Recent Blog Posts

Debunking Flu Myths

You’ve probably have heard that you can get the flu from getting the flu shot, or that it’s just a really bad cold.  While getting the flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against influenza, there are some common misconceptions about the flu shot. You can get the flu from the flu shot. No, you can’t actually get the flu from getting the flu shot.  The flu vaccination is made ...

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Heart Health Warning Signs You Should Look Out For

It’s the middle of February, which means our New Year’s resolutions are either new habits or fond memories. We at AFC Urgent Care are hoping that one of your resolutions was to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to help you stay on track, we have compiled a list of things to look out for when you’re evaluating your health. As February is American Heart Month, we’ll go over what could indicate ...

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April Is Medication Safety Month

Medicine is probably one of mankind’s biggest accomplishments. It can be listed up there with farming, electricity and the microchip as one of the advances that fundamentally changed how people lived, mainly because it gave us power over our own bodies that we had never had before. It might seem counterintuitive to think that medications could ever hurt us, but the reality is that medication misuse and adverse reactions cause more than 700,000 ...

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Staying Safe Outdoors

Now that spring is in full swing, you and your family will likely be spending more time outside taking part in activities and enjoying the beautiful weather. However, there are some dangers unique to the outdoors that you should be aware of, to keep your family healthy all season. Here at AFC Urgent Care, we have some tips on how to avoid a seasonal trip to your urgent care center! Wear sunscreen — even when it ...

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Why Your Child Should Get a Sports Physical Every Year

It’s early spring, which means it’s time for all young athletes to get ready to join their teams to compete in the spring, summer or fall. According to a report Sports and Fitness Industry  Association, about 21.47 million children in the United States participate in organized sports, which comes to about 75 percent of boys and 69 percent of girls. One essential step in your preparation for your sport of choice should ...

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Keeping Your Child Active and Healthy During the School Year

For many kids, the summer is a three-month-long outdoor adventure, and they celebrate the warm weather and free time by riding bikes, hiking and playing sports. But as the school year begins, it can become harder for families to carve out the time to be active and stay healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids are getting less physical activity and more junk food than ever, which can lead to a ...

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Flu Season Facts, Part 2

Here is the second part of our series on flu season! We hope you took our advice from last week and got your flu shot! We’re going to get a bit more into the nitty-gritty about how the flu spreads and what makes the flu vaccine work. So hang on, we’re diving right in! The influenza virus is a respiratory virus, and it spreads primarily through contact with respiratory droplets. However, these droplets ...

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The Zika Virus – What You Need to Know Now: Part Two

Mosquitoes have always been a source of annoyance and big, itchy, red bites. Usually we only need to worry about them in the summer, but the Zika virus outbreak is causing people to sweat throughout the world. So, what exactly is Zika? We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about Zika virus. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus has been known to ...

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The Zika Virus – What You Need to Know Now: Part One

Mosquitoes have always been a source of annoyance. Usually we only need to worry about them in the summer, but the Zika virus outbreak is causing people to sweat throughout the world. So, what exactly is Zika? We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about Zika virus. Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus has been known to circulate Africa, the Americas, Asia ...

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol is one of the most popular addictive drugs on the planet, but it’s one that people still haven’t quite learned how to use safely. Every year, more than 2.6 million Americans are hospitalized due to complications or injuries related to alcohol. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so to help bring attention to this issue and give you the tools to enjoy a drink safely, AFC Urgent Care compiled a list of ...

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A Short List of the Most Common Services Provided by Urgent Care Clinics

Urgent care clinics have become incredibly important health resources for people across the world, and with around two new walk in clinics opening up every single day, it’s estimated that there will be at least 15,000 urgent care centers by 2019. That means thousands of people every week will receive the emergency care and preventative care they need, without wasting money or time in a hospital emergency room. So what exactly can you ...

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How Can I Improve My Health in 2020?

 We all want to be our best selves in 2020. That’s impossible to do without good health! Whether you’ve already carved out some resolutions or not, our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants to encourage you to add some healthy lifestyle goals for the year. Read on as we offer some suggestions on living a healthier lifestyle. How Can I Fit in Exercise? Start with making it a priority! Physical activity promotes ...

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Debunking Flu Shot Myths

While the start of October marks the arrival of fall’s many wonderful elements, such as apple picking, gorgeous weather and the start of the Trailblazers’ season, it unfortunately also means the start of flu season. Although flu season doesn’t peak until mid-winter, there have already been a number of cases reported throughout the United States. The flu will continue to spread all the way into mid-spring, making now the perfect time to receive ...

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Learn The Symptoms Of Heat-Related Illnesses

It doesn’t take much to overheat your body when it’s hot out. Even if you dress appropriately, hydrate regularly and avoid peak sun hours, you still might find yourself suffering from heat-related illnesses. Since there are various levels of severity involved with heat-related illness, it may be a good time to review common symptoms. This way you’ll know when to take it slow and hydrate, and when to see a doctor. Issue ...

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Can Cold Weather Cause a Cold?

 Old man winter might be moving into town, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily will be stuck at home with a cold because of it. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants you to know what can bring about the common cold, as well as ways to treat the cold virus as quickly as possible so that you can enjoy your holiday with family! What Causes a Common Cold? A common cold is ...

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Be Thankful for Your Health

Turkey, pumpkin pie, loved ones and gratitude are hallmarks of the season. We sit around the table, poised to dive into tempting treats, and talk about our comfortable homes or new jobs or time spent with family. We are thankful. Being thankful means pausing to think about what is important in our lives, as well as why these things are important in our lives. As the words “I’m thankful for my health” cross your ...

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4 Trends That Show Urgent Care Is Increasing In Popularity

Deciding to visit an urgent care instead of a hospital? You’re not alone. Urgent care clinics have been steadily popping up across the country over the past six years, and it’s not just because people enjoy having easy access to physicians right in their neighborhood. In addition to the fact that most are open seven days a week for at least 12 hours a day during the week, the average urgent care clinic ...

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Don’t Wait To Schedule An Annual Exam

Find Out How Important It Is to Regularly See A Primary Care Physician For A Wellness Visit Annual checkups, often referred to as a ‘wellness visit‘, are offered by most insurance providers as part of an individual’s standard coverage. Yet many people fail to take full advantage of this important and sometimes life saving part of their insurance plan. It might seem minor or insignificant at the time, but the little things that a ...

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Flu Season Facts, Part 1

The influenza virus is a seasonal epidemic that typically hits the United States around October and can last until May. Even though this is a yearly occurrence, there are still some misconceptions about the flu and what people should do to protect themselves. To keep our readers informed, we are doing a two-part series on important facts people should know about the flu. Part two will be released next week. The flu is not just ...

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How Does Diabetes Affect Your Health?

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Health? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 100 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants to you learn the signs to watch out for when it comes to diabetes, as well as ways you can better manage your condition. What Is Diabetes? The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases defines diabetes as ...

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