There is no denying that there is an obesity epidemic in the United States. Studies have shown that around 34% of adults—and 15 to 20% of children and adolescents—are considered obese. And many more adults and children are considered overweight. Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight is an important part of staying healthy overall. But how can you do that? Dr. Natasha Ballard, Assistant Medical Director at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia, wants to talk you through one measure of weight—BMI. Read on →

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person living in the United States passes away every 37 seconds from cardiovascular disease. During American Heart Month this February, our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia wants you to know what steps you can take in order to live a healthier lifestyle so that you can promote a healthier heart for years and years to come! What Kind of Diet Helps Your Heart Health? Read on →

If you listen to the news often or pick up a magazine or two, you’ll likely hear a lot about vitamin D. But why is this vitamin important—and how much of it do we really need? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia wants to share some insight about this essential vitamin and how you can get enough to support good health. Read on as we take a look. Read on →

As if flu season isn’t enough, you also need to watch out for another respiratory infection that is making its rounds in and around Gastonia—pneumonia. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia want you to know how to recognize the symptoms of pneumonia so that you can seek medical attention as soon as possible! What Are the Four Stages of Pneumonia? Did you know? There are four stages of pneumonia, which are consolidation, red hepatization, grey hepatization and resolution. Read on →

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 102 million American adults are living with high cholesterol. When you have a higher than normal cholesterol number, you’re at a higher risk of heart disease and other serious medical conditions. Protect your heart by maintaining healthy cholesterol numbers. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia is here to help you learn how to lower your cholesterol as soon as possible. Read on →

Ah-choo! Could it be the flu? Each year, about 10% of the American population gets the flu—and around 100,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Gastonia wants you to know how you can stay protected from the flu 2019 virus this season. Is It a Cold or the Flu? Although cold and flu symptoms can be similar, there are differences between the two medical conditions. Read on →