Recent Blog Posts

Local urgent care centers in West Hartford, or family walk-in clinics, offer patients convenient and affordable urgent healthcare services. When you visit a family walk-in clinic, you can expect quick, quality care at a fraction of the cost of your local emergency room.  Emergency rooms tend to be very busy and crowded and are associated with longer waiting times and higher fees. By going to a walk-in doctor’s office for a non-life-threatening illness or injury ...

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Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill, and can be hospitalized. Let’s not forget the people who may not even know they have COVID-19 because they don’t have any symptoms. At this time, we are now dealing with a new variant called B.1.1.529.  Sore throats are very common in the winter months, but many people are wondering if it’s COVID-19, strep throat or ...

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What is an urgent care clinic? And how does it differ from the emergency room? When should you go to the emergency room, and when should you go to an urgent care center? Whatever questions you may have, AFC has the answers.    What Is An Urgent Care Clinic? Urgent care is the level of healthcare that lies between your primary care physician (PCP) and the emergency room. When you go to urgent care, you can ...

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The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front of the neck. Sadly, millions of Americans are diagnosed with a Thyroid condition. Thyroid disease is a common endocrine disorder, and can cause a wide range of symptoms, from fatigue and weight gain to depression and anxiety. Being educated on Thyroid Disease will help you better understand the cause, symptoms, and treatments available.  You may be at a higher risk of developing a thyroid ...

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that infects the respiratory system during the winter. It can cause serious infections in young children and adults who have weak immune systems. The peak season for RSV is from November to March making it a threat along with the common cold, the flu and COVID. The point is, we have another virus to worry about and it’s not one that you want your child or ...

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It’s American Diabetes Month. When was the last time you got your blood sugar levels checked?! If you can’t remember the last time, you got them checked, then it’s time to get them checked.  Why do we need American Diabetes Month? Because diabetes is on the rise in alarming numbers throughout the U.S. What Is Diabetes Exactly? Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects the production of insulin in your ...

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Last year we had flu and COVID spreading around West Hartford causing many of us to cancel our favorite holiday plans. This year we also have to worry about Monkeypox as well (a triple threat). Let’s not make the mistake of skipping out on our flu shots and COVID-19 booster shots, so we can actually spend time with our family and friends this winter season.  Now is the time to get both vaccines. As ...

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Here at AFC Urgent Care West Hartford we have seen a dramatic upswing of kids walking through our doors with painful sores and welts from stings. Why? because bees, especially wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets are coming to an end of their life cycle and are fighting for survival. During this period, they become increasingly aggressive and in a stinging mood that can potentially threaten you and your family while you enjoy the last leg ...

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August is notorious for “Back-to-school” everything! Think you’ve got everything done on the list for your kid? Don’t forget to add “get their back to school  physical”, right at the top of your checklist! Why is it important to get your child a physical this year? Because schools are common breeding grounds for bacteria, infections and viruses like the Flu. Your child may need their required yearly vaccinations, blood work, or information on ...

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One of the most common and most underrated sources of danger for our skin lies in a completely invisible hazard: ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In fact, according to the National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental Information, UV radiation levels have been on the rise, which means that we need to be more careful than ever about protecting both ourselves and those we love from dangerous sun exposure. That's why it's important that ...

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With the progress we’ve made in the past decade for improved technology, medical services, and screenings to help treat and prevent diseases, there is still a small “medical gender gap” between men and women when it comes to seeking medical care. Men are more likely to skip checkups and screenings making them more likely to develop health issues with age. AFC Urgent Care West Hartford wants to help close this gap by offering full ...

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Every year, new cases of Lyme disease are reported in the northeast. But, could these cases have been prevented with early detection? Finding the deer tick in time could actually save you from getting Lyme! Deer ticks are in abundance this season and if you’re not too careful, one of them can latch onto you or a loved one. With that being said, AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is here to guide you on ...

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April is STD and STI Awareness month. Fact:  If you’re sexually active, your risk of contracting an STD ( sexually transmitted disease) or STI ( sexually transmitted infection) increases. If you have more than one partner, the risk could be  even higher. Understanding the importance of STD testing, ways to prevent getting one is not only going to help you avoid them, but also help to prevent the spread and any health complications if you don ...

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Spring allergies are in full force this season!  Afterall, we did have a warm winter with sporadic weather changes and now pollen is blowing in the air. Allergy sufferers and asthmatics now have to worry about how to manage their symptoms while COVID-19 is still around.  AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is here to help you answer the question; 'do I have spring allergies, or COVID-19?'. We’ll help break it down for you below ...

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  Sore throats are very common in the winter months, and many people are wondering if they have strep throat or COVID-19. Cases of COVID-19 have been increasing in the past few months. It’s understandable that you may assume you’ve got COVID-19, but that’s not the only winter illness you should be worrying about. Unlike COVID-19 which is caused by a viral infection, strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection. Strep is ...

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  AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is performing COVID-19 testing for employers, living facilities, nursing homes and friends and families surrounding the West Hartford area. As we continue to increase testing and offer more testing options after the holidays, many of you have questions concerning the types of COVID-19 tests offered. It can be confusing! You may have heard of “rapid testing”, “PCR Testing” and “Antigen testing”, but are probably not aware of the differences.. For ...

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  Did everyone have a safe and COVID-19 free Thanksgiving this year? We hope so because December is filled with holidays and gatherings.  COVID-19 is still around and this is the time where cases can spike if we’re not too careful. We may have vaccines for it now, but there are still people unvaccinated who are at risk, including kids ages 5 and up who have recently been eligible to get vaccinated. If you're ...

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It’s National Diabetes Awareness Month and this year we’re focusing on the link between Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease.  Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects the production of insulin in your body. Insulin is a hormone that is supposed to help your body digest sugars that come from what you eat and drink. If your body fails to produce enough insulin this may lead to sugar build up in your blood, which ...

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Why do you need to get a flu shot this year? We hear it all the time. But, this time it is important to get vaccinated for the flu in 2021 because COVID-19 is still here. Unfortunately. . Both viruses have symptoms that are very similar and heading into the flu season, you don’t want to get both. The CDC has issued a statement that everyone over the age of 6-months needs to get the ...

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Bees are out and if they seem more aggressive these days it isn’t your mind playing tricks on you. Late summer into early fall is the height of the "angry bee" season. As bees and wasps near the end of their life cycle, they become increasingly aggressive and ready to sting. Everyone reacts differently to bee stings and it is important to differentiate between a "normal", non allergic reaction and an allergic reaction when ...

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