Getting sick can be a really big source of frustration, especially when you have a busy week ahead! It can be even more frustrating when you are feeling sick but have no idea what is causing your symptoms.

Thankfully, we are here to help! Our team is dedicated to caring for you and we are grateful to have multiple different diagnostic tools, like a state-of-the-art lab, at our disposal to help us along the way.

Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Hickory team explains more about our lab and how it can help diagnose you faster and more accurately.

What Can the Lab Diagnose?

One of the most common tests we run in our lab are rapid tests. We can test for illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, RSV and strep throat in just a few minutes! This means you will be able to focus on feeling better right away instead of waiting hours or days for test results. We can also do urinalysis and cultures that help us identify the beginnings of an infection.

That’s not all we do in our lab, though! We can also run common blood tests to help figure out what is causing your symptoms. One test we run often is called a CBC, or complete blood count. This simple test takes a sample of your blood and counts and measures your blood cells. This information is really helpful in offering a diagnosis because your blood cell levels are incredibly important in determining your health.

Common Illnesses Diagnosed After a CBC

• Anemia
• An infection
• Immune system disorders
• Blood diseases

How Do You Get Anemia?

Anemia isn’t contagious, and it is more of a condition than a sickness. Anemia develops when your red blood cell count drops below the normal range and your body isn’t producing as many as it should. This simple imbalance can cause you to feel really sick!

People experiencing anemia can have symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue and lightheadedness. If you ever feel any of these symptoms or aren’t feeling right and want to know why, come see us for a few different tests and we will help you feel better right away.

Treating Anemia

• Eat iron-rich foods like lean meat, fish, eggs and dried beans.
• Consume more folic acid from dark, leafy green vegetables.
• Increase your vitamin D intake.
• Take an iron supplement as prescribed.

Have you been feeling faint or lightheaded? Come see us for a quick CBC test at AFC Urgent Care Hickory.