Recent Blog Posts

When it comes to your health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventive care is all about staying ahead of potential health issues by identifying and addressing them early on. It's like giving your body a regular check-up to catch any problems before they become major concerns. Read further to learn more about preventive health screening tests. What Is Preventive Care? Preventive care is a proactive approach to health management ...

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Sports Physicals: Getting Ready to Go Back to School Before hitting the field, court, or track, there's a crucial checkpoint that ensures the well-being of our student-athletes: sports physicals.  These check-ups are a proactive approach to safeguarding the health and performance of young athletes. They not only fulfill school and sports league requirements but also serve as a comprehensive assessment to detect and prevent potential health issues. Save Your Spot The Importance of Sports Physicals Physicals ...

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Pain in the lower left side of the abdomen in females can indicate unique problems related to women’s health. Learn more about what can cause pain and when to seek medical attention. Where is the pain coming from? There are many organs on the left side of the abdomen. When experiencing lower left side pain, it could be coming from one of these organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic: Small intestine Colon Appendix Ovaries ...

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From 2010 to 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated there were 9.4 million to 41 million flu illnesses every year. But there is an easy way to protect yourself — the flu shot. Studies show that the severity of the flu is significantly less if you catch the flu but are vaccinated. The CDC says the flu vaccine reduces the risk of seeing a doctor for the flu by 40% to ...

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As soon as the autumn air rolls in, the urge to embrace the fall sports season is immeasurable. Playing a sport, whether a pro or an amateur, can bring joy, relief and a sense of achievement. However, with joy and accomplishment comes the risk of getting injured. In this blog, we will see what common sports injuries arise in the fall season and how you can prevent or get treatment at an urgent care center ...

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A sinus infection is a common ailment that affects a large part of the population yearly. The headaches and pain caused by sinus infections can be extremely distressing. They also come with nasal congestion and post-nasal dripping, which creates the notion that they are contagious. In this blog, we will dive into the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this infection while also addressing whether they are contagious. For same-day sinus infection diagnosis and a ...

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I Have an STD, But I'm Not Sexually Active If you have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) but are not sexually active, there are a few reasons why this could be the case. "STD" refers to the constellation of diseases that result from a sexually transmitted infection (STI). For example, cervical cancer is an STD from the STI of HPV. Though it is possible to contract an STI even if you are not ...

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Spider bites can range from a harmless annoyance to a more potentially dangerous condition– depending on the species of spider and the individual reaction to the bite. While most spider bites are harmless and cause minor irritation, it’s important to be able to identify and treat them properly. In this blog, we’ll discuss how you can identify different types of spider bites and provide guidance on treatment methods. For same-day care, visit the ...

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Running is a great physical activity that has many benefits to our overall health and wellness. However, as with other forms of exercise, it’s not uncommon to experience certain discomforts or side-effects. One symptom that many runners may experience is coughing. While it can be alarming, coughing after running can be a normal response that does not always raise concern. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the reasons for coughing after running ...

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What does hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) look like? The symptoms can look different for kids and adults. See what the symptoms can be and how to treat them. What is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease? HFMD is a common viral illness caused by the enterovirus, most commonly the coxsackievirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the disease primarily affects children under 5, but anyone, including adults, can contract it. It’s typically a mild illness. The disease ...

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Discovering a tick bite on your child can be a cause for concern, but knowing how to handle the situation can help ensure their well-being. Hence, this article provides guidance on what to do if you find a tick on your child, highlights the risks and symptoms associated with Lyme disease, and offers suggestions for prevention and treatment. What to Do If You Find a Tick on Your Child  First and foremost, carefully remove the ...

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Heat rash is sometimes called prickly heat or sweat rash. It's typically a harmless condition but causes severe itching on the skin. In this condition, a person will experience small red spots in places where most of the sweat collects. The most common areas are the armpits, back, chest, groin, elbow ceases and under the breasts. Heat rash is usually caused by excessive sweating, commonly in summer or hot climates. For same-day heat rash ...

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If you have a broken bone or a fracture, urgent care may be able to help. Learn the different types of fractures (broken bones), what we treat, and when to go to the ER vs. urgent care. How Do You Know a Bone is Broken? Every year, millions of people break a bone. Broken bones typically result from a trauma like a fall, car accident, or sports injury. Medical conditions such as osteoporosis or repetitive ...

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This summer, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration. When participating in activity under the sun’s strong rays, you’re at a higher risk of dehydration which can cause a range of uncombable and debilitating symptoms. Proper hydration is vital for proper body function, so can dehydration cause muscle aches? This blog will explore the answer to that question and explain when to seek medical attention for dehydration ...

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Tennis elbow is a condition that causes significant discomfort to the arm. If you’re someone who participates in frequent physical activity, you could be at risk for getting tennis elbow. It’s important to recognize how the condition feels and what causes it. This blog will explore the symptoms and treatment options for tennis elbow. For same-day care, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Bedford. Our medical providers can examine your condition ...

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Physical for sports exams, also known as pre-participation physical examinations (PPEs), help determine whether a person is physically fit to participate in organized sports activities. This physical exam aims to identify any possible medical conditions that could put the athlete at risk for severe injury or illness during practice or competition. Sports physicals are typically done annually, though some states may require more frequent exams based on age and the type of sport being played ...

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Ear infections are quite common, especially in children. The symptoms of an ear infection can be painful and an ear infection can result in a loss of hearing if it’s not treated. Anytime you or your children start to experience the symptoms of an ear infection visit AFC Urgent Care Bedford right away to have one of our medical providers perform an ear exam. For same-day ear infection treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at ...

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Now that the warmer weather is here and people are going to be spending more time outside it’s important to protect yourself from ticks. Tick bites can cause Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can cause severely disabling symptoms. Every year more than 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease and that number is increasing every year. Knowing what to watch out for and how to protect yourself from tick bites is important ...

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While it is possible to develop lower back and leg pain from COVID, there are also several other causes. As experts in urgent healthcare services, AFC in Bedford indicates why you might be experiencing back pain after COVID and explains some other reasons you might have lower back pain.    Lower Back and Leg Pain from COVID Lower back pain is a possible symptom of COVID-19. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given ...

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So, what is mono, and what are the symptoms? American Family Care in Bedford has answers, and treatment, for you.  Mononucleosis (mono) is an infectious viral disease most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but other viruses can also cause it. Also sometimes known as the “kissing disease,” mono is spread through saliva and can even be passed from person to person from sharing cutlery and utensils. According to the CDC, mono occurs mainly ...

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