" While a new school year offers fresh experiences that foster growth and potential, it also brings coughing, sneezing, and fevers from catching a cold. Here are a few basics to help keep your kids healthy throughout the school year. Keep Germs at Bay A school classroom is a breeding ground for germs. Most young children make things worse by failing to practice good hygiene such as: Forgetting to wash hands before meal time Touching surfaces ...
" 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 ...
" Now that August has arrived, that can only mean one thing — it’s time for the kids to start heading back to school! But did you know that August is also National Immunization Awareness Month? Getting immunized against infectious diseases is important for your health, as well as the health of those around you. And with the start of the new school year just around the corner, it is especially important for your child’s ...
" Ticks are abundant throughout the year in Florida but certain seasonal changes – such as warm weather in the summer – can increase their activity and the growth of tick populations. Deer ticks – which are most often carried and transmitted by deer, squirrels, mice, and other small rodents – carry Lyme disease, a bacterial illness that affects the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system. Effects can be life-lasting and debilitating for some, and is often difficult to recover ...
" Summer is finally here along with BBQs and trips to the park! Summer also, unfortunately, comes along with increased risk of skin irritation from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. These plants contain oil named Urushiol which causes itching, redness, bumps, and other symptoms of rash within 12 -72 hours of contact. Though rashes rarely become serious or life-threatening, severe reactions – which include swelling, blistering, and crusting skin – can occur and require urgent medical ...
" American Family Care in Woodstock GA is proud to launch our new website. Please check back frequently as we add new content, health news and more to the site. "
" While there is a lot of talk about the ‘universal health benefits’ of going gluten-free, there are many aspects of the lifestyle that most people are still unsure or unaware about. We believe that there is some truth out there, but that it is also important to clear the air on some of the bigger gluten and gluten-free myths Myth #1: Everyone should try going Gluten-free! Unless you have been medically diagnosed with celiac disease ...
" Strolling the streets of Paris or taking in the scenery in the Greek islands are great ways to spend a summer vacation abroad. But with all the memories you’ll be making, don’t make the mistake of getting sick. Going abroad comes with its own set of health dangers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a comprehensive list of diseases to be wary of. But if you don’t anticipate coming ...
" 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 can already tell that this month’s wacky weather is wreaking havoc on allergy sufferers, as our centers are already seeing patients flock in ...
" Spring has arrived, and it’s time for a little spring cleaning! A clean home is one way to embrace the season and focus on your health at the same time. Now’s the time to throw open the windows and take a step out of hibernation. It’s easy to blame spring pollen for any congestion and stuffiness you’re experiencing, but the real culprit may be living in your house. Here are some ...
" The cold, harsh air of winter is enough to make you retreat indoors and hibernate for the season. Nevertheless, if your feelings of irritability, sluggishness, loss of interest, and overall depression persist, it may be a sign of a more serious issue. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is often called “winter blues” because most cases occur between fall and late winter. Though the cause of SAD is unclear, many researchers and medical professionals link this rapid ...
" January is a great month to focus on women’s health. It’s a new year, and time for a new start, health-wise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses on cervical cancer prevention and raises awareness about the benefits of folic acid to kick off 2015. At AFC , we thought we’d piggyback on those topics and offer a checkup checklist just for women. Women are at risk for a number of diseases ...
" 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 ...
" According to the Mayo Clinic, over 80% of adults worldwide carry the virus responsible for causing cold sores, many of which don’t experience symptoms. Though there are many causes of cold sores – from stress to weak immunity – many aspects of the winter season make outbreaks more common during this time. Know the signs of cold sores and what you can do to protect yourself all winter long. What is a cold sore? Cold sores ...
" Though cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue are all common symptoms, one of the clearest signs of the flu are sore joints and muscles. When are aches and pains simply a result of the healing process and when should you be concerned? Use this guide for the cause and cure of body pain resulting from the flu. What causes flu-related body aches? One of the primary functions of white blood cells is to repair ...
" “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 ...
" Between caring for your family, working, and making time for friends we understand that your schedule is limited. With so much going on, proper medical care is many times forgotten as it does not seem to fit in the limited 24 hours we have each day. AFC Jacksonville provides that essential urgent care to each patient, in a fast, friendly, and efficient manner. We will have your seen by one of our many qualified doctors ...
" As reported from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 130 million people visited the Emergency Room in 2012. Between 50-60% of these visits were due to non-life threatening conditions such as a sore throat or sprain. These visits cause problems within the Emergency Room because they slow down the process and tie up the staff. AFC provides the same medical services as the Emergency Room for nearly 1/5 the cost. Our compassionate ...
" Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that affects millions of Americans each year. The symptoms of the flu can range from mild to severe and result in nearly 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths per year The best and most effective way to prevent the flu virus is with an annual flu shot. The flu vaccination is made and administered every year to help protect you against this very adaptable virus. It is highly ...
" Despite our best efforts to maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, wash our hands and steer clear of germs, we’ve all experienced the inevitable sick day. You know what we mean. You may not be sure of the cause, but you just don’t feel so hot. Runny noses, upset stomachs, skin rashes, cuts and scrapes are just part of the drill when it comes to being human. And while we’d like to ...
