Oh, the holiday season. All of the delicious food, cozy nights on the couch and flowing drinks can make this a wonderful time of year to revel in another season of life surrounded by friends and family. However, all of this celebration can be hard on your body! Running around getting everything done ahead of time can put a strain on your immune system, and feeling sluggish after too many celebrations can end in a stubborn illness at the most inconvenient time. Read on →

RSV can seem like a scary virus for new parents to be aware of, and unfortunately, it sometimes is. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can cause some serious breathing issues for your newborn or infant. While anyone can become infected with RSV, it disproportionately affects small children and older adults and can even be life-threatening in severe cases. Our AFC Urgent Care Hickory team wants you to be prepared as we head into RSV season, so read on to learn more about this pesky virus. Read on →

Being a parent during the height of the cold and flu season can be really challenging. Navigating sick kids, keeping a clean house and calling in to work yet again because your youngest spiked a fever in the middle of the night can have us all dreaming of the warmer months ahead. No one wants their children to get sick at this time of year, but it is incredibly common as so many different infections are circulating at any given time. Read on →

As we enter into the heart of cold and flu season, it is important to be on the lookout for any signs of illness for your entire family. A single cold or the flu could sneak in and spread throughout your household if you aren’t careful. While it is impossible to completely prevent illnesses, taking preventive steps can help you stay healthy. This is especially true when strep throat, the flu and COVID-19 cases are rising all around us. Read on →

We can almost guarantee that if we asked you if you knew someone who had a serious or even deadly COVID-19 case over the past couple of years, you would say yes. It affected our entire country in ways we could have never imagined. We are so grateful that cases haven’t reached the peaks that they did back in 2020 and 2021, but COVID-19 is still out there and can still make you really sick. Read on →

Now that the kids are back in the school rhythm once more, we hope you are, too! All of the homework, activities, sports and chores come back with a vengeance and life as a parent gets busier once again. It always seems like once you have your routine nailed down that someone in the household gets sick. While there are many different illnesses circulating about at any given time, one common symptom across those illnesses is a fever. Read on →

Getting sick can be a really big source of frustration, especially when you have a busy week ahead! It can be even more frustrating when you are feeling sick but have no idea what is causing your symptoms. Thankfully, we are here to help! Our team is dedicated to caring for you and we are grateful to have multiple different diagnostic tools, like a state-of-the-art lab, at our disposal to help us along the way. Read on →

Sure you can! You can do anything you set your mind to, though it may be a difficult thing to do. Quitting an addictive habit is hard work and takes determination, but you can do it. Smoking cigarettes and using other forms of tobacco are two of the most common addictions, so know that you are not alone and that there are other people out there wanting to quit as well. Read on →

You never want to think about the possibility of getting sick. It’s never fun to feel unwell, but it can cause anxiety if you aren’t sure what is causing your symptoms. That is certainly true when it comes to STDs! Sexually transmitted diseases can not only make you feel uncomfortable, but they can have a significant impact on your health later in life if they aren’t treated properly. Our AFC Urgent Care Hickory team wants you to stay as healthy as possible, so read on as we explain the benefits of testing for and treating STDs early. Read on →

We love the summer season for many reasons, but not for the increase in bugs and creepy crawlies in the area. The summer temperatures make us crawl out of our homes and into the sun, and the same goes for mosquitoes and ticks! Ticks can be found at any point in the year in North Carolina, but they are more prevalent during the late spring to early fall. If you discover a tick on your body, try to remove it as quickly as possible. Read on →