When in an accident or concerned you may be sick, it’s always important to find medical help. It’s not uncommon for conditions to be far worse than people may realize, leading them to avoid seeking help until it is too late. Oftentimes, this is because people believe that receiving medical attention isn’t as easy as it should be. When seeking immediate aid, most people turn directly to the emergency room. Unfortunately, not ...
With Fall beginning this week, a discussion about skin cancer seems a season too late. Yet if there’s one thing to know about skin cancer, it’s that it is always a threat, regardless of the season and regardless of where you live in the country. Nothing illustrates this more than Oregon’s disproportionately high rate of skin cancer. While sunny climates and skin cancer rates have a direct correlation, Oregon’s number of ...
The weather outside is getting frightful, which must mean we’ve entered the winter season. For people with all skin types, it can be a lot more challenging to keep skin healthy and moisturized in the cold, unforgiving air outside and the dry, punishing heat inside. Your skin is your body’s first line of defense when it comes to preventing illness, so keeping it healthy can directly influence how you feel all winter long ...
Winter’s approaching, and with the cold weather, winter’s bringing a host of illnesses with it. Each week, you probably notice more and more people around you sneezing and coughing. Common winter illnesses include influenza, bronchitis, the common cold, strep throat and pneumonia. Because all of these illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be easy to misdiagnose illnesses during this season. To help people avoid mixing up these illnesses, we have prepared a winter ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
