" According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incidences of the mumps have decreased 99 percent since the era before widespread vaccinations. But tell that to the 10 states that have seen outbreaks of the mumps in the past month. So far, there have been 69 reported cases of the mumps this year. It seems to have started in Iowa, but it quickly spread to places like Colorado, Indiana and Massachusetts. The mumps virus ...
" The United States is one of the most diverse nations in the world. As different as we may seem, our health issues can be very similar. Healthcare trends tend to be pretty consistent across large swaths of the population, so it’s important to pay attention when one becomes widespread. Your local AFC Urgent Care can advise you on which conditions should concern you and how to take action to prevent them. The No. 1 ...
" Here is the second part of our series on flu season! We hope you took our advice from last week and got your flu shot! We’re going to get a bit more into the nitty-gritty about how the flu spreads and what makes the flu vaccine work. So hang on, we’re diving right in! The influenza virus is a respiratory virus, and it spreads primarily through contact with respiratory droplets. However, these droplets ...
" The influenza virus is a seasonal epidemic that typically hits the United States around October and can last until May. Even though this is a yearly occurrence, there are still some misconceptions about the flu and what people should do to protect themselves. To keep our readers informed, we are doing a two-part series on important facts people should know about the flu. Part two will be released next week. The flu is not just ...
" After an unseasonably warm start on the East Coast, winter is finally letting us feel its chill. It might seem like yesterday that high temperatures were breaking records all over the place, so it can be easy to disregard the recent cold. Winter weather can present a lot of hazards, though, so it’s important to be aware of what might happen in your area and be prepared for what winter may bring. Here are ...
" This year, about 50 percent of people in the United States will attend at least one holiday party. For about half of us, our employer will host a party for us. About 20 percent of us will even host our own. With those numbers, it’s easy to see a lot of potential pitfalls ahead. So don’t let yourself get caught off-guard, read this guide to see how AFC Urgent Care can keep you ...
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 ...
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 $20 billion ...
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. One out of every 11 Americans has diabetes, and 86 million more are pre-diabetic. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the United States spends about $245 million every year on health care for people with diabetes, and recent projections have determined that as many as one in every three adults will have diabetes by 2050 if nothing changes. Type 2 ...
" Labor Day, a celebration of the spirit and dignity of the American worker, has been a regular fixture in the United States since the late 19th century. It became a national holiday under President Grover Cleveland and focuses on the American worker and the progress toward making work safe and rewarding for all. One of the rules unions fought for and earned in all states in 1949, is workers’ compensation, a form of insurance in ...
" It’s that time of year again. BACK to SCHOOL. The AFC Urgent Care center in Waltham is your destinations for all your Back to School health needs. Does your child need a Sports Physical? We’ve seen this before. He shows up for the first day of practice, only to be told he cannot practice because the school requires a yearly Medical Clearance form. Your son or daughter is distraught that their doctor can ...
" We survived Boston’s snowiest winter and now with the warmer weather we get many visits and questions about tick bites. It is important for you and your family to take preventative measures against ticks especially from April-September when they are most active. Here are our recommendations for decreasing your risk of tick bites: Avoid areas where ticks are most abundant (wooded and bushy areas with high grass). Walk in the center of trails. Wear ...
" Break out the lunch boxes and the three-ring binders, back-to-school season is upon us again! Amid the mad dash for backpacks, pencil cases and the rapidly approaching school bus, it’s easy to forget about the health concerns of going back to school. Back-to-school time is also prime time for germs and bugs; an enormous number of children spend most of the day in close contact and touch a lot of shared surfaces (e.g ...
" With summer approaching, it is important to understand how to prevent contact with poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. These plants thrive in summer weather and, and their stems and leaves are covered in a layer of oil called urushiol. Once this oil comes into contact with your skin, it causes red bumps that irritate and inflame the skin. These reactions usually occur within 12-72 hours of contact, and can ...
" Everyone’s heard it before. “We were stuck in the ER for hours.” It makes sense; your primary care physician might be booked till next Tuesday, but sudden illnesses and injuries can’t wait that long. So you shuttle your sick or injured loved one to an emergency room and wait. And wait. And … well, you get the picture. Here are some reasons why it might be a better idea to take a quick trip ...
" While some people are still shoveling snow, many Americans are facing yet another blow from the weather just in time for spring – a sudden explosion of pollen for what’s expected to be a particularly nasty allergy season. March has yet to go out like a lamb, and we at AFC Urgent Care can already tell that this month’s wacky weather is wreaking havoc on allergy sufferers, as our centers are already seeing patients ...
" February can be a bleak month, filled with gray, dreary days and chilly, blustery nights. While the chill in the air can’t be blamed for bugs going around the office or school, the cold itself can irritate the body, causing minor ailments. Each winter season, doctors here at AFC Urgent Care find more and more patients complaining of some common winter issues, in addition to colds and flu. Topping the list of patient complaints ...
The recent and tragic death of a 17 year old teen from Minnesota has many concerned about the flu epidemic currently on rise in the United States. Statistics show that flu activity is high in nearly half the country — 22 states and Puerto Rico, and experts are urging people to take preventive action by getting vaccinated, regardless if they are healthy or not. The elderly are generally those worst-affected. Flu-related hospitalizations among people 65 and ...
" “Yes, mom, we heard you! We know it’s cold out there. We’re grabbing our coats right now!” “This scratchy throat and runny nose will definitely get better with some homemade chicken soup.” “Of course we promise to cough into our elbows.” We’ve all heard our mothers’ best remedies and advice for cold and flu season, as well as some old wives’ tales that have been passed along from generation to generation. Whether ...
" Millions of Americans are visiting the Emergency Room each year, and the costs of those visits are starting to add up. Urgent Care facilities are 1/5 of the cost of emergency rooms, and can treat most non-life threatening injuries and illnesses. We are a full service walk in clinic, employed with a board certified staff of physicians and medical professionals. We offer on-site lab and X-ray services to diagnose immediate treatments, and can have ...
