As the seasons change and the temperature drops, it's not uncommon to hear warnings about the arrival of cold and flu season. During this time, many people become more wary of their health and take extra precautions to avoid getting sick. However, amidst the heightened awareness, numerous myths and misconceptions about this season have been perpetuated over the years. American Family Care (AFC) debunks these myths and separates fact from fiction, enabling you to ...
When your ears start suddenly ringing, it can be alarming. That sudden, persistent noise– known as tinnitus– can range from a slight annoyance to a disruptive distraction. While it’s not often a cause for immediate concern, understanding why your ear might start suddenly ringing is an important aspect of knowing when it might be necessary to seek medical care. In this blog, we’ll explore a few main causes for sudden ear ringing and ...
Feeling nauseous is an unpleasant sensation that can disrupt your day and leave you searching for answers. While occasional nausea can be attributed to something like motion sickness or a stomach bug, persistent and recurring nausea can signal an underlying health issue is present. If you find yourself feeling nauseous all the time, it’s important to seek a professional diagnosis. In this blog, we’ll explore a few potential reasons behind this discomfort. For ...
Is an Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic Like Going to the ER? If you find yourself with an emergency medical condition that needs to be dealt with, it can often become an overwhelming situation. Thoughts of long waits, expensive treatments, and procedures at a hospital emergency room (ER) may cross your mind. However, the ER isn't always your only option - have you ever considered visiting an urgent care walk-in clinic? Urgent care clinics like AFC ...
Getting Strep Without Tonsils? Is It Possible? AFC Elizabeth NJ Has Answers for You Is getting strep without tonsils possible? The short answer is yes. Strep throat is caused by a particular strain of bacteria, group A Streptococcus. These bacteria can live in the nose and mouth. The bacteria are spread through an infected person's saliva or mucus and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. A person without tonsils can contract the infection if ...
Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia? Can bronchitis turn into pneumonia? In some cases, this happens when the inflammation of the bronchial tubes persists for some time and is not treated properly, leading to a bacterial or viral infection that can cause pneumonia. When bronchitis becomes severe, the tiny hair-like structures (cilia) that line the bronchi can become damaged, making it difficult for mucus to clear from the lungs. This trapped mucus creates a breeding ground ...
What Are the Degrees of Burns? A Guide to Identifying Burns So, what are the degrees of burns? If you’ve been wondering how to identify burns, we’ve got the answers for you. Burns are a common injury that can occur from various sources, including hot liquids, fire, chemicals, and sun exposure. Depending on the severity of the burn, it can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, it is crucial ...
Have you ever experienced the sniffles one day and felt better the next? Only to then have a runny nose again a day later? It’s a familiar scenario for many people during cold and flu season. The unpredictability of cold symptoms can leave us wondering if these symptoms can come and go– and the short answer is yes. Cold symptoms often don’t follow a linear pattern. They can fluctuate in intensity and even ...
Navigating the challenges of immigration can be a stressful process. Part of the immigration journey involves undergoing a comprehensive immigration physical examination. This exam is a crucial step in determining an individual’s eligibility for immigration and ensuring public health safety. Undergoing a medical assessment can be intimidating, but understanding what to expect can alleviate concerns and simplify the process. Keep reading to learn more about what a typical immigration physical includes. Do you need ...
As we get closer to the peak cold and flu season, many of us may be preparing for endless sick days in bed. While the fall and winter months always seem to bring about a range of different illnesses, there are ways we can be better prepared for the season. It’s crucial to be able to recognize the different seasonal symptoms we can experience, and when it might be necessary to seek professional medical ...
Fall is a beautiful time of year, marked by changing leaves and cooler temperatures. However, for many individuals, it’s also the season of allergies. Ragweed, mold spores, and dust mites are just a few of the allergens that tend to be more prevent during the autumn months. As allergy sufferers navigate through this season, there’s often many questions about certain symptoms that can appear. In this blog post, we’ll explore the relationship ...
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 ...
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 ...
Ear infections are a common ailment, and they can affect people of all ages. They often bring symptoms like earaches, pain, fever, and difficulty hearing– but can they also cause jaw pain? In this blog post, we’ll explore the connection between ear infection and jaw pain so you can seek the appropriate medical care when necessary. For same-day ear infection treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Elizabeth. Our board-certified medical providers ...
As we gradually move through fall, it’s not uncommon to experience symptoms like a runny nose, cough, or fever. But in today’s world, every sniffle and cough can leave us wondering which illness we have– is it a cold, the flu, or even COVID-19? While these illnesses share some similarities in symptoms, they have some key differences. In this blog, we’ll help you distinguish between the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19 ...
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. Check-In Online The Importance of Sports Physicals Physicals ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Promoting a healthy and safe work environment is not only essential for the well-being of your employees but also important for the success of your business. An occupational health program can significantly improve employee morale, enhance productivity, and ensure compliance with workplace safety regulations. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the importance of an occupational health program and outline the steps to establish one for your business. To start an occupational health program ...
