It’s safe to say that you’re aware of how common earaches are among children, but that doesn’t mean that you’re exempt from ear pain! You don’t have to have an infection, or even anything wrong with your ears, to have ear pain. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia shares some helpful info on some common causes of ear pain. What’s Causing My Ear Pain? When ...
Did you know? Before your child can begin playing a sport this spring, he or she will need a sports physical first! Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team explains why below, so keep reading! Why Is a Sports Physical Necessary? Sports physicals, or Pre-Participation Exams (PPEs), are important because they can help you find out about and deal with health problems that might interfere with your child’s participation in a sport. Plus, visiting your ...
Strep throat is a very common virus. It is most common in the late fall and early spring and among children between the ages of 5 and 15, but adults can get it too. In fact, approximately 11,000 to 24,000 Americans fall ill to the infection every year. So, how can you avoid getting strep throat this year? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia has the answers you’re looking for, so ...
Symptoms and COVID-19 are not a consistent match. In fact, medical experts across the globe have stated that symptoms are different in almost every COVID-19 case. Now, back pain has been making its way into the conversation. Is back pain something that you should be watching out for? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia has some helpful answers. How Common Is Back Pain in COVID-19? According to a past study done ...
While UTIs (urinary tract infections) are most common among women, they affect thousands of men every year as well. UTIs are best treated by using antibiotics, but there are lots of ways to prevent these pesky infections without having to go back to the doctor. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia explains. Where to start: Drink plenty of water. This is the easiest and one of the best ways to prevent ...
While the FDA has stated that it’s not proven that COVID-19 is carried through food, there is still a high risk involved in going out to eat. We definitely get that cooking can get tiring, but there are ways to enjoy your favorite restaurant without dining in! Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia further explains. Why Is Going Out to Eat Considered Unsafe? COVID-19 is much more easily transmitted indoors ...
Dry skin is the worst, isn’t it? Although the winter can often bring snow and new yearly aspirations, it also brings about dry skin for many of us. If you deal with dry skin every year, there are some effective ways to alleviate some of that pesky skin-cracking! Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia shares some helpful tips on skincare below. Does Cold Weather Have an Effect on My Skin ...
Even though the CDC-recommended health precautions are helpful, the risk of actually getting COVID-19 still exists. That can be a scary thought for many of us, but even the CDC states that most cases can be worked through in the comfort of our own homes. If you’ve followed the proper health-safety precautions and you still have come down with a case of the coronavirus, don’t panic! Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia ...
Unfortunately, yes. Many people struggle with getting a good night’s rest each night. One study reported that one in three Americans do not get enough sleep each night! So, if rest does not come easy to you, you are not alone. However, adequate sleep is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia provides some helpful insight into this topic ...
“Maskne” is one of the new words of 2020, and it’s safe to say that a lot of us deal with it. “Maskne,” or mask-related acne, is prevalent in the lives of many because of the importance of wearing masks in public. With masks and necessary COVID-19 precautions here to stay for the foreseeable future, that pesky acne around our mouths and noses might not be going away anytime soon. Don’t worry, though ...
Yes—and that’s just the short answer! It’s safe to say that many of us are aware of how music can affect our moods, but music is even more powerful than just being a mood booster. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia explains why below. How Does Music Affect My Brain? Listening to music can do wonders for the health of your brain. According to a study done by The Burnett Honors ...
Whether or not it has to do with keeping up with the pandemic, we’re all constantly checking our phones these days. But did you know? Too much screen time can potentially have pretty serious effects on our mental health. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia explains why. Why Is Too Much Screen Time a Bad Thing? Experts say that a healthy amount of screen time ranges from around two to three hours per ...
Yes! We know that having to consistently wear masks can be inconvenient at times, but the reality is that wearing them significantly helps in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Don’t believe us? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia breaks down masks and their health benefits. What Evidence Is There to Support the Health Benefits of Masks? Many scientists have done studies on masks and their usefulness in slowing the spread ...
Staying hydrated and drinking enough water has always been of the utmost importance. Drinking the right amount of water keeps your body working properly and functioning the way it should, but does it get even more important the older you get? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia sheds some light on the importance of drinking water as you age. Do I Have a Greater Risk of Being Dehydrated As I Get ...
Fall has unofficially arrived already—and the official start is just days away. That brings hopes of cooler temperatures, sweater weather and fresh apple pies…but also the threat of fall allergies! What can you do if seasonal allergies tend to plague you during the fall? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia shares some insight. What Are Fall Allergies? Odds are, if you experience allergy symptoms in the spring, you will ...
That’s a really common question! While both illnesses are viruses and they have similar symptoms, they are different. Since the flu season is coming up straight ahead, it’s important to do what you can to protect yourself. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia offers some tips on why the flu shot is important and when to get it. Is COVID-19 the Flu? No, COVID-19 is not a type of ...
The honest truth is that we’re all at risk of diabetes. But some people are at a higher risk than others for Type 2 diabetes, which is largely related to lifestyle. Want to learn more? Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia offers some insight about diabetes and how to prevent it. What Are the Types of Diabetes? There are two main types of diabetes—Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes ...
More than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure. But how would you know if you were experiencing elevated blood pressure? That’s a bit tricky, because high blood pressure is what’s known as a silent condition. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia wants to take a few minutes to talk through what high blood pressure is, how to keep tabs on your blood pressure and how to maintain a ...
It can feel wonderful to feel the sun on your skin, but in recent years, we have learned just how dangerous the sun’s harmful UV rays can be to us. Not only can sun exposure lead to painful sunburns and blisters, but it can also increase your chances of developing skin cancer as you age. The good news is that all sunburns are entirely preventable, and by practicing good sunscreen application habits, you can ...
If you spent a lot of time in the woods as a child, you have likely heard the old adage, “leaves of three, let it be” in reference to poison ivy—but if you followed those directions carefully, you may not even know if you are allergic. Even if you have experienced a rash due to poison ivy in the past, you may not be as sensitive to it now as you were then, as ...
