Recent Blog Posts

" Businesses both large and small need to ultimately need occupational health and medicine programs to protect their employees. However, creating a new occupational medicine requires some key decision-making from business leaders. In a nutshell, occupational medicine programs are treatment plans designed to help address employees’ work-related injuries or illnesses. A physician requires special training in occupational medicine in order to provide care to employees in these programs. In addition, occupational medicine needs to help evaluate ...

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" Chronic diseases are long-lasting medical conditions that inhibit one’s ability or activity either daily or over a longer period of time, explains the CDC. In the U.S a significant number of adults have at least one chronic condition. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that at least one in every four adults has at least one chronic disease. Chronic diseases can be debilitating but are manageable with routine and consistent medical care. Additionally ...

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" When it comes to healthcare access and providers, patients now have a variety of options of healthcare whether it be urgent care or a retail clinic. However, patients need to understand that these healthcare facilities may be extremely different in terms of what they offer patients and their ability to deliver comprehensive care. So what are the key differences between retail clinics and urgent care centers? Retail Clinics Retail clinics offer walk-in services for patients ...

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" All adults that are sexually active have at least some risks of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Even though some individuals may think they don’t have a disease, it is important to still actively screen for diseases. A good portion of STDs don’t have many signs or symptoms, which means that an STD screening is likely the only way to detect an STD or sexually transmitted infection (STI). The question of when ...

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" Suffering from a headache is something that everyone dreads, but for people who get headaches that are too severe or lasts for days at a time, it can begin to affect their day to day life. Getting treated for a headache is weird because people are never quite sure when to visit the doctor. What if the headache just goes away on its own? What if there’s nothing they can do to help me ...

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" Cooking the turkey is one of the most critical jobs on Thanksgiving Day, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. Each year food-borne illnesses run rampant through the country around this time of year thanks to poultry being improperly cooked and handled. This year, the CDC has seen a strain of salmonella spreading around that is resistant to many medications. Turkey cooking safety is more important now than ever, so be sure you ...

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" The holiday months are upon us. That means traveling for family gatherings, getaways, and then going back home again. Travel comes with a set of hygiene challenges you’ve likely never faced before and learning how to overcome them and be a challenge, but we’re here to help! Holiday Hand Hygiene Holiday time just so happens to be the heat of cold and flu season, so hand hygiene is vital! Don’t skimp on ...

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" As fall comes into full swing, many festivals and pumpkin patches will feature face painting stations for your kids to enjoy. There’s no question about rather or not face painting is fun for everyone but is it safe? Upon taking a closer look at some of the ingredients lurking in the face paint used on many kids every year, you might be thinking twice about letting your kid become a lion or a butterfly ...

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" With flu season right around the corner, many families are doing whatever they can to protect themselves. For many families, simple prevention from handwashing is something that is overlooked. Proper handwashing techniques should be used all year round, but now is a great time to begin implanting good habits in yourself and your children. How Often Should You Wash Your Hands? Your hands should be washed often, but there’s no specific answer to this ...

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" Childhood vaccinations have been a hot topic issue lately, but knowing the facts should be your first focus. Many parents are unsure of why vaccinations are so important, how they can affect your child, and how to go about getting their child vaccinated. These are a few of the most important pieces of information you need to know before getting your child vaccinated. What are Vaccinations? Vaccinations are a way to protect your child and ...

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" Taking your child for regular eye vision testing is important not only for their eye health but for their performance in school as well. Knowing what age to begin taking your child to get eye vision testing, how often to take them, and what that testing includes can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s review some of the basics you need to know about eye vision testing for your child ...

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" Be mindful When it is finally summertime again the first thing everyone wants to do is go out and enjoy the weather! Sometimes we forget to pack sunscreen or think about how long we will be exposed to the suns rays. Did you know getting sunburn twice a summer can increase your chances of getting melanoma skin cancer by three times? Sunburn should not be taken lightly here’s what you need to know about ...

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" Why are physicals important? Have you ever thought about why physicals are even necessary every year for your child? The truth is they are! Children & Teens go through a lot of changes each year as they grow and develop. A physical is a checkup that makes sure your kids are developing normally. Physicals catch any health complications that may have started throughout the year. Why do schools require physicals? Physical requirements do vary depending on ...

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" After being cooped up in the house all winter, it’s only natural to want to get outside with family and friends and enjoy some outdoor recreation. That usually means a tasty meal cooked on an outdoor grill with plenty of cool drinks to wash it all down. As carefree as it might sound, it’s not without a few risks. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 16,600 patients sought emergency room ...

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The weather’s cold, the days are short, and the cold and flu viruses are running rampant. It’s likely that sometime this season, you’ll find yourself with a bit of a cough. Coughing is the body’s way of trying to clear your airways. It’s a natural occurrence and is rarely the sign of anything serious. The cause of a cough varies widely and so do the treatments, but it’s important ...

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" Giving your child cough medicine seems like a natural and smart decision, and it is. You hear your little one coughing like they have the plague, and so you grab whatever you can find in the cabinet, whip out a spoon and tell your child to open wide. But be careful — you might be about to make things worse. Before you start pouring the medicine into a spoon or serving cup, even though it may ...

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It probably comes as no surprise that losing weight and getting healthy is high on the list when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. And like so many promises we make to ourselves, it’s usually easier said than done. At American Family Care clinics, we see the effects of obesity every day. High blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes are all commonly known side effects of obesity. But what might surprise you is ...

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" ‘Tis the season . . . don’t worry: we know that the holidays have passed, but flu season is still in full swing! In fact, it is reported that during in the 2017-2018 season flu activity has been greater than in prior years. That’s why it’s critical for people to be on the lookout for flu signs and symptoms. Obviously, our goal at AFC Urgent Care Swampscott is to help everyone stay healthy and avoid ...

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" Parents are being warned that their sweet little angels may actually be the face behind the flu. For a number of reasons, young children are generally more likely to spread the virus than are adults. Children usually have more contact with others, are undeniable germ magnets and tend have weaker immune systems, making them easy targets for the ruthless influenza virus. In addition to their natural susceptibility, only one in four children receives an annual ...

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" The much-dreaded flu season is here, which means it’s time to protect yourself against the virus and common myths that surround it. Every year these misconceptions surface and spread, well, like a virus. Flu myths such as these are equally as harmful as they are false, so don’t let misinformation about the flu and the preventative vaccine blind you from the truth! Instead, turn to the physicians you trust at AFC Urgent Care ...

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