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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
When a medical problem arises that requires attention, you have a couple of options. You can go to your primary care physician, go to the emergency room, or go to an urgent care center. Determining which of these options to choose can often be a confusing process, though. But what is urgent care, anyway? Fortunately, the answers aren’t too difficult to find. What is urgent care? These facilities are walk in health clinics, and ...
We all experience stress at some point in our life. However, when stress plays a role in our daily lives more often than not, that is when stress can begin to take a toll on our overall health. Our team at AFC Urgent Care want you to learn the signs of stress, as well as ways you can better manage symptoms. How Does Stress Affect Your Health? While some might just assume stress affects your ...
Ouch, my back! While back pain can happen to anyone at any time, here are the main causes of back pain, as well as steps you can take to find relief! How Common Is Back Pain? According to the American Chiropractic Association, around 80% of people living in the United States will experience back pain at some point during their lifetime. While some back pain could be due to a recent strain or another minor ...
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 Urgent Care 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 ...
Now that summer is in full swing, it is more important than ever to stay diligent when it comes to your health. The last thing you would want to happen is to be stuck inside during those gorgeous days where you could be outside soaking up the sun and chilling with your friends, so here are some common summer illnesses you should be aware of, and how to prevent them. 1. Swimmer’s Ear This ...
October is arguably the best month of the fall season… but October is also the start of cold and flu season, and that means plenty of sniffles and runny noses, chapped hands, and even a nasty case of the flu. The best way to protect yourself from the common cold and influenza virus is to take as many preventative measures as possible, and who better to ask for advice than the people working at your ...
According to the Urology Care Foundation, UTIs lead to around 8.1 million healthcare visits each year. During Bladder Health Month this November, our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland want you to know the signs to look for when it comes to having a UTI, as well as ways you can treat the infection as soon as possible! How Do You Know If You Have a Urinary Tract Infection? There are a number of ...
Although ear infections are most common in children who are age 7 or younger, teens and adults can experience the symptoms of an ear infection, too! No one wants to deal with the sometimes-agonizing pain of an ear infection. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland would like to share some tips on how to find relief sooner rather than later. Can I Treat My Earache at Home? Earaches can be the ...
It’s the middle of February, which means our New Year’s resolutions are either new habits or fond memories. We at AFC Urgent Care are hoping that one of your resolutions was to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to help you stay on track, we have compiled a list of things to look out for when you’re evaluating your health. As February is American Heart Month, we’ll go over what could indicate ...
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 Urgent Care, we have some tips on how to avoid a seasonal trip to your urgent care center! Wear sunscreen — even when it ...
Urgent care clinics have become incredibly important health resources for people across the world, and with around two new walk in clinics opening up every single day, it’s estimated that there will be at least 15,000 urgent care centers by 2019. That means thousands of people every week will receive the emergency care and preventative care they need, without wasting money or time in a hospital emergency room. So what exactly can you ...
We all want to be our best selves in 2020. That’s impossible to do without good health! Whether you’ve already carved out some resolutions or not, our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants to encourage you to add some healthy lifestyle goals for the year. Read on as we offer some suggestions on living a healthier lifestyle. How Can I Fit in Exercise? Start with making it a priority! Physical activity promotes ...
It doesn’t take much to overheat your body when it’s hot out. Even if you dress appropriately, hydrate regularly and avoid peak sun hours, you still might find yourself suffering from heat-related illnesses. Since there are various levels of severity involved with heat-related illness, it may be a good time to review common symptoms. This way you’ll know when to take it slow and hydrate, and when to see a doctor. Issue ...
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 ...
Find Out How Important It Is to Regularly See A Primary Care Physician For A Wellness Visit Annual checkups, often referred to as a ‘wellness visit‘, are offered by most insurance providers as part of an individual’s standard coverage. Yet many people fail to take full advantage of this important and sometimes life saving part of their insurance plan. It might seem minor or insignificant at the time, but the little things that a ...
Signs & Symptoms To Help Determine Severity Of Injury With an increase in media coverage surrounding concussions and traumatic brain injuries, safety guidelines are often getting updated to help protect child athletes. But even with new athletic rules, safety equipment and training for coaches and teachers, there are many sports that are still considered to be high-risk for concussions. Since school sports are starting back up, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of ...
Over the past decade, America’s obsession with pumpkin has been growing. As we all know, pumpkins are no longer just for carving. What started as an innocent pumpkin spice flavored latte has turned into pumpkin spice breakfast sausage, pumpkin spice beer, pumpkin spice chewing gum and pumpkin-spice-flavored-everything! But that pumpkin obsession could pay off in the long run, with benefits to your health. In its raw state, pumpkin is a squash that is loaded ...
