BUZZ BUZZ…We’re now approaching angry bee season! During the late summer and early fall, bees and wasps become really aggressive and are more likely to sting you if provoked. Specifically, yellow jackets are the ones getting angry and stinging everyone because they’re getting close to the end of their life cycle and are preparing to die off. Bee stings hurt!.... and for some they can be potentially fatal, if you’re allergic ...
Come August, your child is going to be needing their annual physical to prepare for a new school year. It’s the most important physical of the year and it covers a whole lot more than a sports physical or check up. And, guess what?! This school year is going to be In-person. So, if your child skipped their physical last year, you don’t want them to miss this. An annual physical will help ...
Every adult who is sexually active should get tested regularly for STDs. This will help you understand your own physical health, but also the health of your partner. In 2018, over 1.7 million people tested positive for chlamydia. If you know you have an STD, you should always use protection, and talk to your partner. STIs can also cause problems later in life if they are not dealt with. AFC Urgent Care Springfield offers ...
Bronchitis happens when the tubes that carry oxygen to your lungs become inflamed or swollen. It can happen chronically, where the symptoms are reoccurring or never go away, or it can be acute, where symptoms go away in a few weeks. Acute bronchitis is contagious because it is caused by a bacteria or virus. Chronic bronchitis, however, is not because a specific lung irritant normally causes it. If you think you are experiencing bronchitis or ...
Winter in New England and other northern states means it’s time to turn in the lawnmower and sprinklers and to bring out the snow blower and warm clothes. With temperatures dropping and the chance of snow rising, we are reintroduced to another season of defrosting windows and slippery sidewalks. Winter brings on a whole new list of potential sickness and injuries. Here are a few common winter health problems and tips on staying safe ...
Handwashing is something that we learn at a young age and use for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get a little lazy over the years and years of hand washing. It may seem silly to reevaluate the way you wash your hands after so many years of doing it, but it’s always a good idea to take a step back and check in! Common Handwashing Mistakes There are three ...
The winter can be a wonderful time of year. Families all over the world come together to enjoy what can be a winter wonderland. As snow blankets homes and cities, one can forget just how dangerous winter can be. While the holidays may come and go, the inconvenience of the snow lingers long into the New Year. Understanding Heart Limitations While it may seem like snowfall increases yearly, and it’s getting harder to shovel ...
With Bladder Health Month this November, our team at AFC Urgent Care Springfield wants you to start paying attention to a part of your body you might not think about until you go to the restroom—your bladder. There are several bladder problems out there, including cystitis, overactive bladder, and interstitial cystitis. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about urinary incontinence, an incredibly common medical condition. What Causes Urinary Incontinence? Both men ...
November is Bladder Health Month! We don’t often think about our bladders until something is wrong, but this month provides the opportunity to learn more about keeping the bladder healthy. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Springfield offers some perspective on the topic. What Are the Symptoms of Bladder Issues? While many of us think about our health in terms of eating better foods and exercising more, it can also mean ...
New Year’s has passed, have you started working towards your resolutions? If you’re still trying to find the time or motivation to begin your healthier lifestyle this year, we’re here to help. Losing a few pounds this year can be achieved in the comfort of your own home with the right exercises. Of course, you should pair these daily exercises with a healthy diet and a good sleep schedule to see the ...
Slipping and falling on ice can cause serious, even fatal, head and bone injuries. Walking is not usually a treacherous activity so it can be easy for people to become overly confident when moving across ice and snow. When temperatures are dropping, keep all of these tips in mind to avoid slipping on ice. What to wear Wear appropriate shoes with good traction. Rubber-soled shoes or boots with deep grooves are usually the safest options ...
Everyone’s least favorite season is here: cold and flu season. Is your immune system ready to battle the viruses and bacterium? Here are 5 common tips that will help you build a healthy immune system. When it’s working correctly, the immune system is the body’s ultimate defense against disease. Bone marrow produces white blood cells that use infection-fighting antibodies to attack antigens. The immune system is incredibly complex, and it has been ...
AFC Urgent Care Springfield would like to wish you a happy Halloween! Halloween is full of costumes & scares & most importantly the candy! We know the spooky holiday consist of a huge binge of candy at the end of the night but did you know that children eat an estimated 7,000 calories on Halloween night? On average children should be eating between 1,500-2,000 calories a day! Within 7,000 calories that children eat ...
It is the end of October & the flu is still here! You cannot forget about the flu this time of the year since flu season is almost at its peak. The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to get your flu shot! If you have not gotten yours yet AFC Urgent Care Springfield offers them all flu season! If you are having doubts about the flu shot, we will be discussing the ...
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 weather, what will never change is the ...
The much-dreaded flu season is here, which means it’s time to protect yourself against the virus and common myths that surround it. Every year these misconceptions surface and spread, well, like a virus. Flu myths such as these are equally as harmful as they are false, so don’t let misinformation about the flu and the preventative vaccine blind you from the truth! Instead, turn to the physicians you trust at American Family Care ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
If ever there were a time during the year that all workers dread, it has to be flu season. Sniffling coworkers, wheezing kids and running out of tissues or hand sanitizer can make the months of flu season extremely stressful, even if you’re one of the lucky ones who remains healthy. Every year, American businesses lose billions of dollars in sick days and lost productivity. Experts estimate the economy will lose about about $20 ...
