October 8th through the 15th is National Flu Prevention Week in the US. This week is observed annually to help raise awareness and bring attention to the importance of preventative medicine and vaccinations, especially during flu season. This week-long initiative aims to safeguard the wellbeing of individuals and communities across the nation and boost overall public health. History of National Flu Prevention Week  In the early 20th centuries, flu outbreaks happened fairly frequently and were ...

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In the realm of public health, few preventative measures rival the significance of receiving the annual flu vaccine. This immunization not only safeguards individuals but also plays a pivotal role in community well-being. It is crucial to understand why getting the flu vaccine is imperative, particularly in regions like Portland and the broader Pacific Northwest.  Regional Relevance in the Pacific NW  Climate Variability: The Pacific Northwest experiences diverse weather patterns, with chilly, damp winters being ...

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Do you feel like recently you and/or those around you have been getting sicker in recent allergy seasons? AFC Portland’s very own Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrew Miller, has some insight on what’s going on and what may be causing this uptick in illnesses. “The current allergy season is the worst that it’s been in years, so we are seeing a lot of visits for congestion, sore throat, and cough. These ...

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With the rise of telemedicine, there is an increasing availability of virtual doctor appointments. This is often a more convenient option for patients, but it is important to know when an in-person doctor’s appointment is necessary. However, in some cases, a virtual appointment may actually be the best option available.  In-person appointments should be booked when a physical exam is needed. This includes physical conditions such as broken bones, lacerations, or other ailments that ...

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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 ...

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Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus — and to be honest, if you’ve never experienced the flu before, then consider yourself extremely lucky! This combination of upper respiratory congestion, fever, cough, sore throat, and nausea/vomiting is something that can knock even the healthiest person off their feet for a few days at the very least. Now that “cold and flu season” is well ...

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AH-CHOO! Oh, no! Are you starting to experience the symptoms of the flu? But, wait—you just got a flu shot, so how can you be experiencing flu symptoms? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants you to better understand how the flu vaccine works, as well as put an end to the myth about the flu shot giving you flu. Does the Flu Vaccine Work? Although researchers would like to think they have ...

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Brace yourself. Cold and flu season is in full effect. It’s time for stuffy noses, the sniffles, and coughs loud enough to wake Sleeping Beauty to start plaguing the public. If you haven’t contracted either a cold or the flu yet, consider yourself lucky. But if you, like most people during this brutal time of year, came down with some sort of version of either, it’s likely that you sought some sort ...

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According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children are the ones who need flu shots most. Federal health officials revealed that only four out of 10 babies in the U.S. between the ages of six and 23 months are getting vaccinated against the flu. The results were based on data analyzed from the 2011 and 2012 flu seasons. Between this current flu season and the 2002-2003 ...

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You may experience a hoarse cough, a stuffy nose, and feel sore even though you’re long overdue for a workout.  Are you experiencing a cold, or do you have the flu? The symptoms of the common cold and the flu are very similar.  Some of the similarities include: Dry cough Runny or stuffy nose Watery eyes But the biggest differences between common cold and flu symptoms is that the flu comes on very suddenly ...

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