Recent Blog Posts

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 ...

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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 ...

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Local urgent care centers in East Tennessee, 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 ...

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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 ...

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If you start feeling sick and develop a deep cough, you may start wondering if you have an upper respiratory illness like bronchitis or pneumonia. Since both illnesses can produce similar symptoms, it can be hard to tell on your own at home! We can help with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan any day of the week. If either infection is left untreated, it can turn into a more severe infection that could spread ...

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There are many different ways you can get sick at this time of year. With COVID-19, RSV and the flu all circulating about, it can feel overwhelming to try to stay healthy. Even if you do everything you can to avoid illness, it is still possible to get sick. We are sorry if you are feeling ill! Influenza is a really common respiratory virus that will typically run its course in about a week or ...

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Keeping ourselves and our families healthy has been on the forefront of all of our minds the past couple of years. Now at the onset of cold and flu season, it becomes a priority again! Thankfully, the flu shot has been providing protection against serious illness for over 50 years, and it is a great tool that we recommend to everyone that is eligible. Stop by any one of our AFC Urgent Care TN locations ...

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If you have a small child or infant at home, chances are that you have probably heard of the dangers of RSV before. Many babies come down with the illness every year, and it can be really severe and even dangerous for some. Keeping your baby safe from RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is all about watching symptom progression and taking action when you notice any dangerous symptoms developing. Our team at AFC Urgent Care ...

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Being dizzy and feeling unwell can make it hard to navigate your day-to-day life. When you have vertigo, simple tasks can be impossible if you have trouble moving around. Vertigo is more complicated than just being dizzy from time to time. When you have vertigo, your entire world and surroundings feel like they are moving in front of your eyes. It can make it impossible to move your head without feeling that sickening swooping sensation ...

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Many people associate urgent care with immediate medical care for injuries or concerning illnesses, but did you know that we can also offer you STD testing? Protecting your sexual health is a cornerstone to your overall health, so it is important to have easy access to STD testing. STDs are actually incredibly common in the United States. One in five people will contract an STD every year. It is important to make testing a priority ...

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When your children are involved in athletics, it seems like you are all constantly on the go. From games, to camps, to practices, they are always in motion—and you are too, chauffeur! But what would happen if your child suddenly got hurt while on the field or court and everything came to a standstill? Our AFC Urgent Care TN team sees sports injuries all the time, and we can help your child back on ...

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Mosquitoes are all too familiar in east Tennessee. They thrive in humid climates, and they tend to be real pests when you’re going on hikes in the Smokies or playing in the yard with the family. Also, the fact that mosquitoes are drawn to some people’s blood more than others isn’t a myth! If you are a person who mosquitoes like to bite, read on to learn more from our AFC Urgent ...

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If you tend to deal with lots of sneezing, itchy eyes and sniffling during the spring months, do you ever wonder why? In most cases, pollen is the main culprit, but there are actually a few other culprits that might be the cause of your spring allergies. Read on as our AFC Urgent Care TN team explains! What Is Causing My Spring Allergy Symptoms? As we said earlier, pollen is the most likely culprit. As ...

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Stomach pain is one of the most common symptoms that we experience. Whether it’s due to suspect food, a wild roller-coaster ride or feeling anxious, our stomachs feel queasy from time to time. Sometimes, though, stomach pain is cause for a bit more concern and can be a sign that something more serious is going on. Learn more about stomach pain and what it could mean from our AFC Urgent Care TN team! What ...

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Just a few months ago, hearing about a “breakthrough” COVID-19 infection seemed so rare, and it was. Now, though, with the omicron variant, the CDC is warning that breakthrough infections are common. Why, though? Does this mean that the COVID-19 vaccines don’t work? No, it doesn’t mean that! Our AFC Urgent Care TN team explains why below, so keep reading. What Are Breakthrough Infections? A breakthrough case, according to the CDC, occurs when ...

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Did you know more than 3 million respiratory infections are diagnosed each year? But while the condition is extremely common, that doesn’t mean it’s any more bearable when you’re the one who’s sick! That’s why our AFC Urgent Care TN team wants to make sure you know where to turn if you begin experiencing the symptoms of a respiratory infection. What Is a Respiratory Infection? A respiratory infection occurs when ...

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More people are getting sick with the flu this year compared to last year. To prevent yourself and your loved ones from getting it, the best thing you can do is to visit one of our AFC centers to get the flu vaccine. If you do happen to get the flu, though, it’s important to know what to do to treat it. Our AFC Urgent Care TN team highlights some helpful info on the ...

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Sinus infections are quite common during this time of year. Nearly 31 million Americans deal with a sinus infection each year, but many of them still aren’t sure which symptoms indicate whether they have a sinus infection or not. Sinus infections and sinus headaches aren’t the same thing, but sinus headaches are one common symptom of a sinus infection. It is important to note, however, that sinus headaches can also occur on their ...

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Shingles is definitely cause for concern. While only those who have had chickenpox can get shingles, the virus that causes this infection is highly contagious and can be spread to anyone that comes in contact with it. Our AFC Urgent Care TN team provides further important information on shingles below, so read on! What Exactly Is Shingles? Shingles is an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus ...

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Yes, it’s true that yeast infections are quite common among women. In fact, according to the CDC, nearly 75% of women will get a yeast infection at some point in their lives. While these infections are common, they’re also preventable! Our AFC Urgent Care TN center highlights some helpful yeast infection prevention tactics below, so read on. What Is a Yeast Infection? A yeast infection is a fungal infection. It occurs when there ...

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