February is American Heart Month, which strives to educate Americans about the dangers of heart disease and the steps that you can take to minimize its risk. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, as about one-out-of-four deaths can be attributed to heart disease each year. While the heart naturally ages and weakens, you can significantly slow down this process and improve the wellness of your heart by following ...
Flu season has officially begun, and if you haven’t gotten your vaccine, you’re putting yourself and others at risk of getting very sick. However, we understand you might have some questions about the flu vaccine: What exactly is in it, and how does it work? What is in the flu vaccine? The flu vaccine contains inactive (dead) virus cells of the most common strains of the flu virus. The vaccine contents change annually ...
Did you know? According to the National Kidney Foundation, it is estimated that one in 10 people living in the United States will have a kidney stone at some point in their lifetime. What Is the Main Cause of Kidney Stones? A kidney stone occurs when crystal-forming substances (like calcium and uric acid) stick together rather than dilute. Kidney stones, then, are hard masses of those substances that form inside the kidneys. They may affect ...
Even though many people, especially athletes, believe their bodies are invincible, the truth is no one is immune to injuries. One of the most common sports related injuries, ankle sprains, can happen not only on the athletic field or court, but simply by stepping off a curb and landing incorrectly as well. At AFC Urgent Care, we understand that accidents can happen both on and off the playing field, which is why our staff is ...
Even though summer is slowly coming to an end, grilling will continue to be a popular way to cook for many weeks to come. Grilling is a great way to prepare food while enjoying the outdoors…but it is not without risk. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2014 alone, over 16,000 people visited the emergency room for injuries sustained while grilling. And with continued fair weather, the number of grilling ...
Did you know that the heart beats almost 2.5 billion times over an average person’s lifetime? That is a lot of beats! Our team at AFC Urgent Care wants you to know how you can keep every beat going strong by taking steps to improve your heart health. How Can You Strengthen Your Heart? Although not everything is within our control, when it comes to our heart health, some things are in our ...
Being sexually active puts you at risk for becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In most cases, young people and gay and bisexual men are the main demographic of those at risk of getting infected. Many don’t get tested for STD because regular visits to the doctor don’t occur, they might be embarrassed at the possibility of having an STD, or they are not experiencing symptoms of a specific disease so ...
Are your summer travels taking you abroad this year? Whether it’s an African safari, a tropical beach getaway or a mountain retreat, if it’s overseas or across our border, chances are you need travel vaccinations. Travelers to third world countries are at greater risk than those who travel to developed countries, but anyone planning overseas travel should check for recommended vaccinations before their departure. Over 1 million people travel internationally each day. In ...
As a parent, you want your child to do well in school. The best way to ensure their success is to give them the tools and the fuel they need to do well, both in the classroom and in life. We’ve got you covered there, with our blog last week on back-to-school health kits, and now we’ve got more information for you! The team at AFC Urgent Care Portland has put together a ...
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and AFC Urgent Care encourages you to stop in to ensure you and your family are up-to-date on your vaccinations. As the best defense against many serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases, it is recommended that people stay current with vaccines. Take the time, either during your annual checkup or during a specific visit just for vaccines, to learn more from your healthcare provider or primary care physician. Vaccinations Can ...
Although it’s strongly recommended for preventing the flu, getting a vaccine is not the only way to protect yourself from the flu. What you eat every day can also keep you from getting sick. Next time your headed to the store, add these 5 Flu Fighting Foods to your grocery lists to help fight the flu this year. 5 FLU FIGHTING FOODS GARLIC – Garlic contains allicin, a compound that is known to boost immunity ...
According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, Inc., irritable bowel syndrome (also known as IBS) affects approximately 25 to 45 million Americans. Are you one of them? Who Gets IBS? While anyone can get IBS, there are some groups of people who are at a higher risk than others. Women, people under the age of 50 and those who have a family history of IBS are most at risk for the disease that affects ...
With flu season just a month away, it’s important to remember to wash your hands frequently. But which soaps should you be washing your hands with? The conversation surrounding the benefits and dangers of antibacterial soap use has recently evolved into a hot button issue in the health care world. Long ago, the only places where antibacterial soaps were present were in hospitals and laboratories: essentially environments where sterility is a must. Since then ...
The Zika virus is a growing concern for people that are making travel plans, as it has begun spreading rapidly through new regions in Central America and the United States. The Zika virus typically has very mild symptoms, but it can put people at risk of complications such as infant microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. The major concern is that there is currently no cure or vaccine for the Zika virus. AFC Urgent Care wants you ...
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, up to 6% of children and 4% of adults have some type of food allergy. While this may not seem like much, the number of people dealing with allergies and intolerances has been on the rise. Here’s more about food allergies, including triggers and symptoms, so that you can stay as healthy as possible when living with food allergies, especially when eating out. What ...
While every person has their own set of ideals, quirks, and opinions, there is one thing that everybody can relate to: getting sick. Falling ill is certainly not a fun experience, and it’s even more excruciating when you are forced to wait on hold to set up an appointment, only to sit for another hour in the waiting room when you arrive at the hospital. At medical walk in clinics, patients get to simply ...
With a team of board-certified physicians coming from a diverse set of medical backgrounds, our clinics have the ability to offer a wide range of occupational health services. AFC Urgent Care Portland serves a number of Portland’s biggest employers, helping their businesses operate both safer and more efficiently. AFC clinics offer the following occupational health services: Drug & Alcohol Testing The purpose of drug and alcohol testing isn’t to catch employees off-guard. The point ...
With as little as 29% of primary care doctors offering extended business hours, it’s no wonder why walk in medical clinics are becoming more popular. For those who have questions about urgent care, here are a few things you may be interested in learning. Do I have to make an appointment? No. With a walk in medical facility, you do not have to make an appointment to be seen. You may simply come in ...
We grow up learning that sharing is caring. However, when it comes to germs, that is one thing you need to keep to yourself, especially when it comes to strep throat. What Causes Strep Throat? Strep throat is caused by group A streptococcus. It’s an intense inflammation of the throat that occurs because of a bacterial infection. While strep throat can occur in both adults and children, it is most commonly diagnosed among children ...
We have all been there, trying to get a doctors appointment for a niggling cough but having to wait three weeks for the first appointment. We’ve fallen and need to wrap our sprain, but don’t want to handle the long lines of the emergency rooms. So what do you do? You head to an urgent care center! These walk in clinics offer the medical experience of your family care physician, without the extra ...
