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 Gastonia, 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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Experiencing an upper respiratory infection can make you feel pretty miserable. While infections like pneumonia and bronchitis can cause a wide variety of symptoms, one that they both share is the arrival of a deep cough. It can be hard to diagnose yourself at home, so it is important to come see us when you don’t feel well! Both of these illnesses are respiratory conditions, but they may need to be treated differently in ...

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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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The winter season can be hard on us all. The colder temperatures, wicked winter weather and less sunlight all work together to make us dream of warmer summer days. While the winter may have you looking forward to the spring and summer, it can also make you feel more sad or down at this point in the year. While it is common to experience occasional bouts of sadness or symptoms of depression during the winter ...

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Influenza has arrived in a big way all over the United States this season. Since it is so contagious, it can spread really quickly through communities. Because the flu is so apparent right now, it is important to refresh your memory on the symptoms of this particular illness. If you start to feel sick at all this year, just remember that your AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team is here to help you feel better. In ...

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Are you feeling under the weather? We are sorry you are feeling sick! It can be hard to feel motivated to get off of the couch in search of treatment options, so it is important to make the most of your trip by understanding exactly what is making you sick. If you have an infection, knowing what type of infection you have is important when it comes to treatment options. If you suspect or know ...

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It can be hard to watch our little ones feel sick! Treating your child’s symptoms is usually in the forefront of your mind to help him or her feel better. When it comes to fevers, did you know that the majority of them are actually helping your child fight off illness? Fevers can help speed up your child’s healing process and help him or her overcome illness. If your child has a fever ...

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Taking care of ourselves and our families is a priority every day. This is especially true during the cold and flu season! All of the skills we have learned over the past couple of years can certainly come in handy in keeping our families healthy. In addition to measures like social distancing and staying home when sick, the flu shot is also a great tool in reducing your risk of serious illness. If you haven ...

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Headaches are one of the most common conditions that affect people on a day-to-day basis. Headaches can be a mild discomfort or can be excruciating pain, which makes the condition so complex. The good news is that most headaches don’t indicate a serious problem, but when they do, immediate action needs to be taken in order to avoid danger or even death. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team shares all the details about headaches ...

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When the weather starts to cool down, cold and flu season starts to ramp up! Even if you wash your hands and support your immune system during this time, there is still sickness all around you. One of the illnesses you need to be on the lookout for is respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. While anyone can contract RSV, it can be especially dangerous to small children, who can experience severe symptoms from the virus ...

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If you have ever had a bacterial infection, you probably have had a round of antibiotics before! Antibiotics are one of the most reliable ways to help treat infections, and they can help you feel better quickly. However, it is important to know when antibiotics will help and when they won’t. Read on to get all the facts about these powerful medications from our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia. Do All Infections Benefit ...

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People who have experienced vertigo before often explain it like an intense spinning and world-shifting sensation. It is much more than just a dizzy feeling and it can actually cause you to lose your balance and fall over. If you are in the middle of an episode of vertigo, seeking relief is probably in the forefront of your mind! Read on from our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team to learn some simple tips to manage ...

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Scoliosis can develop without much warning, and in some cases, you might not even know you have it! Your spine is made up of stacking vertebrae, and those vertebrae typically take on a vertical shape in a straight line. Scoliosis spines take on an “S” or “C” shape, and can sometimes be visible to the naked eye. Scoliosis treatment is mostly focused on symptom management, unless you have a severe case. If you are concerned ...

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Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, aren’t usually topics of casual dinner conversation, but did you know that they are incredibly common? Millions of Americans experience them every year, and they can range from asymptomatic cases to severe infection. If your most recent symptoms may make you wonder if you should be tested, it is always better to err on the side of caution and seek out a test. We can help you get tested ...

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If you have seasonal allergies, the change in seasons can leave you with a feeling of dread. The itchy eyes and the runny nose can be so distracting! Unfortunately, those who have seasonal allergies also are at a heightened risk of developing seasonal asthma as well. Allergies and seasonal asthma are often seen together because they originate from the same triggers. When the temperature changes and pollen is in the air, your lungs have the ...

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When you are in need of medical care quickly, your experience needs to be as efficient and as convenient as possible. At AFC Urgent Care Gastonia, we strive to do just that. Our caring and knowledgeable staff will see you quickly and provide you with the quality care that you deserve. Deciding what clinic to visit when you need care can seem overwhelming. After all, aren’t all urgent cares the same? When you step ...

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Trusting whoever is caring for your medical needs is essential, but too often there is an element of distrust between patient and provider. We want you to know that you can trust us, because not only do we treat our patients well—we treat our staff well, too! Read on to learn more about our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia personnel. We don’t send people through the hospital system when we can’t meet a ...

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Mesenteric adenitis sounds more serious than it really is. This condition affects mostly children and teens, and it often goes away on its own without the necessity of medical care. Keep reading to learn more about what it is and how to treat it from our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team. What Is Mesenteric Adenitis? Mesenteric adenitis (also known as mesenteric lymphadenitis) is the swelling of the lymph nodes in the abdomen. Although technically anyone ...

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