Recent Blog Posts

As a prominent care provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine services nationwide, American Family Care (AFC) is uniquely positioned to guide and educate the public on pertinent health issues, such as the FDA’s recent decisions on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine.  The FDA held a Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting on September 11-12, 2023, to deliberate on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cough ...

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Why You Should See an Urgent Care Doctor for Wart Removal Home remedies for warts might not be as effective as you hope, so we recommend seeing an urgent care doctor for wart removal to treat these pesky growths at their source. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can appear almost anywhere on the body, causing both physical discomfort and self-consciousness. This article takes you through everything you need to know about ...

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Cold and flu season is here to stay for a while once more, and we are all doing what we can to avoid getting sick. Getting proper sleep, eating well and taking care of our bodies can go a long way to helping us avoid infection. However, certain illnesses can still find their way into our systems even if we do everything right. This is certainly true with stubborn infections like the flu, strep throat ...

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Now that the kids are back in school and you have your family routine down to a science, it’s time to start thinking about the cold and flu season approaching fast. It is normal for kids and parents alike to contract a few illnesses throughout this season, so being aware of different symptoms and circulating infections is important. The common cold, the flu and COVID-19 are all possibilities for your family as we head ...

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Getting older comes with so many privileges and wonderful life experiences, but it also comes with its challenges. You may not be as agile as you used to be, and maybe you are a bit unsteady on your feet at times. While kids and even younger adults can trip or slip while at home and probably will get up without much thought, it can be harder to get off the floor when you are older ...

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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. Pre-Register The Importance of Sports Physicals Physicals ...

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A proper diet and regular exercise are crucial to a healthy lifestyle, but other choices you make on a daily basis also contribute to your overall health. Choosing to smoke not only is bad for your health in the short-term, but it has the potential to cause some significant health issues for you later in life. We know that tobacco is highly addictive, and it can be really hard to quit! However, finding your motivation ...

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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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Our bodies are incredibly complex. They have the most unique and intricate systems of maintaining and facilitating our needs on a daily basis, and we really don’t give them the credit they deserve! Each of our systems need to work in tandem to keep us healthy and avoid injury, but sometimes, things can go awry and you may be wondering what is going on. This is where our AFC Urgent Care Cleveland team shines ...

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We are right in the heart of the summer season here in Cleveland, and we are hoping you are enjoying spending time outside in the warmth just like us. While you are out and about, chances are that you will encounter a few bugs here and there. It is the South, after all Bugs are often just a nuisance and can be swatted away, but sometimes they can bite or sting and leave painful marks ...

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Feeling sick is never fun, but it can be especially troublesome if you suspect an STD, or sexually transmitted disease. While they can be uncomfortable, they are really common! In fact, one in five Americans experience an STD in a given year. Since those odds are pretty significant, you may find yourself wondering if you need to be tested one day. Did you know that AFC tests and treats STDs? Our AFC Urgent Care Cleveland ...

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Memory diseases and dementia can be incredibly intimidating to think about. No one wants to consider the possibility of losing precious memories or relationships with loved ones. Unfortunately, almost 55 million people around the world have some type of dementia such as Alzheimer’s. If you occasionally lose your keys or have trouble recalling certain parts of a story, that is usually not a cause for immediate concern. When your memory troubles appear alongside a ...

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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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Getting hurt is never fun, but it is a part of life. Being active and participating in sports, physical activity and just day-to-day life always carries a certain level of risk. While minor injuries are not a big deal, injuries like broken bones can be really painful and need medical attention. Thankfully, that’s where we come in! We have the tools and equipment necessary to help diagnose your injury, and we can help you ...

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If you have ever been pregnant before, you know all of the rules and recommendations around what you should and shouldn’t be eating. It can be exhausting keeping track of it all! However, these guidelines are in place to protect you and your growing baby. Coming down with food poisoning is never fun, but it is especially frustrating and even potentially dangerous to do so while you are pregnant. Our AFC Urgent Care Cleveland ...

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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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The summer months will be here before you know it, but the impacts of the sun are already here! While it can be nice to enjoy the warm sun on your face while out and about, it is important to protect your skin from the dangers of the sun’s rays. Your risk of having skin cancer increases with every sunburn that you suffer. This is why a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen will ...

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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 Cleveland 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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Treating your body well is crucial to live a healthy life. Diet and exercise is good for your overall health, but it also supports parts of your body that you may not think about on a daily basis. When it comes to your bones, a healthy lifestyle is crucial! Our bones support your entire bodies by providing structure, protecting our organs, and facilitating our muscle movement. Building strength in your bones is important no matter ...

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So, what is mono, and what are the symptoms? American Family Care in Cleveland 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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