Recent Blog Posts

Have you ever experienced the familiar and unpleasant effects of a fever? The cold sweats, fatigue, and chills that often accompany a fever can cause you to feel miserable. In some cases, it may seem unnecessary to visit urgent care if you are experiencing a fever. However, fevers indicate the presence of an infection. In order to ensure that you receive proper treatment for a swift recovery, it is important that you seek urgent care ...

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Injuries can happen when you least expect. This includes in the workplace. If you’ve suffered an injury during the work day, it is important to have access to prompt medical care. It is part of your employer's responsibility to ensure that you have access to the healthcare that you need if you suffer from an injury while at work. AFC Urgent Care Southcenter offers a convenient, fast, and affordable healthcare option for both ...

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Getting the flu can force you to stay at home to self-isolate and recover for days. Identifying your symptoms early and seeking medical care for flu-like symptoms can ensure that you are treating your symptoms correctly and ensuring a fast recovery. Avoid missing valuable workdays by learning how to identify flu-like symptoms before they progress and when you should seek medical care for your symptoms. AFC Urgent Care Southcenter offers same-day illness diagnosis and treatment ...

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If you’re interested in pursuing a commercial driver's license or driving a commercial vehicle for work, it is important to understand the required qualifications and medical examinations required you to obtain a commercial driver's medical exam as well as renew your license every one to two years. Obtaining a DOT physical is a required step to obtaining a commercial driver's license or driving commercial vehicles. AFC Urgent Care Southcenter offers same-day ...

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DOT physicals are a critical part of maintaining a commercial driver's license (CDL). They ensure that you are both mentally and physically fit to drive commercially. For many, having a valid commercial vehicle license is vital to their employment. Visit AFC Urgent Care Southcenter for DOT Physicals available 6 days a week on a walk-in basis. How Long Does A DOT Physical Take? If you require a commercial driver's license for your job ...

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Although the days of the COVID-19 pandemic are behind us, many healthcare professionals have warned that COVID-19 is here to stay. With COVID-19 still circulating this cold and flu season, COVID-19 is very much still an illness to be aware of. Although the COVID-19 virus is thought to mutate every year like the flu, the symptoms of COVID-19 seem to continue to mimic other minor illnesses such as the common cold. If you’re feeling ...

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Is There a Difference Between Telemedicine and Telehealth Urgent Care? Telehealth urgent care and telemedicine are terms that are often  used interchangeably but actually have some distinct differences. Telehealth is an umbrella term that refers to the use of technology in a variety of healthcare services, while telemedicine is a specific type of telehealth service that involves remote clinical services between a doctor and a patient. Schedule an Appointment What Is Telehealth Urgent Care? At its core ...

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Food Poisoning: When and Why to Visit AFC Kent WA Food poisoning is an unwelcome and often unpredictable health concern that can strike when we least expect it. Defined as an illness caused by consuming contaminated food or beverages, it can manifest as various symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe gastrointestinal distress. While some cases resolve on their own with rest and hydration, there are instances where seeking prompt medical attention becomes crucial. ${custom_link_1_title ...

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Is an Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic Like Going to the ER? If you find yourself with an emergency medical condition that needs to be dealt with, it can often become an overwhelming situation. Thoughts of long waits, expensive treatments, and procedures at a hospital emergency room (ER) may cross your mind. However, the ER isn't always your only option - have you ever considered visiting an urgent care walk-in clinic? Urgent care clinics like AFC ...

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Getting Strep Without Tonsils? Is It Possible? AFC Kent WA Has Answers for You Is getting strep without tonsils possible? The short answer is yes. Strep throat is caused by a particular strain of bacteria, group A Streptococcus. These bacteria can live in the nose and mouth.  The bacteria are spread through an infected person's saliva or mucus and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. A person without tonsils can contract the infection if ...

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Staying healthy going into the fall holiday season is essential to ensure that you and your family can enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season. One important step to ensuring that you stay healthy during cold and flu season is getting your flu shot. Learn about the benefits of the flu shot so that you can stay healthy this flu season. When Should You Get the Flu Shot? The flu shot is a great way ...

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During the winter months, illnesses spread faster than ever due to the increase of indoor activities. Previously thought to be a childhood disease, whooping cough is a contagious infection affecting the respiratory tract. Find out more about whooping cough, its symptoms, and how to stay healthy this fall. Causes & Symptoms of Whooping Cough Whooping cough is a serious respiratory infection that is caused by a bacteria. It is contracted through direct contact with an infected ...

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Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia?  Can bronchitis turn into pneumonia? In some cases, this happens when the inflammation of the bronchial tubes persists for some time and is not treated properly, leading to a bacterial or viral infection that can cause pneumonia.  When bronchitis becomes severe, the tiny hair-like structures (cilia) that line the bronchi can become damaged, making it difficult for mucus to clear from the lungs. This trapped mucus creates a breeding ground ...

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What Are the Degrees of Burns? A Guide to Identifying Burns So, what are the degrees of burns? If you’ve been wondering how to identify burns, we’ve got the answers for you. Burns are a common injury that can occur from various sources, including hot liquids, fire, chemicals, and sun exposure. Depending on the severity of the burn, it can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, it is crucial ...

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Although it is not as common as the common cold or flu during the early fall months, bronchitis is a health condition to watch out for as the weather changes. Due to the severity of the symptoms, familiarizing yourself with the causes and symptoms of bronchitis is crucial so that you can know when to seek medical treatment. This blog post will explore the multifaceted causes, the spectrum of symptoms, and the populations most at ...

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The flu, or influenza, is a transmittable respiratory disease well-known for its easily detectable symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, and a nasty cough. However, beyond the common symptoms, many people wonder if the flu can also cause vomiting. This blog discusses the causes and symptoms of the flu, the connection between the flu and nausea/vomiting, and how getting a flu shot and seeking flu treatment at an urgent care facility can help you ...

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As a prominent care provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine services nationwide, American Family Care (AFC) is uniquely positioned to guide and educate the public on pertinent health issues, such as the FDA’s recent decisions on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine.  The FDA held a Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting on September 11-12, 2023, to deliberate on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cough ...

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Why You Should See an Urgent Care Doctor for Wart Removal Home remedies for warts might not be as effective as you hope, so we recommend seeing an urgent care doctor for wart removal to treat these pesky growths at their source. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can appear almost anywhere on the body, causing both physical discomfort and self-consciousness. This article takes you through everything you need to know about ...

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It is estimated that over 100 million adults in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These symptoms are particularly common around September as medical professionals record a sudden increase in cold and feverish cases. September sniffles are gradually becoming more prevalent than ever due to climate change which is causing more extreme seasonal changes. This change tends to favor pollen longevity in the atmosphere ...

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As fall approaches, certain ailments such as allergies, colds, the flu, sore throats, and ear infections increase in frequency. To stop their spread, it's crucial to be aware of the ailments that thrive in the fall and winter. In this article, we highlight common illnesses to watch out for in September. We also outline a few ways you can protect yourself from these illnesses this fall. Common fall illnesses & their symptoms Due to the ...

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