" Summer is prime time for beach action, and for good reason! The surf and the sand are so much easier to enjoy when it’s warm enough to play in them. But there are some risks you might not know about lurking in the depths. As we reach the end of Rip Current Awareness Week on June 5 through June 11, 2016, it’s important to remember to practice safe beach behaviors any time you ...
" Last week, AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care North Andover went back to school to join in on the fun at the Thompson School Fun Run. Then, later in the week, we headed back to the Thompson School to participate in their annual Field Day. It was an absolutely fantastic experience going back in time and hanging out with the wonderful teachers and students at Pvt. Albert E. Thompson Elementary School in North Andover, MA. On ...
" Plants can brighten up a landscape, but some can be dangerous! This summer, AFC Urgent Care wants you to watch out for these poisonous plants, and to know what to do if you come into contact with them! Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are the big three when it comes to poisonous plants — all have a similar chemical make-up that makes them very unpleasant to meet when you’re out hiking! All three ...
" On May 31st, the team at AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care North Andover co-sponsored the 5th Annual Everyone’s a Player Golf Tournament at the beautiful Andover Country Club. Since 2011, the Everyone’s a Player charity has successfully helped over 1,000 underprivileged children participate in youth sports programs. The Merrimack Valley-based charity achieves its fundraising goals by hosting enjoyable events such as the Everyone’s a Player Golf Charity event, which stands as ...
" World No Tobacco Day is May 31, 2016. How will you be celebrating? What would the world be like with no tobacco use? For one day, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants us to try and find out. WHO coordinates the annual World No Tobacco Day with the goal of eliminating tobacco use around the world. This year, the goal of World No Tobacco Day is to encourage countries to legislate the packaging allowances for ...
" Gorgeous spring and summer weather means it’s time for the whole family to head outside! But your family members aren’t the only ones wanting to enjoy the warmer weather — this time of year is when all kinds of bugs like to come out in full force. While we love seeing all the pretty ladybugs, buzzing bumblebees and beautiful butterflies, there are some creepy crawlies that we wish we could avoid. In addition to ...
" Injuries can happen when you least expect them — and they can be disorienting and chaotic when they do occur. You may be in too much pain to help yourself, or it may be during a time when your primary care doctor’s office is closed. So how can you get help when you need it? And what can you do to treat the injury on your own? Find out what to do in the event ...
" Exercise in the 21st century generally takes place in a crowded yoga studio or claustrophobic gym. Because our culture demands accessibility and convenience, people forget about the best spot in the world to exercise, the great outdoors. There’s no exercise machine that can replicate the revitalizing sensation that being outside creates. While yoga helps its participants achieve relaxation, no yoga studio has the ability to induce feelings of being at peace with the earth ...
" Once the final school bell sounds, summer begins for the United States’ youth. For millions of American children, their summer is highlighted by camp. Whether it’s sleepaway camp, sports camp, or just traditional day camp, summer camp is a time for new friendships, adventures and learning valuable life lessons. For insurance reasons, every camp in the United States is required to see proof of a recent physical from each camper. This precaution is taken ...
" Now that spring is in full swing, you and your family will likely be spending more time outside taking part in activities and enjoying the beautiful weather. However, there are some dangers unique to the outdoors that you should be aware of, to keep your family healthy all season. Here at AFC/Doctors Express, we have some tips on how to avoid a seasonal trip to your urgent care center! Wear sunscreen — even when it ...
" Alcohol is one of the most popular addictive drugs on the planet, but it’s one that people still haven’t quite learned how to use safely. Every year, more than 2.6 million Americans are hospitalized due to complications or injuries related to alcohol. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so to help bring attention to this issue and give you the tools to enjoy a drink safely, AFC/Doctors Express compiled a list of ...
" April marks Stress Awareness Month, which aims to inform the country about the perils of being over-stressed while simultaneously offering solutions to combating stress. For many people, their stress derives from their schoolwork or occupation. While there are indeed ways to alleviate the mental strain created by these situations, they’re often hard to impose. However, there are simple lifestyle changes you can make to cut down on your stress levels. This includes exercising regularly ...
" It’s early spring, which means it’s time for all young athletes to get ready to join their teams to compete in the spring, summer or fall. According to a report Sports and Fitness Industry Association, about 21.47 million children in the United States participate in organized sports, which comes to about 75 percent of boys and 69 percent of girls. One essential step in your preparation for your sport of choice should ...
" Mother knows best when you’re growing up, but even the most informed and well-meaning mothers sometimes gave us advice that we later discovered wasn’t quite right. We here at AFC/Doctors Express took a list of some of the most popular pieces of motherly health advice and evaluated them. Read on to find out which pieces passed muster, and which ones we can leave behind! Put hydrogen peroxide on that scrape! Verdict: Not ...
" Advertisers constantly drop the term ‘superfoods’ to highlight foods that are supposedly extremely rich in nutrients. While there are indeed foods that are considerably healthier than others, the term is a little bit of an over-exaggeration. However, the below foods are among the healthiest on Earth, as they offer a number of health benefits, ranging from reducing blood pressure and boosting the immune systems: Avocado Thanks to the widespread popularity of avocados, people are now ...
" Medicine is probably one of mankind’s biggest accomplishments. It can be listed up there with farming, electricity and the microchip as one of the advances that fundamentally changed how people lived, mainly because it gave us power over our own bodies that we had never had before. It might seem counterintuitive to think that medications could ever hurt us, but the reality is that medication misuse and adverse reactions cause more than 700,000 ...
" Last week, we covered different preventative measures you can take to avoid some of spring allergies’ worst symptoms. This week, we’re going to discuss what our center can do for you if you’re experiencing any allergies. While spring allergies are one of the most prevalent allergies around, there are a number of different allergies. Over 50 million Americans experience allergies each year. This includes spring allergies and others, such as: Dusts Drugs Pets ...
" Summer is fast approaching, which means it will be time to get out the bathing suits and short shorts! Who doesn’t begin to feel a little insecure after a long winter of bundling up? But before you start getting ready to bare your “bikini body” on the beach, AFC/Doctors Express wants to know: how do you feel about crash diets? For those who have never tried one, a crash diet is when you ...
" It’s been almost a week since March Madness began, and literally everybody’s bracket by this point has already fallen apart. The NCAA Tournament marks the most basketball-dense period in the American sports calendar. 64 teams qualify for the most chaotic tournament in all of sports. As of today, only 16 teams remain. While this means over half of the tournament’s games have already been played, there’s still plenty of basketball left ...
" Spring has sprung, and telltale sniffles are beginning to fill the air. For some people, this beautiful season is nothing but misery, due to the constant sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and countless other exhausting symptoms. Seasonal allergies affect as many as 50 million Americans, and it’s not just a mild annoyance. As many as 55 percent of workers report calling in sick at work because of allergies. There are many ways to avoid the ...
