Is it safe to plan for Thanksgiving this year during the pandemic? Just like the other holidays, most of the COVID-19 rules still apply. When out in public or going to an event we all should still be wearing a mask, washing our hands and staying socially distant. With recent COVID-19 cases and surges in hospitalization rates Connecticut has rolled back into Phase 2. As we’re heading into a predicted 2nd wave of COVID-19 ...
Caused by bacteria, strep throat can be very painful and can leave patients desperate for relief. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of strep throat and then visit AFC Urgent Care West Hartford to get immediate relief. Our clinic provides rapid strep tests as well as cultures that offer results in a few days. From there, our physicians can prescribe the proper medications to help relieve symptoms. Symptoms of Strep Throat Symptoms of strep ...
At AFC Urgent Care West Hartford we understand your concerns and apprehensions regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Please know that the health, safety and well-being of our patients and staff remain our absolute top priority. This is a responsibility each and every one of us take very seriously. As we continue to carefully monitor the situation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our local CT health ...
The flu is an infection of the respiratory tract. It’s caused by a virus that spreads easily from person to person. Flu season in the U.S. is from October all the way through May. The flu is highly contagious, so it can begin being spread from day before you experience any symptoms, and continue to be contagious until your symptoms are gone. This is about 1 week for adults, but it can be ...
How to Treat Hypothermia Baby it’s COLD outside! The recent frigid temperatures bring their own set of health issues. Hypothermia is one of them. What is Hypothermia? Hypothermia, simply stated, is when your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced when exposed to cold temperatures. In time, the cold will usurp your body’s stored energy and that results in hypothermia. Extremely low body temperatures can have a negative effect ...
In honor of Kidney Awareness Month, we have put together an in-depth blog on how to treat a Urinary Tract Infection. Initially, a UTI is not an infection of the kidneys, but left untreated it could become one. The kidneys filter 53 gallons of blood a day, keep your blood pressure in check, and even assists with the production of red blood cells. While these useful little organs spend their day happily performing their function ...
Many mark summer not by BBQs and pool parties but by the sudden increase in Mosquitoes. The saliva of these pesky, blood-sucking insects causes skin irritation upon contact, with red, itchy, swollen hives appearing within a few hours to a few days depending on their level of sensitivity. Whether you’re enjoying the summer at home or traveling abroad, it’s important to avoid mosquitoes as much as possible. Mosquitoes are not only irritating, mosquitoes ...
February is National Heart Month. Heart disease does not need to be your fate, even with genetic risk factors. There are always things you can be doing, especially if you are at risk for heart disease to help prevent heart disease or a heart attack. That being said, knowing the top warning signs of heart attack is critical for prompt diagnoses and treatment. Many heart attacks start slowly, unlike the dramatic portrayal we often seen ...
Strolling the streets of Paris or taking in the scenery in the Greek islands are great ways to spend a summer vacation abroad. But with all the memories you’ll be making, don’t make the mistake of getting sick. Going abroad comes with its own set of health dangers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a comprehensive list of diseases to be wary of. But if you don’t anticipate coming ...
<![CDATA[ Spring time means different things to different people. To parents of kids involved in spring sports, often times it can mean trips to the ER or urgent care center to treat a broken bone or sprained ankle. Spring sports like soccer, lacrosse and baseball, track and field and tennis all are breeding grounds for injuries: sprains, broken bones and concussions. Sometimes the extent of the injury is not clear cut. Not sure if its a break or a sprain? There are a few tips to distinguish between the 2, but of course if there is any lingering doubt one should always head to the doctor and get diagnosed and treated. A few things you should know: A sprain only affects soft tissue, never a bone. Therefore it won’t show up in an x-ray. Sprains can occur to ligaments, tendons or to muscle. A sprain can occur when you wrench or twist the ligaments of (an ankle, wrist, or other joint) so as to cause pain and swelling, not necessarily dislocation however. How to Treat a Sprain? Follow the RICE method: REST ICE COMPRESSION ELEVATE If, on the other hand there is any sort of deformity, as in bones protruding where they last were not, you should run, well, limp, to the closest ER and be x-rayed immediately. A break, or a fracture, can happen only to bone, not soft tissue. Bones will break, sprains will not. Occasionally it’s tough to tell which it is. If there is bruising and swelling and you’re unclear about whether it’s a break or a sprain, come into West Hartford where we will perform an x-ray on our state of the imaging equipment. There we can diagnosis and treat the injury. We’ll also make you a copy of the x-ray on a CD that you can bring to your orthopedist. Need a referral? We’ll get you that as well. Are you following us on Twitter? at @drxWestHartford and on Facebook? DoctorsExpressWestHartford]]>
