" St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and those celebrations bring green beer and pub crawls. This St. Patrick’s Day, the team of physicians at your local AFC/Doctors Express wants to raise your awareness of binge drinking and the harmful effects that it may have on your health. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings the blood ...
" 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 ...
" We at American Family Care are hoping that one of your New Year’s resolutions was to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to help you stay on track, we have compiled a list of things to look out for when you’re evaluating your health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. You get exhausted easily. If you notice ...
" Over the past decade, America’s obsession with pumpkin has been growing. As we all know, pumpkins are no longer just for carving. What started as an innocent pumpkin spice flavored latte has turned into pumpkin spice breakfast sausage, pumpkin spice beer, pumpkin spice chewing gum and pumpkin-spice-flavored-everything! But that pumpkin obsession could pay off in the long run, with benefits to your health. In its raw state, pumpkin is a squash that is loaded ...
" 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 ...
" 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 ...
