Recent Blog Posts

" Spring has sprung and so have those nasty springtime allergies. The pollens, the molds; they might be tiny, but they sure can have a huge impact on your health. But, for about 25 million people in the United States that suffer from asthma, spring allergies pose an even larger risk. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, about 60 percent of all asthma sufferers have something called allergic asthma. Allergies may be a ...

Read more..

We’re in the thick of pollen season, where everything from vehicles to patio furniture is painted a bright yellow, signaling the sign of spring and misery for allergy sufferers across the country. Itchy eyes, excessive sneezing, mucus buildup, and congestion are just a few allergy symptoms that have so many of us pleading for any ounce of relief. Luckily, there are simple and natural ways, like changing your eating habits, that help treat and ...

Read more..

" When the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and a light breeze is blowing, it is oh-so-tempting to throw open the windows and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Maybe you are even itching (pun intended) to roll up your sleeves and tackle some serious spring cleaning. But if you are one of the more than 20 million sufferers of allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, you know that picture-perfect scene brings ...

Read more..

" The signs of spring are all around; flowers blooming, bees buzzing, noses sneezing, and chests wheezing. Yes indeed, spring can be a beautiful time of the year, but it’s also a peak time for seasonal allergies. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), allergies are a major cause of illness in the United States. As many as 50 million people — about one in five — suffer from allergies. Seasonal allergies, like other ...

Read more..

It seems like no sooner does the sneezing and wheezing from one season end that the next one begins. And so it goes. The winter cold and flu season that ravaged the country was a doozy. Now, we are enjoying longer days, more sunshine and nature’s reproduction cycle at work. Which is to say, pollen season is upon us. Just look outside. Cooler states started to see plants release pollen in February and March ...

Read more..

" You’ve probably had that scratchy, itchy feeling. The one that starts in the back of your throat and suddenly turns into a painful burning sensation. Some people say it’s like trying to swallow broken glass. Now that’s a pretty vivid description of the common sore throat and if you have ever had one that bad then you’re not likely to forget it. Usually, a simple sore throat will come along with ...

Read more..

With this year’s overwhelming flu activity reaching every corner of the nation, it’s important to remain educated on the potential hot spots and preventative measures to avoid flu-related germs. Doctor’s offices, school classrooms, the gym, and even your workplace are among the top culprits for contracting seasonal influenza. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American adult spends more hours during the week at their place of work ...

Read more..

Doctors recommend adults get between seven to nine hours of sleep per night. However, according to HuffPost, more than a third of Americans regularly do not sleep enough. That means that roughly 83.6 million adults in the U.S. alone are sleep deprived. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 34.8 percent of American adults get less than seven hours of sleep per night. Worse yet, 11.8 ...

Read more..

The weather’s cold, the days are short, and the cold and flu viruses are running rampant. It’s likely that sometime this season, you’ll find yourself with a bit of a cough. Coughing is the body’s way of trying to clear your airways. It’s a natural occurrence and is rarely the sign of anything serious. The cause of a cough varies widely and so do the treatments, but it’s important ...

Read more..

" New Year’s resolutions fell by the wayside weeks ago (do you still do that?) and the cold and flu season has gripped the country in a vise that has been hard to shake. This time of year, the effort to live a healthy and balanced life can seem like a losing battle. Hey, don’t give up! Daffodils are sprouting. Spring is on its way. February is heart health month and Valentine’s Day ...

Read more..

" Most years, the terms “flu season” and “flu shot” are viewed as a pesky seasonal rite of passage, a nuisance, another thing on your to-do list. But this year, the virulent H3N2 virus — which has been circulating for 50 years and dubbed the “Hong Kong flu” — is getting peoples’ attention. The 2017–2018 flu season epidemic is expected to kill more than 50,000 people of all ages, many of whom appeared healthy “just a ...

Read more..

" The influenza virus, commonly known as the flu, varies from year to year, both in terms of what type of flu is most common and how hard it hits various geographic locations. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, is reporting widespread activity in nearly all parts of the United States. Gathering Data The weekly influenza surveillance report takes a snapshot of the flu and influenza-like illness (ILI) activity each week. The ...

Read more..

" A drip, a scratch, a-choo, a stuffy nose and a cough. These are the tell-tale signs of the most common ailment in the world — the common cold. Between the drier air outside, which may make your nose drier and more vulnerable to a viral infection, and people spending more time together inside — whether at home, school or daycare — this is definitely the time of year cold season kicks into high gear, especially in children. In ...

Read more..

Winter sports are fun but not always the safest activities. If you imagine yourself careening down a hill towards another skier or skating on the rink and then getting nailed by a hockey puck – well, you can probably see how and why plenty of cold-weather athletes wind up seeing a doctor unexpectedly. And you don’t have to imagine. Statistics make it clear how dangerous winter sports can be. According to the U.S. Consumer ...

Read more..

" A storm is brewing. Are you ready? Even if you’re reading this when the skies are sunny and blue, chances are, sooner or later, you’re going to be confronted with inclement weather. Maybe you live in a part of the country that’s visited by hurricanes or tornadoes. Perhaps you live in a snowbelt. If you’re in the West, maybe wildfires, earthquakes or dust storms are your concern. Whatever your variety of ...

Read more..

November is National Diabetes Month, an event designed to bring attention to diabetes and the impact this disease has every day on millions of Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association®, Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2015, 30.3 million Americans suffered from diabetes, and approximately 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in America alone. While there is no cure for diabetes yet, there ...

Read more..

If you visit AFC Urgent Care this November, you might notice some of our male associates rocking a different look. In fact, you might begin noticing men around your town developing a sudden fondness for facial hair — particularly the moustache. It’s no coincidence that men are suddenly sporting an upper lip with zip this November. That’s because there’s a global movement to recognize November as “Movember,” and it’s all for a ...

Read more..

" You probably think to visit the doctor when your nagging cough has lasted for more than a few weeks, or if you had a sudden injury on the job. Your options for medical care are more than likely a visit to your primary care physician, or the emergency room. You know booking an appointment with your primary care physician is a far stretch, but you give it a try anyways.  You call to set up ...

Read more..

" It never seems to fail! By the time the new school year rolls around, and just as you’re getting your new family routine in place, somebody gets sick. Pretty soon, everyone’s back in the bed battling who knows what and your routine is out the window. Nobody likes to be stuck at home sick, and the consequences can be more stressful than just a blown schedule. With the pace of academics these days ...

Read more..

" Eating fresh produce is always a good idea when it comes to your health, but eating in-season fruits and vegetables can be even more beneficial for your well-being. A diet rich in produce can help reduce the risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and even some forms of cancer. By eating seasonally, you’ll get the full nutritional value of the produce and ingest less chemicals, all while saving money and ...

Read more..