Health Information*
- Health Information for the whole family
- Pediatric Vaccination Schedule
- How's Your Health?
- How to interpret your blood test results?
- Normal ranges for your lab tests
Travel Immunizations
Avance Care is pleased to provide comprehensive travel medicine to our patients who travel internationally. Immunization and medication prescriptions are available on-site. The services are rendered based on CDC recommendations and individual health status and travel circumstances.
Available vaccines include:
- Hepatitis A & B
- Tetanus
- Yellow fever
- Typhoid
- Meningococcal
If you have questions about whether these vaccines are right for you, please consult the Center for Disease Control Website at http://www.cdc.gov, or ask your physician.
We recommend that you make an appointment for travel consultation as soon as possible as some vaccines series require 2 or more vaccinations and can take up to 6 months to complete. We carry the above vaccines in stock but other travel vaccines may need to be ordered individually for specific patient needs.
Annual check-ups help Avance Care take care of you
Take charge of your health by scheduling an annual check-up at Avance Care.
It's true that many people wait until the last possible minute to see a doctor; they wait until something's gone wrong or until they notice a symptom. But there's a better way.
The annual physical at Avance Care is designed to prevent health problems from happening. Because some diseases and conditions do not present symptoms early on, it is important for you to visit your doctor regularly. A basic yearly examination can help your doctor to determine what risks you're facing and to make recommendations for your total wellness.
The Avance Care annual check-up is a simple, non-stressful process. We take your medical and family history to update your chart, test your organ functions and vital signs, and perform routine diagnostic and preventative tests. And because we want you to have total wellness, we'll even discuss your diet and exercise, your recreational habits, any medications you're taking, which vaccines you might need, your emotional health, and more.
Your physician can learn a lot about your health today and what it might look like in the future just by talking with you about your lifestyle and performing some basic tests, and that's what this annual check-up is all about.
This visit with your doctor is your chance to express your health concerns in a comfortable environment with a physician who knows you and wants to help. In fact, the best part of the annual check-up isn't just the prevention of health problems or the achievement of more complete wellness but the relationship you build with your doctor.
Make an appointment or stop by at Avance Care location today for your annual check-up. It's your chance to take charge of your health and another chance for us to care for you.
Sports Physicals right in your neighborhood
Sports Physicals are offered at a flat rate of $45, unless they are performed in conjunction with child's well/physical exam visit.
Playing sports is a great way for kids to stay fit, but first you need to know if your kid is fit enough to play. With summer camps, summer sports, and team tryouts just around the corner, now is the perfect time for your child to get a sports physical.
It's important to have a proper sports physical whether you're involved in team sports, cheerleading, or just going to summer camp. Many times sports physicals aren't covered by insurance, so Avance Care is offering a special rate to make it available to as many families as possible.
The ultimate goal of a sports physical simply is to ensure safe participation. In most cases, doctors don't find anything serious enough to prevent teenagers from participating in an athletic activity. In fact, less than one percent of students have conditions that prevent them from playing sports, and most of these are known in advance. Avance Care recommends a sports physical six weeks prior to the starting date of a new sports season.
Please click here for Wake County Public School System Forms.
Flu Season - What You Need to Know.
Flu Shots are offered to all, including children over the age of 6 months, at a flat rate of $10. No appointment necessary.
Wondering if you and your family should come to Avance Care to get the flu vaccine? Here's information to help you decide.
What exactly is the flu?
Influenza (also called the flu) is a viral infection in the nose, throat and lungs. Roughly 5% to 20% of Americans get the flu each year. Close to 200,000 people are hospitalized each year due to influenza and some 36,000 die because of complications from the flu.
Prevention is key and flu vaccines help make prevention possible.
Who should be vaccinated?
Most people should get a flu shot. Some people have a higher risk of flu complications, like pneumonia, and should get the vaccine early (October) so they're adequately protected before flu season hits.
Who is at higher risk?
- Children aged 6 months to their 19th birthday
- People 50 years of age and older
- All women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season
- Residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Individuals who have long-term health problems
- Children aged 6 months to 18 years who are on chronic aspirin therapy
- Health care workers who have direct contact with patients
- Caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months of age.
Who should not get a flu shot?
- People who have had an allergic reaction to a flu shot in the past
- People with an allergy to eggs
- Infants under 6 months of age
- People who previously developed Guillain-Barre Syndrone, a rare medical condition that affects the immune system and nerves
- People who have a fever
When should I get vaccinated?
Experts suggest getting the flu vaccine before Thanksgiving but getting vaccinated makes sense any time during flu season which may last from October to May.
Do I need to be vaccinated every year?
Yes, flu viruses change, so flu vaccines must change, too. Each year's vaccine is unique, cultivated from the flu strains health officials believe will be most common that year.
For additional information, click on the links below:
Diabetes treatment goals
Once the diagnosis of diabetes is made, your doctor will establish treatment goals. These goals-and the order of their importance-may surprise you.
Blood pressure
The most important target for the treatment of diabetes is blood pressure. Blood pressure control is more important than blood sugar control. Studies show that blood pressure control prevents heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke.
The blood pressure target for diabetics is lower than for most hypertension patients without diabetes. While a target of 140 / 80 is acceptable for non-diabetics, the target for diabetics is 130 / 85.
Cholesterol
The second target for diabetics is cholesterol. Cholesterol is less important than blood pressure, but more important than blood sugar. LDL, or bad cholesterol, is the primary cholesterol target, and should be reduced to less than 100. Reductions to this degree usually require medications.
Triglycerides are often elevated in diabetes. Good sugar control lowers triglycerides.
Blood sugar
There are two goals for blood sugar in diabetics. Fasting blood sugar should stay under 130. This usually requires medication.
Once the fasting sugar is under control, your doctor will order an A1c level. The A1c test measures the amount of sugar attached to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. A1c gives your doctor an estimate of the overall average of your blood sugar over the past three months.
The A1c level has been shown to predict complications of diabetes. Complications are prevented by keeping the A1c level below 7.0%.
Aspirin
Most diabetics should take 81 mg of aspirin per day. Aspiring has been shown to prevent heart disease in diabetics.
Exercise
Moderate forms of exercise like brisk walking lower blood pressure, lower LDL, improve blood sugar control, and prevent heart disease. 30 to 60 minutes per day is ideal.
Weight loss
Modest weight loss enhances the body's ability to use insulin and therefore improves blood sugar control. Weight Watchers is the healthiest of the diet plans and is the easiest to use.
*Disclaimer: External websites linked on this page are not part of Avance Care's website, and are not monitored by our staff and providers. They are not endorsed by our providers, not intending to be used for medical purposes, and are not a substitute for seeing a physician or seeking medical attention.