" Travel vaccinations are an important part of making sure that you are safe and healthy whenever you go on specific international trips. Many patients however don’t fully understand why travel vaccines are necessary, the diseases they protect from, and the process on how to get an updated travel vaccine. Thankfully, we’re here to help you understand why certain vaccines are critical, how they help you, and where AFC Urgent Care Waltham fits into ...
" Warm weather is approaching which means it’s officially vacation season for many families. While traveling to a new place and experiencing a new location is exciting, it can also be very dangerous. Without the proper preparation your vacation could turn into a long-term hospital stay. What’s the most important part of that preparation? Vaccinations! What Are Travel Vaccinations? Travel vaccinations are a type of vaccination used to protect you when you enter a ...
" STDs affect millions of adults every year as cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis eclipse 2.6 million cases annually, based on updated CDC statistics. However, STDs disproportionately affect certain adult populations. Characteristics including age, sexual orientation, and drug use may increase or lower your STD risks; for example, LGBT individuals under the age of 25 are more likely to get an STD than older adults. Even though some groups of people have higher risks ...
" Sports injuries affect nearly 3.2 million student athletes every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If your child is planning on participating in any sports this upcoming spring or related recreational activity, then it will help to understand the main types of sports injuries your child could experience. The good news about most injuries is that they are highly preventable with a few steps. These steps include: Providing adequate athletic equipment ...
" At AFC Waltham, we strive to do everything in our power to keep you and your family healthy and safe. Besides providing high-quality and affordable urgent care services, we also are here to educate you on the latest public health updates happening across Massachusetts. The winter in Massachusetts has become increasingly flu-heavy as flu cases are growing rapidly in many parts of the state. Make sure you get your flu shot and practice good hygiene ...
" February is American Heart Month and is the perfect time for friends, family, medical communities, and other groups to promote awareness of cardiac health risks, including heart disease. According to the CDC, nearly one in three Americans has high blood cholesterol that increases their risk of developing chronic heart disease later on in life. While the CDC is helping to educate the public on the risks of high blood cholesterol, patients can make sure they ...
" Every year when the weather cools down, the risk of contracting the flu heightens, even if you’ve had a flu shot. There are, after all, dozens of different strains of influenza that can affect people 1 year or older. Although you may think your changes of not contracting the flu are good the risks are extremely high during peak flu seasons. Thankfully, there are actually some simple prevention tips to keep from getting sick ...
" No matter what time of year it is, it’s possible to get injured. When the weather turns frigid in the winter and ice and snow blanket the ground, however, the risk of injury tends to increase. The best way to avoid getting hurt is to be aware of the types of injuries that are most common, then take the proper steps to stay out of situations that could put you at risk. Several of ...
" The holidays are a time when food is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Instead, it is good or bad. For those who are concerned with packing on the holiday pounds, it’s easy to dread this time of year. Feeling like you can’t treat yourself when you’re surrounded by holiday snacks is actually much worse than indulging. Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind before loading up ...
" Unfortunately, once you have one, there’s not real cure to get rid of a cold. And once your symptoms have settled in, doing simple tasks become that much harder, and all you’ll want to do is lay in bed. While you have to let your cold run its course, there are a few tried and true ways to ease your cold symptoms. Stay hydrated Did you know that certain drinks can help treat ...
" Occupational Health refers to the many disciplines devoted to the safety and well-being of employees in the workplace, often concentrating on injury prevention. Even with solid practices in place, accidents do occur, and having an experienced occupational healthcare provider you trust can make all the difference. Workplace injuries can result in lost time, indemnity costs, and lower productivity for an employer. Studies have shown that the same workplace injury can have catastrophic consequences to the ...
" Did you know that the family is the most important social influence for physical activity? Research shows that children of active parents are 5.8 times more likely to engage in physical activity on a regular basis. Today, most children do not meet the recommended amount of daily exercise, which is crucial to healthy growth and development. To get your kids moving, it’s important that you’re moving too! Here are a few fun ...
" This time of the year is extremely exciting for incoming college freshmen. Move-in day is a crazy, hectic, emotional and crazy time and it is one the whole family will remember. However, you do not want to remember this as the day you slipped a disk in your back picking up a bed. Here are a few tips to help you avoid an injury on move-in day. Beware of your surroundings It does not matter ...
" Childhood vaccinations have been a hot topic issue lately but knowing the facts should be your first focus. Many parents are unsure of why vaccinations are so important, how they can affect your child, and how to go about getting their child vaccinated. These are a few of the most important pieces of information you need to know before getting your child vaccinated. What is a vaccination? Vaccinations are a way to protect your child ...
" Summertime brings many opportunities for outdoor activities. From camping and hiking to playing tag in the backyard, kids and adults alike can enjoy the warm weather. Make sure your family takes the following precautions to avoid missing outdoor fun due to mosquito and tick bites. Before you go outside: Use bug repellent on your skin and clothing. The CDC recommends wearing an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains active ingredients such as DEET or picaridin. Wear ...
" Poison ivy is the most common allergy in the United States, affecting about 50 million people every year. The rash from poison ivy is caused by an allergic reaction to urushiol, an oily substance in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy, through direct contact. Urushiol is also found in poison oak and poison sumac, which means the rash can be contracted by interacting with any of the three plants. Other than direct contact ...
When it comes to treating your seasonal allergies with home remedies, there’s usually more fiction than fact. There are healing claims about everything from apple cider vinegar to local bee pollen. The doctors at American Family Care understand that not everyone wants to grab a drug off of the pharmacy counter, but people want to be able to breathe too! So are there any proven natural remedies that the doctors here at AFC can ...
" Life might be easier if kids came with an instruction book. Most parents usually have enough questions to fill one and it can be extra difficult when your child is looking to you for answers and you don’t have any. That is especially true when they don’t feel good. All they want is for you to “fix it and make it better” but that’s hard to do when you aren’t so ...
" Many allergy sufferers feel they are waging a battle with the great outdoors this spring season, trying to keep watery eyes, runny noses and itchy throats from keeping them down. But the truth is, allergies can be triggered just as much by allergens hiding inside your home as they can by the ones outdoors. Before you lock yourself indoors to avoid the spring allergy season, the team at American Family Care wants to make you ...
" When you have that miserable, stuffy, sneezy, stopped-up feeling from allergies, all you really feel like doing is climbing into bed or relaxing on the couch and taking whatever your doctor has prescribed. Probably the last thing on your mind is exercising! How can you run when you can’t breathe? How do you stretch when you’re sneezing all the time? The experts at American Family Care say a mix of the traditional and ...
