Recent Blog Posts

With winter upon us, most of us are well into the season of using indoor heating. Staying nice and warm indoors will help prevent us from getting sick, right? Did you know that indoor heating actually can have negative impacts on your health? Learn more about the impacts of indoor heating on your health and how to stay healthy this winter. Visit AFC Urgent Care Stoneham for same-day illness diagnosis & treatment near Stoneham, MA. Is ...

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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 Stoneham MA 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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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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Ear infections can be difficult to diagnose due to their broad symptoms. Luckily, ear infections typically resolve on their own. However, in certain cases, medical intervention may be necessary to treat an ear infection. Walk into AFC Urgent Care Stoneham today for rapid illness diagnosis and treatment near Stoneham, MA. Causes and Symptoms of Ear Infections Unlike many illnesses, ear infections are unique because they can be caused by a viral infection or a bacterial ...

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Influenza season is upon us and cases of the flu are rising. In order to protect yourself from getting sick, or from spreading your illness to others, learn about common flu symptoms. Get flu symptom diagnosis and treatment by visiting AFC Urgent Care Stoneham. What Causes the Flu? The flu is a respiratory illness that is caused by the Influenza virus. Like many viral infections, the flu virus is very contagious. You can catch the ...

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The best way to treat an illness is taking steps to prevent it in the first place. Or, is it? Learn about how flu vaccines protect you from serious illness, and whether you are still vulnerable to getting the flu this fall. Benefits of Getting the Flu Shot The flu shot is a very simple way to increase your body's ability to fight off the flu. However, it does not completely prevent you from ...

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Pink Eye is an uncomfortable infection that can cause irritation around the eye and other uncomfortable side effects. Learn about pink eye, what causes it and how to avoid it in this article. Visit AFC Urgent Care Stoneham for Pink Eye diagnosis & treatment by walking in today. What is Pink Eye? Conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, can be a viral or bacterial infection which affects the eye. It is often referred to as pink eye ...

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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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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), often associated with children, can also affect adults, causing respiratory distress. In this article, we will discuss the causes and symptoms of RSV in adults, shed light on how long RSV symptoms typically last, and explore available diagnosis and treatment options. Understanding this virus and its course in adults is essential for those experiencing its effects. Causes and symptoms of RSV for adults RSV is a highly contagious virus that primarily ...

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Accidents and injuries can happen unexpectedly, especially when children are involved. This article will explore why a child might need an X-ray, clarify what parents can expect during the X-ray procedure at an urgent care center, and highlight the advantages of obtaining X-rays and pediatric care in this accessible healthcare setting. Understanding these aspects can give parents peace of mind when seeking medical care for their child's injuries. Reasons Why a Child Might Need ...

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Sports Physicals: Getting Ready to Go Back to School Before hitting the field, court, or track, there's a crucial checkpoint that ensures the well-being of our student-athletes: sports physicals.  These check-ups are a proactive approach to safeguarding the health and performance of young athletes. They not only fulfill school and sports league requirements but also serve as a comprehensive assessment to detect and prevent potential health issues. Save Your Spot The Importance of Sports Physicals Physicals ...

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Pain in the lower left side of the abdomen in females can indicate unique problems related to women’s health. Learn more about what can cause pain and when to seek medical attention. Where is the pain coming from? There are many organs on the left side of the abdomen. When experiencing lower left side pain, it could be coming from one of these organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic: Small intestine Colon Appendix Ovaries ...

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Finding out joint pain and its cause on your own is difficult. It is essential to consult a health care provider or an orthopedic specialist to solve your problem. Joint pain demands care and timely evaluation due to the pain and various potential causes. Understanding the level of pain and circumstances is crucial in the early stages for the longevity of your joint health. This article will help you explore the symptoms, cause of pain ...

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The annual checkups for different students' health status are crucial, especially when the academic season approaches. These checkups ensure that students are healthy and fit for their educational purposes.  Back-to-school physicals confirm that students are ready for their educational activities and allow them to express health-related issues, if any.  Your child will grow at his best and be protected from various health problems thanks to the combination of physicals, including medical evaluations, immunizations, and health ...

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From 2010 to 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated there were 9.4 million to 41 million flu illnesses every year. But there is an easy way to protect yourself — the flu shot. Studies show that the severity of the flu is significantly less if you catch the flu but are vaccinated. The CDC says the flu vaccine reduces the risk of seeing a doctor for the flu by 40% to ...

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I Have an STD, But I'm Not Sexually Active If you have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) but are not sexually active, there are a few reasons why this could be the case. "STD" refers to the constellation of diseases that result from a sexually transmitted infection (STI). For example, cervical cancer is an STD from the STI of HPV. Though it is possible to contract an STI even if you are not ...

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Water is a crucial element for the human body to function. Hydration is crucial for maintaining bodily functions, regulating temperature, and preventing illness. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. This leads to an imbalance that can have negative effects on our overall health. While both men and women can experience dehydration, do the symptoms differ? In this blog, we’ll explore the different levels of dehydration that can be ...

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