Recent Blog Posts

Many find that eating enough vegetables every day can be a pain. There’s a reason First Lady Michelle Obama has to encourage kids to eat their veggies; it’s not fun, and they just don’t seem to taste as good as a bag of chips or a slice of pizza. But for many of us, an unhealthy diet is contributing to chronic health issues that may cause us problems later in our lives ...

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Did you know a few mood boosting foods a day could keep depression away? Researchers and medical professionals agree that eating certain foods can have a direct effect on your emotional state and overall mental health. By including a few simple, easy-to-find foods to your diet each day, you can feel an instant improvement in focus, mood, and energy.   Now is the time when Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as “seasonal blues” can cause many ...

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WFSB 3 Connecticut We sat down with WFSB to talk about Ebola & Enterovirus. Listen in & get Dr. Brown’s valuable advice…

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Recently, the Connecticut Department of Health reported 2 confirmed cases of measles in Fairfield, Connecticut .We had been clear of the measles virus for years due to the very successful MMR vaccination campaign, and thought it had been eliminated. MMR, aka the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine was thought to have knocked the disease out of the state of Connecticut altogether. We had not seen it rear its’ ugly head since 2000, up until this ...

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COVID-19 has thrown everything out of wack for 2020. If you are wondering whether or not AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is open, the answer is yes! We are open while providing all of the same general services as before. We have also expanded our services to cover any COVID need you may have. We offer three types of COVID testing and information on any questions that may come up. When coming to see us ...

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<![CDATA[Last year, norovirus plagued some of our favorite local restaurant establishments and infected many people in our surrounding community. The virus commonly known as the stomach flu or bug is an intestinal virus that may cause acute gastroenteritis. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted from person to person by contaminated food and water and contaminated surfaces. Norovirus is very common in the winter time and as history can often repeat itself it is important to be aware of how to stay clean and healthy. AFC Urgent Care West Hartford is here to help prepare you for a norovirus outbreak with prevention and treatment tips. Wash rinse and repeat to prevent norovirus Wash your hands! Do this throughout the day. It’s simple, easy and can keep you safe after touching contaminated surfaces. It is best to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. As you should be washing your hands to keep you safe from winter illnesses like norovirus and the flu, it is important to remember to do so when you’re in areas where there are large populations. It is very common for norovirus to be present in schools, restaurants, hospitals, elder -care facilities and daycare centers. If you’re worried about your children coming into contact with norovirus partner up with their teachers to ensure that they’re practice good hygiene inside and out of the classroom. Prevent norovirus by watching what you eat As mentioned earlier, food establishments can be a breeding ground for norovirus. If you’re at a restaurant and you notice an employee touching your food without gloves, that is the first sign of unsafe food practices. Do not eat there! Safe food handling and preparation should include: Washing your hands well prior to handling foods Wearing disposable gloves Cooking food at the correct temperatures Cleaning/washing fruits and vegetables properly If you’re an employee and you are sick with norovirus it is best to stay home and avoid going back to work until at least 3 days after symptoms have subsided. Norovirus dehydrates. Stay hydrated! Try to keep your fluids up if you begin to feel any symptoms. Symptoms can include one or more of the following: Diarrhea Vomiting Cramping Abdominal pain Low grade fever/chill Muscle aches Sometimes we don’t realize that after repeated diarrhea or vomiting we lose precious amounts of water in our body. We can often become dehydrated and low on electrolytes. It is important to rehydrate and maintain hydration with frequent sips of water or a rehydration drinks such as pedialyte. Try to avoid sodas, alcohol and other juices that have too much sugar and not enough electrolytes. AFC West Hartford is your local norovirus expert! If you or a loved one has come into contact with norovirus, please stay isolated for at least 48 hours. If symptoms continue after 3-4 days, seek medical help. We are here for you and can point you in the right direction for your recovery needs. There’s no appointment needed at our AFC West Hartford Urgent Care Center. We are open 7 days a week from 8am-8pm weekdays, 8am-5pm weekends, and we accept most insurances. For more information contact us here or call us at 860-986-6440. ]]>

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As you probably have figured out by now, social distancing does not mean have sex as much as possible. It is also not a time to be reckless and have unprotected sex. For that reason, we must be smart and safe so that we can "flatten the curve" and reduce the amount of COVID-19 infections and unwanted STD's. With many of us in single self isolation, it’s not surprising that many of us ...

