care. Since these facilities offer great care and are often open longer and on more days than primary doctors, they are an ideal way to relieve the emergency room congestion that we have seen in recent years. Urgent care doctors can provide most of the services that any primary doctor can offer as well. Check out ...
Turkey, pumpkin pie, loved ones and gratitude are hallmarks of the season. We sit around the table, poised to dive into tempting treats, and talk about our comfortable homes or new jobs or time spent with family. We are thankful. Being thankful means pausing to think about what is important in our lives, as well as why these things are important in our lives. As the words “I’m thankful for my health” cross your ...
If ever there were a time during the year that all workers dread, it has to be flu season. Sniffling coworkers, wheezing kids and running out of tissues or hand sanitizer can make the months of flu season extremely stressful, even if you’re one of the lucky ones who remains healthy. Every year, American businesses lose billions of dollars in sick days and lost productivity. Experts estimate the economy will lose about about $20 ...
Many people are becoming more aware of the benefits of urgent care facilities. These family health clinics can provide similar services to what you'd find in a hospital's emergency room and services you'd find in your regular family care physicians' offices. It's not uncommon, however, for people to get a few facts wrong when it comes to urgent care -- so let's set the record straight! Here are some of the ...
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. One out of every 11 Americans has diabetes, and 86 million more are pre-diabetic. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the United States spends about $245 million every year on health care for people with diabetes, and recent projections have determined that as many as one in every three adults will have diabetes by 2050 if nothing changes. Type 2 ...
When you think that you may have been exposed to an STD, it can be hard to know what to do. But it's important to act quickly, so that you don't risk your health, or the health of any potential partners. If you don't know where to start, here are a few tips to help you handle the process of dealing with an STD, and the steps you should take to ensure ...
When the emergency room just isn't an option, you should have an alternative when you need family quick care. A walk in health clinic, like urgent care facilities, can help you find the care you need without the chaos (and the bill) of the emergency room. With over 6,800 urgent care facilities in the United States, you'll be sure to find a walk in health clinic convenient to your location. But some ...
