Short days, heavy coats, and indoor routines make winter in Massachusetts a prime setting for low vitamin D. Because our skin synthesizes vitamin D from sunlight, levels often drop in late fall and winter, especially at northern latitudes. While mild deficiency may be silent, a notable dip can show up as fatigue, generalized aches, low mood, frequent colds, or slow bone healing. Over time, deficiency increases the risk of bone loss and fractures. This guide ...
Every winter across the North Shore. In schools, offices, hockey locker rooms, and coffee shops, one phrase starts making the rounds: “There’s a stomach bug going around.” In most cases, that “bug” is norovirus, a microscopic powerhouse of contagiousness that causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and a general feeling of being wrung out. Norovirus isn’t the flu (influenza); it’s a gastrointestinal virus that spreads by tiny particles, often from hands, surfaces ...
Same Season, Different Playbooks Every winter, families on the North Shore face a familiar guessing game: cold vs. flu vs. RSV. Early symptoms blur together: runny nose, cough, sore throat, but each virus carries different risks, timelines, and treatment options. Flu can hit like a freight train and may benefit from antivirals if started early. Colds are inconvenient but generally mild and self-limited. RSV can be a nuisance for older kids and adults, yet it ...
The “I’m Fine” Infection That Isn’t If you’ve ever had a cold that just won’t quit, two weeks of cough, on-and-off low fevers, chest tightness when you climb stairs, you might have met walking pneumonia. It’s not a formal diagnosis; it’s the everyday way people describe mild pneumonia, often from atypical bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae. You can still go to class, practices, or meetings. But you shouldn’t. Because ...
Why newborns need extra protection In older kids and adults, RSV usually looks like a bad cold. In newborns and young infants, it can cause bronchiolitis, swelling of tiny airways, leading to labored breathing, trouble feeding, and dehydration. Babies have small airways and limited reserves; even minor swelling can make breathing and feeding a struggle. The goal isn’t isolation; it’s stacking simple protections and recognizing early signs. For fast pediatric evaluation without the ...
Why winter throats burn more, and what’s actually going on Massachusetts winters close windows, dry the air, and bring classrooms, rinks, offices, and family gatherings into tight indoor spaces. Viruses like rhinovirus, influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 love that setup, and the dry air irritates your throat lining, so every tickle feels worse. Most winter sore throats are viral and improve with time. But strep throat, a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus, needs ...
Winter on the North Shore can be beautiful and brutal. Between early-morning dog walks, school recess, shoveling out the driveway, cheering at outdoor hockey rinks, and commuting in blowing snow, it’s easy to push past your limits. That’s when cold-related injuries like frostbite and hypothermia become more than just textbook terms. They’re real threats that can escalate quickly if you don’t know the signs. The good news: with the right know-how ...
If you’re worried about a possible STD (also called an STI), the last thing you should have to worry about is insurance. Whether you don’t have coverage, you’re between plans, or you prefer to keep testing off your insurance for privacy reasons, you still deserve fast, discreet care. That’s precisely what you’ll find at AFC Urgent Care Beverly. Our providers offer confidential, affordable STD testing and treatment with transparent pricing ...
Afternoons on the North Shore are made for soccer practice, dog walks, trail loops at Ravenswood, and quick lawn cleanups before dinner. They’re also prime time for ticks. These tiny arachnids are expert hitchhikers, and Massachusetts’ mix of woods, brush, and coastal greenery gives them everything they need. The good news? A thorough tick check takes 10 minutes, and it’s often the difference between a harmless encounter and a tick-borne illness like Lyme ...
Here in coastal Massachusetts, fall means cooler temps, closed windows, and more time indoors, and with that comes the perfect recipe for sniffles, coughs, and stubborn winter illnesses. You can’t control the school bus or the office breakroom, but you can make your home your health headquarters. The big three to focus on? Air quality, humidity, and germ control. This isn’t about expensive renovations or buying a closet full of gadgets. A healthier ...
The first day of school should be exciting for your child, not stressful. Yet for parents of children with allergies, the excitement is often mixed with concern. Will the cafeteria have allergy-safe options? Will classmates bring peanut butter snacks? Will spring pollen drift in through the open windows? Classroom allergies are not a rare problem; they’re part of everyday life for millions of families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that ...
Every August, as parents shop for notebooks, backpacks, and new shoes, school nurses across Massachusetts are looking at something entirely different: immunization records. Whether your child is entering kindergarten, middle school, or high school, the start of a new academic year often comes with vaccine requirements. Massachusetts has some of the strongest school immunization laws in the country. These rules aren’t in place to make your life more complicated; they’re designed to protect ...
As the school year kicks into gear, so does something parents dread: the return of classroom germs. No matter how careful your child is about washing their hands or covering their mouth when coughing, schools are the perfect environment for bacteria and viruses to spread. In Beverly and surrounding North Shore communities, we see a spike in certain illnesses every year once kids are back in classrooms, cafeterias, and sports programs. These illnesses can spread ...
The start of a new sports season is exciting, with fresh uniforms, new teammates, and a chance for your child to develop skills both on and off the field. But before the first whistle blows, there’s one crucial step that’s sometimes overlooked: the sports physical. Also known as a Pre-Participation Physical Examination (PPE), this screening is more than a school requirement. It’s a proactive way to protect your child’s health, prevent ...
There's nothing like a day at the beach in Massachusetts, whether you're lounging on Cape Cod, diving into Walden Pond, or enjoying a family outing to Revere Beach. But while you're soaking in the sun and sea, your body may be picking up more than just a tan. From swimmer's ear and bacterial skin infections to fungal rashes, warm water, sand, and sweat can create the perfect storm for summer infections ...
It happens in an instant: you're enjoying a picnic, walking barefoot through the grass, or gardening in your backyard, and suddenly, you feel a sharp, burning pain. You've been stung by a bee. While most bee stings cause only momentary pain and swelling, some can lead to severe reactions that require immediate medical attention. During the warmer months in Massachusetts, bee stings are common, and AFC Urgent Care North Andover regularly treats patients ...
When we think about summer skin damage, sunburn is usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, the truth is that the sun's effects run far deeper than surface redness. From accelerating aging to altering your immune response, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause serious, long-term harm to your skin, often before you even realize it. In Massachusetts, whether you're heading to Cape Cod, kayaking on the Charles, or just running errands on ...
Summers in Massachusetts may be beautiful, but the rising temperatures, humidity, and prolonged outdoor activities can push your body past its limit. That's where heat exhaustion comes into play, a condition that can quickly turn dangerous if not addressed early. From construction workers and hikers to beachgoers and kids at camp, anyone can suffer from heat exhaustion, regardless of fitness level or age. The key is knowing the warning signs and taking action early ...
The Massachusetts summer brings sunshine, cookouts, hiking trails, and, unfortunately, mosquitoes and ticks. Whether you're headed to the Cape, camping in the Berkshires, or just enjoying your backyard, these tiny pests can leave behind more than just an itchy bite. They can transmit serious diseases, such as Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Bug sprays claim to protect you, but how reliable are they? Are natural remedies enough? And what should ...
Almost everyone has had a bad meal that led to some not-so-fun consequences. You eat something questionable, your stomach churns, and before you know it, you're camped out in the bathroom. Usually, it's a classic case of food poisoning, unpleasant but short-lived. But sometimes, it's more than just a reaction to spoiled food. From viral infections to severe gastrointestinal conditions, the symptoms of food poisoning can overlap with other medical issues that ...