Keeping kids healthy at the start of a new school year can be a daunting task. They’re playing, making new friends, and coming into close contact with a large number of people on a daily basis. You can’t always stop your kids from getting sick, but you can help increase the odds of staying healthy by reminding them about these commonsense tips that really do help. Healthy Hands; Happy Home Children of all ...
Heat exhaustion is a condition that occurs when the body is unable to regulate its internal temperature and becomes dehydrated. The causes and symptoms are very recognizable and luckily, preventable. Causes of Heat Exhaustion: Physical exertion in warm, high- humidity weather Dehydration Alcohol use, drug use, or smoking Certain medications and illnesses can increase risk Children and the elderly are at higher risk Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion: Profuse sweating Dizziness or lightheadedness Pale, cool, clammy ...
If you’ve gotten your flu shot already, great job! You’re much better protected against getting the flu this flu season. And if you still haven’t gotten your yearly flu shot yet, there’s no time to waste! Protecting yourself against the flu is vital to your health, as well as the health of those around you, and as we approach peak flu season you’re more likely than before to catch the ...
If your child plays team sports through their school, you are probably looking forward to cheering them on during their season, and planning out your schedule around their practices. But have you planned for their sports physical yet? The pre-participation sports physical is required almost universally in the United States. Sports physicals help prevent risk and assess the health and fitness of children to ensure the activity will be healthy for them. Here’s why ...
In a specialized area of medicine that requires a significant amount of advanced training in both the treatment and prevention of injury, a Sports Medicine Specialist can often help patients minimize the effects of a debilitating injury. With a goal of reducing an individual’s time away from work, sports or other physical activities, the services that a Sports Medicine Specialist performs ultimately helps keep people healthy, happy and doing the things in life they ...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control says that about 610,000 Americans die each year from heart disease- that is 1 in every 4 deaths. It may sound grim, but there is good news. From 2003 to 2013, the death rate from heart disease fell about 38 percent. Even with the reduction, the number of people affected is still too high. The leading cause ...
February is American Heart Month! This month is designed to raise awareness about heart health and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among both American women and men. Let’s take a few minutes to talk through some risk factors for heart disease, as well as how you can change your eating habits to promote good heart health. What Risk Factors Are Associated With Heart Disease? When it comes to heart disease ...
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 ...
