Recent Blog Posts

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 Hixson, 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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If the winter months aren’t your favorite season, you certainly are not alone! The winter season can come with its own struggles and less-than-ideal outdoor environments at times. Did you know that the change in season can actually affect your mood as well? Daily sunlight exposure is important in maintaining our vitamin D levels as well as helping us keep our hormone levels in balance to avoid symptoms of a mental health condition called ...

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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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We are still in the heart of flu and respiratory infection season, though there may be some hope on the horizon! While the later winter months and beginning of spring tend to trend downward when it comes to cases of viral infection, it is still important to be on the lookout for symptoms of illness. Upper respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia can occur at any point in the year, so knowing the symptoms that ...

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If you have an infection, getting the proper treatment right away is crucial to ensuring you don’t experience serious complications or a more severe infection. The right treatment also ensures that your infection won’t come back! If you suspect that you have been infected by a bacterial or viral infection, keep an eye on your symptoms and stop by to be evaluated by our team. In the meantime, our AFC Urgent Care Hixson ...

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We are sorry that you are sick! Being ill is never fun, and it can be especially hard if you still have to care for others and do daily tasks to keep your household running. Because you are a busy person, it is natural to want a quick fix for your symptoms! Unfortunately, the flu is a viral illness that usually just has to run its course within a week or so, but there are ...

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Illness is all around us at this point in the year, so it is common to experience a wide variety of symptoms throughout the cold and flu season as our bodies battle to ward off illness. One of the symptoms that can be really uncomfortable is a fever. In some instances, you might not even know that you are running a fever, while in others, you could be suffering. Check out our latest blog below ...

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Make yourself a priority during this cold and flu season this year! Staying healthy requires more than just taking care of your body and eating well. It also includes getting your annual flu shot as soon as possible. Were you aware that if you are 65 or older, you have choices when it comes to which shot you can get? Our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team explains the benefits of choosing a higher dose vaccine ...

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Almost everyone has experienced at least one headache. It is an extremely common condition that can be caused by many different things. The pain from a headache can range from a mild discomfort to a completely debilitating attack. While the majority of headaches aren’t a major concern, sometimes they can indicate a medical emergency. If you are wondering what types of headaches should prompt an immediate visit to see us, our staff at AFC ...

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Antibiotics are a great tool to combat a variety of bacterial infections. They are incredibly effective and are considered one of the greatest medical achievements of our time! When you are sick, it is important to know what you are suffering from so you can find out whether a course of antibiotics is right for you. If you are wondering what your recent illness or symptoms indicates, our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team can help ...

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Many people use the terms “dizziness” and “vertigo” interchangeably, but the sensations and causes are actually very different. Dizziness is usually a temporary symptom of general imbalance, while vertigo symptoms are associated with the sufferer’s entire world spinning around due to an inner ear issue. While both conditions can make daily life difficult, they are very common, so it is important to know which one you are suffering from to get the correct treatment ...

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Scoliosis is a condition that starts in the spine but can affect the entire body. If you have scoliosis, it means that your spine has a curve to it when it should be straight. Your vertebrae make an “S” or “C” shape instead of being stacked on top of each other. Many scoliosis cases don’t have a definite cause, so treatment usually involves symptom management versus surgery unless you have a severe case. Our ...

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Contracting a sexually transmitted disease is never a fun thing. Along with the private nature of the illness, it can feel awkward seeking help or treatment. Even though you may feel that way, know that one in five American adults will experience an STD at some point every year. STDs are incredibly common and people recover from them all the time. In order to stay healthy and avoid developing a more serious symptom, it is ...

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If your children love to be active, it can be so fun to watch them play the sports they love! But what if your child has asthma and is always nervous to participate because of the risk of an asthma attack? Encouraging exercise while understanding your child’s hesitations can be a difficult thing to do. We know all about asthma and can offer some tips to help you understand how to better support your ...

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If your children are athletes, you know how busy and full of activities your life can get! It seems like you are always on the go to get them to games, tournaments or camps. Do you know how you would react if your child came home from one of these activities complaining of an injury? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Hixson sees sports-related injuries all the time, and we can help you better understand ...

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The short answer is yes. Even though bones are remarkably adept at healing themselves, a fracture that isn’t treated quickly or correctly will become worse, as is the case with most medical issues. Our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team provides further information on fractures below, so keep reading! Are All Fractures the Same? No, they aren’t; there are actually many types of fractures. Some are much more serious than others, while some can ...

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Mesenteric adenitis is a relatively common condition, and although anyone at any age can get it, it most often affects children and teens. Despite its scary-sounding name, mesenteric adenitis isn’t usually very serious and will clear up on its own in a week or two in most cases. Read on to learn more from our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team. What Is Mesenteric Adenitis? Mesenteric adenitis (also known as mesenteric lymphadenitis) is the swelling ...

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Whether you’re hiking a local trail, hanging out in your backyard or spending time on the baseball field, you’re going to encounter some sort of bug in its habitat. And when you do, sometimes they can get a little irked and bite or sting. Bug bites and stings are very common during the spring and summer and aren’t usually causes for much concern. How can you know that whatever sting or pain ...

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  Kidney stones are no joke. They can cause lots of pain, and they’re quite common among Americans: Nearly one in 10 people will deal with a kidney stone at some point in their lives. Read on to learn more about kidney stones from our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team! What Are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones are solid masses made of substances that have crystallized and fused together. The usually originate in the kidney, but ...

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