Recent Blog Posts

Chances are high that you have experienced a stomachache at some point in your life. Whether it is from eating too much, experiencing a stomach bug or just having a bad case of gas, a stomachache can happen at any time. But how do you know when you need to see a physician? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants you to know how you can improve your gut health, as well as ways ...

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AH-CHOO! Oh, no! Are you starting to experience the symptoms of the flu? But, wait—you just got a flu shot, so how can you be experiencing flu symptoms? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants you to better understand how the flu vaccine works, as well as put an end to the myth about the flu shot giving you flu. Does the Flu Vaccine Work? Although researchers would like to think they have ...

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If you’ve ever arrived at the emergency room with an urgent medical concern, you know how frustrating it can be to sit in a waiting room while you continue to suffer. Emergency rooms these days are just too overcrowded, and they often fail to treat the specific ailments that you are facing. Urgent care facilities have revolutionized the emergency care process, making it faster and easier to receive immediate medical attention. Emergency room visits ...

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Testing for STDs is becoming more convenient as the years go on and technology evolves. For those seeking test results quickly, fast STD testing is available in more ways than one. Many urgent care facilities offer fast STD testing and have hours that are more convenient to patients than their primary care physician. While 29% of primary care doctors are available after-hours, many patients simply cannot get to them when they need to. For this ...

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Brace yourself. Cold and flu season is in full effect. It’s time for stuffy noses, the sniffles, and coughs loud enough to wake Sleeping Beauty to start plaguing the public. If you haven’t contracted either a cold or the flu yet, consider yourself lucky. But if you, like most people during this brutal time of year, came down with some sort of version of either, it’s likely that you sought some sort ...

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Getting medicine when you need it in America isn’t too difficult most of the time. Knowing how and where to get your medicine and healthcare is important, though. While many still believe the Emergency Room to be the go-to destination for any injury suffered while primary care physicians are unavailable, it’s actually Urgent Care centers which are most effective when it comes to non-life threatening injuries. There are a few reasons for this ...

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Not a lot of people know what level of care provided by community health clinics. Most people are still likely to admit themselves to an emergency room if they suffer a medical ailment. Rightly so, if the situation is an emergency. In less severe cases, people may schedule an appointment with their primary care physician, though the availability and operating hours of most primary care facilities limit people from going there during off hours. That ...

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When it comes to your family, you only want the best possible care for them, but you also want care that is accessible and affordable. Urgent care centers are steadily growing in popularity, with about two clinics opening their doors every single day. By 2019, that means there will be about 15,000 centers! The reason they have been so successful is in part due to the convenience that families are finding in them. Here ...

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Did you know that less than 30% of primary care physicians offer after-hours coverage? This can make it difficult for parents to get their kids an appointment, while also juggling their work schedule.  Luckily, there’s urgent care. Aside from offering more convenient hours, almost 70% of urgent care centers boast waiting times of less than 20 minutes, much less than that of an emergency room. Here are just five medical issues children and young ...

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According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children are the ones who need flu shots most. Federal health officials revealed that only four out of 10 babies in the U.S. between the ages of six and 23 months are getting vaccinated against the flu. The results were based on data analyzed from the 2011 and 2012 flu seasons. Between this current flu season and the 2002-2003 ...

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The panic that sets in when you or a loved one gets into an accident or is stricken with a serious illness is more than enough to cloud anyone’s judgement. Unfortunately, finding medical care as quickly as possible is not always an easy task. Even for those who happen to get to a hospital on time, there is no guarantee that they won’t be sitting in line for hours, waiting for the next ...

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With about two new urgent cares opening each day, by 2019 there will be 15,000 locations in the United States. These centers are known for providing emergency care, much of which people end up at the emergency room for. Many people don’t realize just how capable and fast the doctors at urgent care centers are. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 129.8 million individuals go to the ...

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After years of public notices and sex education classes, most people now understand the importance of sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing. However, this doesn’t make it any less nerve racking when waiting to hear results. Even getting in to see the doctor can end up being a painfully long and tense experience. When it comes time to get tested, some people may assume that the best place to go is a hospital. But waiting ...

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Vaccinations are one of the biggest public health innovations in history. Because of the myriad vaccines we have available, we have completely or nearly eliminated several devastating diseases, saving countless lives in the process. Diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough and chickenpox can be debilitating, or even fatal. In order to keep your children — and other students— healthy, you must ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date before school starts. AFC Urgent Care is there for you ...

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We couldn’t wait for warmer weather…well, now it’s here! Summer is well underway and with the sun and fun comes a number of safety concerns to keep in mind. With the right tools and preparation, summertime can be a safe and relaxing time for you and your family. Hydration: As the mercury rises this summer, pay close attention to your hydration. With increased temperatures and outdoor activities, our bodies tend to lose ...

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What would the world be like with no tobacco use? For one day, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants us to try and find out. WHO coordinates the annual World No Tobacco Day with the goal of eliminating tobacco use around the world. This year, the goal of World No Tobacco Day is to encourage countries to legislate the packaging allowances for tobacco companies. Plain packaging is proven to reduce the attractiveness of smoking and ...

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You may experience a hoarse cough, a stuffy nose, and feel sore even though you’re long overdue for a workout.  Are you experiencing a cold, or do you have the flu? The symptoms of the common cold and the flu are very similar.  Some of the similarities include: Dry cough Runny or stuffy nose Watery eyes But the biggest differences between common cold and flu symptoms is that the flu comes on very suddenly ...

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The time has finally come where we start to say goodbye to the summer season and gearing up for fall! And what is one of the most favorite pastimes of the fall season among Americans? Sports! Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants to help you step forward into the fall sports season with some insight about how to keep your young athlete safe on the field or court. Read on as we take ...

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The United States is one of the most diverse nations in the world. As different as we may seem, our health issues can be very similar. Health care trends tend to be pretty consistent across large swaths of the population, so it’s important to pay attention when one becomes widespread. Your local AFC Urgent Care can advise you on which conditions should concern you and how to take action to prevent them. The No ...

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" This Valentine’s Day, show your loved one you care by sharing your love, not your germs. Date nights are no fun if you both end up getting sick, so here are some tips for keeping you (and your date) healthy this Valentine’s Day. If You’re Sick, Postpone It may put a damper on your plans, but if you or your date are sick, do both of you a favor and postpone! Valentine ...

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