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Tips for Managing Arthritis Pain

If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from arthritis, you know that finding ways to effectively manage the pain that comes with your condition is central to maintaining your mobility and overall quality of life.

In this post, you’ll learn about a few strategies that can help you ease arthritis pain and live well with it.

Tip #1 Make Positive Lifestyle Changes.

While the medications and other treatments that your doctor prescribed can help manage arthritis pain, the very things that you do on a daily basis have a significant impact on the outcome of your condition.

Having a healthy, anti-inflammatory diet and regular exercise can help with gradual weight loss and reduce your risk for flare-ups. Weight is of particular concern because the additional strain on your affected joint can cause further damage to it. Excess weight and chronic inflammation also go hand in hand.

If you smoke, it’s time to snuff the habit. Cigarette smoke makes arthritis pain worse, as it triggers the body to release cytokines, which are key modulators of inflammation.

Tip #2 Work Closely with Your Primary Care Physician.

Your primary care physician is an integral part of your healthcare team. They are not only there to coordinate your care and monitor your condition; they also serve as your accountability partner – to provide you with support and guidance, ensure treatment adherence, and reinforce healthy lifestyle changes.

Tip #3 Learn to Cope with Stress.

Research suggests that stress compounds the discomfort associated with arthritis, as it can cause endocrine and immune system dysfunction, leading to sustained low-grade inflammation.

While it can be easy to be pulled down by your negative thoughts when dealing with arthritis pain, always keep in mind that focusing on them will only make things worse. It will not only exacerbate the pain but also contribute to the progression of your condition.

There are many things you can do to cope with stress. Employ relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing. Surround yourself with people you love and who support you. Additionally, consider talking to a therapist or joining a support group; your doctor may be able to recommend one for you. Respond to unwanted thoughts by taking positive action.

Primary Care Physician in Wellington, FL

At Advanced Medical Clinic, our team includes a board-certified internal medicine physician and a board-certified family nurse practitioner, who have helped scores of patients suffering from arthritis and many other chronic health problems live and thrive with their conditions.

Call us today at (561) 434-1935 or book an appointment online to arrange a consultation with Dr. Gunawardene or our family NP, Shariffa Gunawardene. We look forward to providing you with the high-quality health care you deserve!

What Can a Walk-In Clinic Treat?

When you need medical care for an injury or health problem, there are a variety of doctors and health centers you can visit. It is important to select the right one for your specific situation. One of the most common and popular health facilities you can visit is a walk-in clinic.

A walk-in clinic allows patients to conveniently see a primary care physician without the need for an appointment. This is particularly beneficial if someone has an urgent health care need that’s not an emergency or if they have a hectic schedule that makes scheduling appointments in advance difficult.

Before you visit, you should understand what a walk-in clinic’s scope of practice is. So, let’s discuss some of the many issues the physicians at walk-in clinics treat.

Respiratory Infections

Walk-in clinic physicians routinely treat respiratory infections. They will give you a checkup, assess your symptoms, listen to your breathing, and maybe even conduct an X-ray. Based on what they find, you will get a diagnosis for a respiratory infection as well as a treatment plan.

Clinic physicians can prescribe medications, including antibiotics. Many clinics even send prescriptions directly to your choice of pharmacy, so all you have to do after leaving is pick up your medications at your selected facility.

Earaches

One of the most common issues doctors at walk-in clinics diagnose and treat are earaches. You can have an earache for many reasons, including an infection, sinus pressure, an injury, and more. Earaches are particularly common among children. When earaches are accompanied by fever and hearing loss, they become particularly worrisome.

A walk-in clinic has the necessary tools, such as an otoscope, to diagnose such problems. You can also receive the necessary treatment, such as antibiotics. If the problem is extensive or the underlying cause requires a specialists’ diagnosis and treatment, you will be advised as such.

Vomiting or Persistent Diarrhea

Vomiting or diarrhea that is continuous for more than one day is a common reason to visit a walk-in clinic. Vomiting and diarrhea may be signs of gastroenteritis – the medical term for a viral infection in the digestive tract. These symptoms could also indicate you have food poisoning. Regardless of the cause, having prolonged symptoms can be detrimental to your health, because you can become dehydrated and malnourished within days. That’s why it is important to seek medical care if your symptoms last longer than a day.

Sports Injuries

One of the most common reasons why patients visit walk-in clinics is sports injuries. It is important to seek medical care for injuries immediately after they occur, because prolonging treatment can make recovery longer and more complicated – not to mention you will have to endure uncomfortable symptoms for a longer period of time. Walk-in clinics can immediately perform X-rays and other imaging tests to get to the root cause of your injury. Athletic injuries include soft tissue damage that occurs when you overuse, overwork, or overstretch a muscle, ligament, or tendon. It also includes fractures. With these conditions, you may have pain, swelling, bruising, or a decrease in flexion or function. You may also notice you can’t bear weight or use a particular body part like you normally could. 

Walk-in clinics have equipment to assess your injury, give an accurate diagnosis, and recommend treatment. If your injury is severe, you may be instructed to go to an orthopedic doctor or the emergency room. However, for most mild to moderate injuries, a walk-in clinic is fully equipped to provide treatment.

Cuts and Wounds

You can also visit a walk-in clinic to get cuts and wounds dressed. Such injuries can occur while performing chores, playing sports, or doing hobbies. They can also occur at work or during car accidents. Walk-in clinics can clean and dress up wounds, as well as provide stitches.

