" There’s no denying the best part of the holidays is eating copious amounts of food with the people you love. Sure, receiving presents was undoubtedly the best as a child, but as soon as we’re expected to begin buying presents for others, the allure was overshadowed by the overbearing stress of holiday shopping. Regardless, the holidays are a special time as the family’s all together and everybody has time off from school ...
" Cuts can be a scary sight, for some people even just the sight of blood triggers feelings of dizziness and nausea. Fortunately, we’re here to make cuts a little less intimidating, as our job is to get you stitched up and back to normal as quick as possible. One fear patients have after suffering a cut wound is the risk of infection. There are a number of serious and possibly life-threatening number of infections ...
" The weather outside is getting frightful, which must mean we’ve entered the winter season. For people with all skin types, it can be a lot more challenging to keep skin healthy and moisturized in the cold, unforgiving air outside and the dry, punishing heat inside. Your skin is your body’s first line of defense when it comes to preventing illness, so keeping it healthy can directly influence how you feel all winter long ...
" The fever isn’t one specific illness, it’s a common symptom of many different infections. Fevers are defined by an abnormal rise in the body’s temperature, which is sustained over an increased period of time. There’s no set-in-stone temperature that serves as a benchmark, though. Thus, people have constructed their own individualized definition of a fever – with varied temperatures serving as the fever’s unofficial lower-limit. The body’s standard temperature is ...
" It’s the most wonderful time of the year — that is unless your Christmas tree causes you to have an allergic reaction. More than one third of American households will put up a Christmas tree during the holiday season, and if you find yourself sneezing with a runny nose and itchy eyes once the tree is up, you might have a case of “Christmas tree syndrome” — an allergic reaction to your tree, real or artificial ...
" For an illness as debilitating as Pneumonia, many cases of the lung infection often go untreated. While the body’s immune system can generally treat the infection on its own, it takes awhile – sometimes even 3-4 weeks – for Pneumonia to run its course without medication. It’s because Pneumonia shares many of the same symptoms as lesser illnesses, such as Influenza and the common cold, that people suffering from Pneumonia don’t seek medical help ...
" This year, about 50 percent of people in the United States will attend at least one holiday party. For about half of us, our employer will host a party for us. About 20 percent of us will even host our own. With those numbers, it’s easy to see a lot of potential pitfalls ahead. So don’t let yourself get caught off-guard, read this guide to see how AFC Urgent Care can keep you ...
" If you’re experiencing abdominal pain, don’t worry too much about it; it’s probably the result of just gas buildup or something else equally harmless. However, coping with such pain can be an incredibly taxing endeavor that may prove too aggravating for you to go about your daily routine. Luckily, abdominal pain can easily be treated using accessible over-the-counter medicines, or by simply changing up your eating habits. We here at AFC Urgent ...
" Turkey, pumpkin pie, loved ones and gratitude are hallmarks of the season. We sit around the table, poised to dive into tempting treats, and talk about our comfortable homes or new jobs or time spent with family. We are thankful. Being thankful means pausing to think about what is important in our lives, as well as why these things are important in our lives. As the words “I’m thankful for my health” cross your ...
" Influenza, or as we know it, “The Flu”, is a highly infectious virus that spreads through the body via the respiratory tract, inducing symptoms ranging from a severe fever to violent coughing. In extreme cases, the flu causes patients to suffer extreme fatigue and even experience frequent vomiting. Many strains of the virus are potent enough to prevent patients from going about their daily routines, making it important for them to remain at home, as ...
" If ever there were a time during the year that all workers dread, it has to be flu season. Sniffling coworkers, wheezing kids and running out of tissues or hand sanitizer can make the months of flu season extremely stressful, even if you’re one of the lucky ones who remains healthy. Every year, American businesses lose billions of dollars in sick days and lost productivity. Experts estimate the economy will lose about about $20 ...
" The crisp air, the crunchy leaves, and the sniffles in our offices and classrooms give it away; it’s officially the beginning of fall. While the season may be beautiful, the flu that always seems to come with it is certainly not. To protect yourself this flu season, you need to know exactly how the flu operates, so you can separate myth from fact. Here are some of the most common myths about the flu ...
" Allergies may not seem like a significant illness that needs immediate treatment, but ignoring your symptoms can have serious, long-lasting effects. If left untreated, allergies can greatly affect your quality of life; you may suffer from increased risk of health problems, decreased brain function and even mood instability. Early treatment is key to avoiding allergy-related health problems later down the road, and American Family Care has just what you need to make it through allergy ...
" Labor Day, a celebration of the spirit and dignity of the American worker, has been a regular fixture in the United States since the late 19th century. It became a national holiday under President Grover Cleveland and focuses on the American worker and the progress toward making work safe and rewarding for all. One of the rules unions fought for and earned in all states in 1949, is workers’ compensation, a form of insurance in ...
" Break out the lunch boxes and the three-ring binders, back-to-school season is upon us again! Amid the mad dash for backpacks, pencil cases and the rapidly approaching school bus, it’s easy to forget about the health concerns of going back to school. Back-to-school time is also prime time for germs and bugs; an enormous number of children spend most of the day in close contact and touch a lot of shared surfaces (e.g ...
" Everyone’s heard it before. “We were stuck in the ER for hours.” It makes sense; your primary care Provider might be booked till next Tuesday, but sudden illnesses and injuries can’t wait that long. So you shuttle your sick or injured loved one to an emergency room and wait. And wait. And … well, you get the picture. Here are some reasons why it might be a better idea to take a quick trip ...
" The summer months are a very high-risk time to come in contact with poison ivy. Adults and children should be aware of where these plants are located so that they do not come into contact with them. If you or your child happen to come into contact with a poison ivy plant and are starting to develop an irritating and uncomfortable rash, here are a few things you can do to prevent the rash from ...
" While some people are still shoveling snow, many Americans are facing yet another blow from the weather just in time for spring – a sudden explosion of pollen for what’s expected to be a particularly nasty allergy season. March has yet to go out like a lamb, and we at AFC Urgent Care can already tell that this month’s wacky weather is wreaking havoc on allergy sufferers, as our centers are already seeing patients ...
" February has been a tough month for New Englanders. The constant battle of blizzards has brought on piles of snow, the melting of snow and then the freezing of snow. We have found ourselves shoveling more often than not, and when we aren’t shoveling we are trying to de-freeze the ice patches that have now become a part of our landmarks. One of the most common dangers over the past month have been the ...
" February can be a bleak month, filled with gray, dreary days and chilly, blustery nights. While the chill in the air can’t be blamed for bugs going around the office or school, the cold itself can irritate the body, causing minor ailments. Each winter season, doctors here at AFC Urgent Care find more and more patients complaining of some common winter issues, in addition to colds and flu. Topping the list of patient complaints ...
