Why are my lungs burning? Experiencing a burning sensation in your lungs can be alarming, particularly when it comes hand in hand with difficulties in breathing or persistent coughing. While a strenuous workout in chilly weather may be a common cause, it is crucial to recognize that this sensation might also signify an underlying issue, such as bronchitis. What Causes the Burning Sensation in Lungs? Our lungs are responsible for the essential exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. These intricate organs house delicate tissues that can easily become irritated. This irritation can give rise to t ..read more

How Long Do Kidney Stones Last? Kidney stones are a prevalent and often painful condition that impacts nearly one in 10 Americans each year. While the experience can be challenging, knowledge about kidney stones, their symptoms, and potential treatment options is crucial. What are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, are solid formations that start in the kidneys. They form when certain waste products struggle to dissolve properly in urine, leading to the creation of crystals due to an imbalance in waste and urine volume. Over time, these crystals gather more waste, resulti ..read more

Can Humidifiers Help You From Getting the Flu? During this time of year, Ballantyne sees an influx of travelers, whether they’re visiting family or exploring the nearby Grayson Highlands State Park. The season is bustling with people wrapping up their holiday shopping at places like Ballantyne Village or recharging with a boost of energy at local favorites such as Brakeman’s Coffee & Supply. Regardless of the busyness this season entails, it’s crucial to stay mindful of how to stay happy and healthy. If you end up getting sick, visit AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne to help you get back to feeli ..read more

A Guide to Boosting Vitamin D and Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) The holidays bring a lot of travellers through Ballantyne this time of year, whether to visit family or to venture out to the nearby Grayson Highlands State Park. It’s a busy time for everyone finishing up holiday shopping at shops like Ballantyne Village or grabbing an extra dose of energy at local favorites like Brakeman’s Coffee & Supply. No matter what this busy season brings, it is important to be aware of how the weather might be affecting your mental health. As the winter months approach and daylight hours ..read more

This is the question we all want the answer to! Staying healthy at this time of year is crucial so you don’t have to miss out on the fun family events, holiday traditions and quality time spent with your loved ones. However, with all of the different infections and illnesses circulating around, it can sometimes be hard to do. We want you to stay as healthy as possible this year, so taking care of yourself is key to your wellness. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team explains more about staying healthy at this time of year below, so read on to learn some helpful holiday health tips. How Can I Av ..read more

It’s that time of year again where we start encouraging our community to get vaccinated against the flu! Influenza has the potential to make you really sick, and high caseloads can have a huge impact on our community. Avoiding illness altogether is always the best case scenario, and that starts with getting your annual flu shot early in the flu season. You can come to AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne any day of the week for your vaccine! Read on to learn more about the benefits of getting your annual flu shot. How Effective Is the Flu Shot? The flu shot formulation changes a little bit from year to ..read more

There are so many ways that you can get sick these days that it can be really hard to tell what illness you have on your own. Colds, the flu and even COVID-19 can all cause similar symptoms, so getting a proper diagnosis is always recommended. We have a variety of rapid tests at our disposal that we can run to help determine what you have. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team is here to help explain the differences between a few of the more common illnesses like the flu, COVID-19 and strep throat, so read on to learn more. How Are COVID-19, Strep Throat and the Flu Related? All three illnesses ..read more

We are so grateful that the height of the pandemic is currently behind us, but we can’t change the fact that COVID-19 is still in our community and will continue circulating and mutating into different strains. The different strains and outbreaks come in waves, and we have recently seen an uptick in cases in the southern states. This means we all need to be hyper-aware of our surroundings to avoid getting sick. Remember, you can still get COVID-19 even if you have already had it previously. Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team explains more about the current COVID-19 symptoms below so you can t ..read more

We can’t believe we are already in the full swing of back-to-school season in the Charlotte area, and with that, we assume you have already seen at least one illness make its way through your house. That’s just the nature of this time of year when students come back under one building once more. Most contagious illnesses are usually just minor inconveniences and cause mild symptoms, one of which is a fever. If your child spikes a fever, don’t immediately panic! Fevers are a natural response to illness. Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne team explains more about fevers and their benefits ..read more

There are unfortunately many different ways that you can be sick nowadays. Viruses and bacteria can cause stubborn infections or conditions, and any sort of imbalance in your body can make you feel under the weather. While simple illnesses like the common cold or seasonal allergies can be diagnosed at home, others may take a little more investigative work. That’s where we come in! Our AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne center is equipped with a variety of diagnostic tools, including a lab, that can help us pinpoint your illness faster and more accurately. Read on to learn more. What Tests Can the Lab ..read more