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Because February is National Heart Health Month, AFC Urgent Care wants you to be aware of the warning signs of a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women. Half a million women in America die each year due to heart-related complications. This is an astounding statistic. People 1 year or older can reduce their risk of having heart complications by making healthy lifestyle ...

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More than one-third of American households will put up a Christmas tree during the holiday season. Shortly there- after, many may begin experiencing suspicious symptoms mimicking seasonal allergies. This can include sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. If you have any of these symptoms, don’t panic, you’re not allergic to Christmas, although it may feel as though you are. You might, however, be allergic to your Christmas tree. Enter Christmas Tree ...

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People are often telling us they don’t know when they need stitches. This Medical Minute is here to answer all your questions. Whether or not you need stitches depends on a variety of factors. Factors you must consider… how big the wound is how deep it is where on the body it is located It is important to come on in to our west Hartford urgent care center, go to your doctor or visit ...

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Have you noticed that the bees buzzing around are a lot angrier these days? It’s not your imagination…they’re mad. Late summer into early fall is the height of “angry bee” season. As bees and wasps near the end of their life cycle, they become increasingly aggressive. 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 ...

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As temperatures drop and the bitter cold of winter sets in you may notice signs of skin damage from the air. Constant exposure to whipping winds and harsh temperatures (bitter cold outdoors and dry heat indoors) can lead to irritated, itchy, flaky, and dry skin. Even worse, irritation can lead to outbreaks of conditions like eczema and cracked winter skin can become infected.   Use the following tips to maintain healthy, moisturized skin all winter long ...

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Achew!! Spring allergies are in full force this season! We’ve had sporadic weather changes this winter 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. COVID-19 and ...

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Spring is packed with some of our favorite things — picnics, outdoor adventures and longer, warmer days — but it’s also when allergies act up and cold season lingers. Sometimes it can be tough to tell if you’re coming down with a cold or if your sinuses are just revolting against the high pollen count, and changes in the weather. If you find yourself sniffling and aren’t sure whether you need chicken soup and ...

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Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a scary report, outlining the severity of the flu this year. Due to an uptick in deaths attributed to the flu, the CDC declared the flu had reached epidemic status. While that sounds serious, there are still ways for you to ward off the flu and stay healthy this season. The flu is particularly troublesome for children under 5 — and especially under 2 — and for adults ...

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It’s no secret that the fitness industry is continually evolving and changing. From Zumba to hot yoga, we’ve seen many trends come around over the years. Some stick, some only last a short time, but they all gain a lot of attention in their prime. Following fitness, trends is a fun way to switch up your workout regimen to see continued results and avoid boredom in the gym. HIIT HIIT, also known as ...

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With winter in full gear, we thought we’d take this opportunity to dig deep into two respiratory diseases we are seeing a lot of at our urgent care centers, to help people determine whether they have pneumonia or bronchitis. Often, the symptoms mimic one another, and it can sometimes be tough to tell which ailment they are suffering from. Read further learn more about what signs to watch out for, and what to do ...

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More kids are playing organized sports today than ever before. Playing on a community or school sports team is a great way for kids to stay in shape and learn teamwork, which is probably why more than 37 million American children and teenagers play at least one sport. No matter which spring sport your child plays — whether it’s soccer, tennis, baseball, track, or lacrosse– there’s always a risk of getting hurt. The casualties ...

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The holidays are here again & that means that a lot of us will be traveling home to see our families & loved ones! Traveling can take a toll on the body & sometimes can leave you feeling & smelling unfresh. Nobody wants to feel uncomfortable while traveling around other people that you may be stuck with moving on a bus or plane. Nobody wants to go home to mom & dad not smelling their best either. AFC Urgent Care ...

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As we all know, mosquitos and their bites are not just unwanted and annoying, but can lead to some truly devastating illnesses such as West Nile Virus. The most obvious answer to avoid getting a mosquito borne illness is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Because of this fact, it is essential that we keep those pesky bugs at bay! Below, Urgent Care West Hartford has put together your essential summer guide on ...

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