Recent Blog Posts

We strive to keep you heart healthy. You do not have to accept heart disease as your fate, even with genetic risk factors. There are always things you can be doing, especially if you are at risk for a heart disease to help prevent heart disease or a heart attack. Heart Health: Tips to Avoid A Heart Attack and stay “Heart Healthy”: exercise at least 30 minutes per day maintain a heart-healthy diet, while staying ...

Read more..

Welcome to another AFC Urgent Care Medical Minute July is UV Awareness Month Sunburn should not be taken lightly. Melanoma ( skin cancer) is the most common cancer in the United States. Most people don’t know that. The good news is that skin cancer is preventable in most cases. UV Prevention tips for protecting skin so that it looks healthy, young and stays as cancer-free as possible: 1) Apply sunscreen. SPF factors are regulated by ...

Read more..

Welcome to "peak week”, West Hartford and Farmington Valley residents! Many of us consider this time of year, and this week in particular, the most beautiful time to live in Connecticut. Here at AFC Urgent Care, we agree, and want to celebrate this beauty, and so, we are launching, the: First Annual AFC West Hartford Fall Foliage Photo Contest! Here are the details: Your pictures should be within the Farmington Valley area. Share your best ...

Read more..

<![CDATA[What is cholesterol? To us, cholesterol serves as a major component for all cell membranes. It’s used to make essential molecules such as hormones, fat-soluble vitamins, and bile acids to help you digest your food. It sounds simple, but to everyone else it’s just a fatty substance in our blood that is measured by different levels and types. Understanding these levels can be confusing because these numbers fall on the highs and lows of a spectrum. We’re often told that these highs and lows can be good or bad. For some it can sound devastating because of the negative connotation behind the phrase “bad cholesterol” or “high cholesterol”. So, are your cholesterol levels safe? Here are some facts: How do you get high cholesterol? There are many causes for high cholesterol. Normally an evaluation of someones lifestyle, behaviors and family history can help us determine the reasonings behind someone’s cholesterol levels. The common causes for high cholesterol are: An unhealthy diet Lack of physical activity Smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke Excess weight (obesity) Familial hypercholesterolemia Most people don’t even know that their cholesterol levels are high. This is because cholesterol can be sneaky. There are no symptoms for high cholesterol. As we age, everyone’s risk for high cholesterol increases. It’s our bodies normal way of saying that we are not young anymore and that cholesterol does not easily clear up from our blood like it used to. This unfortunately leads to higher cholesterol levels, which raises the risk of heart disease and stroke.That is why it is recommended to get this checked regularly to prevent these potential health problems. Which cholesterol level should I worry about? Understanding what each level means so that you can then take steps to control and lower these levels is in our best interest. When getting your cholesterol checked there are a few things that doctors look for in your blood. These levels include: Total Cholesterol (Overall of LDL, HDL and percentage of Triglycerides) LDL HDL Triglycerides LDL and HDL are the major ones to look at as they both carry cholesterol throughout the body. HDL is considered the “good” cholesterol. Its’ main purpose is to absorb cholesterol and circulate it through the body and back to the liver to flush it out. Having higher levels of HDL’s help prevent heart disease. LDL on the other hand and often known as “bad” cholesterol can lead to cholesterol build up (plaques) in your arteries. No bueno! In addition to these levels triglycerides also matter when getting blood work checked. High levels of triglycerides can lead to inflammation or hardening of the arteries. A combination of high LDL and triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Also no bueno! How often should I get my cholesterol checked? The American Heart Association recommends that adults aged 20 and older get checked every four to six years. After age 40, it is recommended to consult with your doctor about calculating your 10 year risk of experiencing cardiovascular disease, stroke and other possible health diseases. But, to be clear, this does not include someone that has a family history of cholesterol, high blood pressure or health risks from lifestyle and behaviors. Remember this can affect the frequency needed to check your blood cholesterol. It is best to get these levels checked and then consult with your doctor on the best course of action in the future. Get your cholesterol levels checked at AFC Urgent Care West Hartford At AFC Urgent Care West Hartford we can perform blood work in order to assess your cholesterol levels. We’ll explain what’s considered good and how you can manage it if it is considered “bad” or too “high”. We’ll then point you in the right direction that is specific to your lifestyle needs and based on your family history. Come on in to AFC Urgent Care West Hartford at 1030 Boulevard, West Hartford. We accept most insurances and we are open 7 days a week, 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and also 8am-5pm on the weekends, no appointments needed. ]]>

Read more..

<![CDATA[Traveling internationally this summer? Whether you're studying abroad or planning a summer vacation, traveling to international destinations often requires getting vaccinations and or certain medications. A surprising number of people fail to realize they will need travel vaccines and either wait until the last minute to get them or forget altogether and find their travel plans thwarted. If you’re traveling internationally, do yourself a favor and get any necessary vaccinations sooner rather ...

Read more..

January is a great month to focus on women’s health. It’s a new year, and time for a new start, health-wise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses on cervical cancer prevention and raises awareness about the benefits of folic acid to kick off 2015. At AFC/, we thought we’d piggyback on those topics and offer a checkup checklist just for women.   Women are at risk for a number of diseases ...

Read more..

It’s not uncommon to confuse infectious mononucleosis- or mono, with the flu, as the two viruses share many of the same symptoms. Over the past few weeks both our Danbury as well as West Hartford urgent care centers have seen folks coming in presenting with flu like symptoms which have turned out to be mono once tested. Is it Mono or the Flu? Know the Differences Mono has a mysterious connotation, so let’s ...

Read more..

It is National Kidney Month, so we thought it a good time to explore Urinary Tract Infections, or UTI’s. What is a UTI? A urinary tract infection is caused by the bacteria usually living in the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, sexually transmitted bacteria can also cause infection. In men, such infections are often a sign of other problems, such as prostate disease. In order to identify a urinary tract infection, it is important ...

Read more..

While there is a lot of talk about the ‘universal health benefits’ of going gluten-free, there are many aspects of the lifestyle that most people are still unsure or unaware about. We believe that there is some truth out there, but that it is also important to clear the air on some of the bigger gluten and gluten-free myths   Myth #1: Everyone should try going Gluten-free! Unless you have been medically diagnosed with celiac disease ...

Read more..

A sore throat is often the first sign of a cold. However, a sore throat from a cold often gets better or goes away after the first day or two. Other cold symptoms such as a runny nose and congestion may follow the sore throat. Watch Jay Fedak, Physician Assistant at Danbury talk you through what you should be doing if you think you or a family member have strep. https://youtu.be/rvHkPCXnIGc Strep ...

Read more..