Recent Blog Posts

In honor of Mothers Day…week…. we thought we’d debunk some of the most common health advice many of us grew up with. Sorry mom. On some things you were right on, but others…not so much. Many of us at AFC Urgent Care West Hartford were subject to the majority of the tips below, and I’ll bet you were as well. Mother thought she knew best when you were growing up, but ...

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We at West Hartford are hearing more and more about the spread of Ebola, which has just recently been diagnosed in the U.S. in a man who had flown in from Liberia. For the most part, however, it is still primarily centralized in the West African and Central African nations of Sierra Leon, Guinea, Liberia. There is also a separate outbreak brewing in the Republic of Congo, totally unrelated to the above outbreak. As ...

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The gift of health is in! If you’re anything like many of us, however, you’ve waited until the last minute to purchase your gifts and you want to make them count. Here’s a solution: Many of these healthy gifts can be purchased on your way home, at the last minute, and inexpensively… right from your local CVS or Rite Aid! This year, stop yourself from spending a fortune on the new X-Box ...

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Spring time means different things to different people. To parents of kids involved in spring sports, often times it can mean trips to the ER or urgent care center to treat a broken bone or sprained ankle. Spring sports like soccer, lacrosse and baseball, track and field and tennis all are breeding grounds for injuries: sprains, broken bones and concussions. Sometimes the extent of the injury is not clear cut. Not sure if its a ...

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Pink Eye is the commonly used term for the highly contagious infection known as Conjunctivitis. Conjunctiva occurs when the conjunctiva, the outermost layer of the eye, becomes infected. This can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or an allergic outbreak. Symptoms of pink eye include red or bloodshot eye, swelling, and watering of the eyes. It may also include a discharge. For treatment, bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with an antibiotic. If it is caused ...

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There are some well-known physical benefits to weight loss, such as improving joint health, lowering the risk of developing diabetes, and others. What are some of the unexpected benefits of weight loss? Call AFC Urgent Care West Hartford for health information and other health services. Our staff can provide resources for all relevant health concerns you may have. You’re less likely to get sick from a virus Obesity is directly linked with having impaired ...

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A lingering cough after a long winter of suffering from a cold or the flu is fairly common. But when does a cough become something more serious? And when to see a doctor about a cough? In some cases, a cough can be a warning sign of a bad upper respiratory infection or something worse, and you will need to seek medical attention. AFC Urgent Care West Hartford has put together this blog to help ...

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There is nothing worse than being outside and hearing the buzzing of a mosquito in your ear and suddenly you feel a quick pinch. Though a bite or sting is usually just a temporary annoyance, they can sometimes lead to further complications. Insects such as a mosquito inject a small amount of saliva into your blood to prevent the blood from clotting as they suck your blood. This causes the wound to become itchy, similar ...

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Many mark summer not by BBQs and pool parties but by the addition of mosquitoes, which are becoming a much larger threat than merely a pesky nuisance. Over the past few years, we have seen cases of West Nile Virus being diagnosed, and in 2015 alone 10 cases of West Nile Virus in humans were detected in Connecticut . This past week, we learned of 4 new CT towns where West Nile Virus (WNV) carrying mosquitoes ...

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Plants can brighten up a landscape, but some can be dangerous! This summer, AFC Urgent Care wants you to watch out for these poisonous plants, and to know what to do if you come into contact with them! Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are the big three when it comes to poisonous plants — all have a similar chemical make-up that makes them very unpleasant to meet when you’re out hiking! All three ...

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Nothing sends a parent into a complete state of frenzy than hearing their child has lice. You don’t know what to do first. Bleach every article of clothing your child owns, burn every hair brush and comb or simply move to a new town and leave the pesky creatures in the dust. Maybe you saw your child constantly scratching their scalp or telling you that they feel like something is crawling or moving on ...

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It is that time of year again, when parents are taking their kids to the park or the playground, just as the bees are enjoying their time there as well. At West Hartford we anticipate getting many inquiries from concerned parents about bee stings, about how to tell of their child is allergic and what to do about it if they are afraid their child is allergic to bees and happens to get stung. With ...

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Recently, four WTNH News 8 co-workers joined Kristin Gemme, a Physician Assistant from our very own AFC/ in West Hartford,to practice a a series of simple health tests you can do at home, designed to jump start a healthier lifestyle. Read more

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On Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will conduct a national Spanish-language Enlace session as part of an ongoing series of quarterly public engagements. This free session is an opportunity for Spanish-speakers to engage with us in their own language. During the Enlace, we will provide agency updates and answer your questions about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). USCIS ...

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It is time for Spring sports, including Track, Baseball, and Lacrosse. Urgent Care in West Hartford wants to offer some tips to avoiding injury before your child’s sports. 1) Warm Up: If your child has been inactive for months leading up to the sport, it is a good idea to condition the child’s body before participating. Also, to prevent injuries, it is a good idea to warm up muscles before each game or ...

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The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. We are fully stocked and ready to keep you healthy this year. Be ready before the flu season hits this year. *Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, Medicaid cover the cost ...

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May is Hypertension Awareness Month, and so we are taking this opportunity to discuss the health risks caused by untreated high blood pressure, also known as high blood pressure hypertension, as well as what you can do to control and treat high blood pressure. Approximately one in every 3 Americans have high blood pressure, according to 2012 CDC statistics. Approximately 70 million people; these are epidemic proportions. The concern is that out of those approximate ...

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As we’re sure you’ve heard, all over the news, the measles virus has made a comeback in the U.S. in full force. within the past five years, 75 percent of measles cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have occurred in various insular communities, among them the Amish in Ohio, the Somali community in Minnesota, Eastern European groups in the Pacific Northwest and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New ...

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Whether you’re a parent getting ready to take your kids trick-or-treating or you’re someone who doesn’t participate in Halloween at all, everyone needs to be aware of the dangers that come with Halloween night. It’s a whole new world out there these days with everything from candy concerns to clown threats. Here are some simple tips to keep your halloween scary in a GOOD way! 5 Tips to Keep Your Kids ...

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Spring Break is almost here, and we suspect traveling may be in your near future! Traveling is well-established as being both spiritually and emotionally healthy. However, between flying in a congested airplane and encountering a near-infinite number of foreign bacteria, traveling can be unhealthy if you’re not prepared. *Also, there’s a resurgence of a new highly contagious and sometimes deadly threat that we’d long ago thought we’d beaten: measles. Certain states ...

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