Walk-in Clinic in Royal Palm and Wellington, Florida

Advanced Medical Clinic is a walk-in practice that offers a variety of treatments for a plethora of health issues and injuries. If you are looking for a doctor you can visit whenever you need care, we are happy to help.

For more information, call Advanced Medical Clinic at (561) 434-1935 for an appointment or just walk in! For non-pressing issues, you may use our online appointment booking tool.

What To Expect From A Walk-In Clinic

It’s understandable to be concerned when you suddenly get sick or develop pain and cannot get an appointment with your primary care physician immediately. A common alternative is visiting a hospital emergency room for medical care, but the costs will be astronomical, along with the wait times. Fortunately, you have another option: walk-in clinics.

Walk-in clinics accept patients without previously scheduled appointments and provide urgent medical care for a variety of common and non-life-threatening conditions.

What Can I Expect From A Walk-In Clinic?

You can receive multiple services from a walk-in clinic. You will be assigned to an attending physician who will assist and provide you medical care. Here are things you can expect from your visit: 

Treatment For Common Conditions

Walk-in clinics are the place to go if you’re experiencing common health problems. These conditions are usually mild but can cause you concern and discomfort – especially if you can’t get medical care from your primary care physician for several days. The following are common issues that can be treated during your visit:

●      Sore throat

●      Minor burns

●      Diarrhea

●      Colds and coughs

●     Migraine

●      Rashes

●      Nausea

●      Mild flu and low-grade fever

●      Allergies

Imaging And Laboratory Tests

Some walk-in clinics are also able to perform imaging and lab tests to aid in diagnosis. Your attending physician will recommend these based on your signs and symptoms. Common tests that may be conducted are urine and blood analysis, x-rays, electrocardiography (ECG), and ultrasounds.

Depending on your results, the attending physician will decide if you can be treated in-house, need prescription medication, or need a specialist. Your doctor may also recommend more tests for a definitive diagnosis.

Urgent Care

Walk-in clinics can address numerous non-life-threatening problems that need urgent medical attention. These include injuries from small accidents like minor fractures, sprains, and burns. With walk-in clinics, you can expect quality and timely medical care without worrying about steep expenses.

However, you should also be aware of when to seek emergency care. Trouble breathing, chest pain, continuously high fever, and severe pain after an accident are things to look out for. If you are experiencing a life-threatening situation, you are advised to call emergency services or go to your local ER.

Convenience

Going to a walk-in clinic has several advantages, including convenient hours, short waiting times, and cost-efficient medical care.

If you don’t have time during the day to consult with a physician, some walk-in clinics are open after work hours or accept calls 24 hours a day. Medical costs are also reasonably lower for consultations, tests, and treatments. Services such as physical tests for school or work and pregnancy ultrasounds are also available in most walk-in clinics.

Walk-In Clinic In Wellington And Royal Palm Beach, FL

If you need urgent medical attention, Advanced Medical will ensure you get the proper care you deserve. Our compassionate primary care providers also accept same-day walk-in appointments to address conditions and concerns you may have. 

To learn more about our services, call our office at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online. We have clinics in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach that are ready to provide you with quality healthcare. We look forward to serving you! 

Joint Pain? When is It Time to See A Doctor?

Have you ever had a cramp in your hand from persistently trying to open a jar, but no matter how hard you tried, it just would not budge? leaving you with nothing but frustration and a hurt hand. Whether your hands are overworked or time has simply taken its toll, joint pain is nothing we should suffer through.

Your joints are the connections between your bones that allow you to bend and move many parts of the body. Having strong bones goes hand in hand with having healthy joints. Your joints are just one part of your musculoskeletal system that enable us to have mobility, giving us balance and stability. Therefore, keeping them healthy is essential, but this is often one of those things that can be easier said than done.

Joint pain — it can be described as a nagging pain that won’t go away no matter what you try to do. Pain in your joints is often a persistent feeling that won’t go away, a throbbing disruption, both physically and mentally. Some people will try to ignore pain and hope it will go away, but in the case of degenerative joint disease, this pain overpowers and hinders an individual’s quality of life.

Degenerative joint disease is a condition that is so common, yet so misunderstood. Approximately 25 million people in the United States suffer from some sort of joint disease, the most common being arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis). For over one third of adults 60 years of age and older, sometimes their joints become so worn down that even the slightest movements, like reaching for something such as a glass on a shelf, can be exceedingly difficult. In other words, this type of pain isn’t easy to ignore even if we tried.

Joint pain is incredibly common, but that doesn’t mean it should become the new normal. While joint pain may have been caused by overuse, from playing a sport, or wear and tear from aging, joint problems are not something to just write off as you get older.

Don’t wait until pain is unbearable to seek medical attention. If your painful joints are also swollen, red, warm to the touch, or very tender to touch, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Seeing your doctor soon after the onset of joint pain can prevent further joint damage from being done. There are many types of diseases that cause joint pain, and though they’re rarely cause for an emergency, speedy diagnosis may be important to future quality of life.

Therefore, if your joints are swollen, red, or very tender when they are touched, these are even more of a reason that a trip to the doctor is necessary. Seeing your doctor after the first bout with joint pain can reduce pain and inflammation, and most importantly, prevent further joint damage from occurring. There are many types of diseases that cause joint pain, and though they’re rarely cause for an emergency, speedy diagnosis may be important to future quality of life.

If you can’t move a joint or it appears to have some sort of deformity, you should also plan on seeing your healthcare provider immediately. You should also seek your doctor’s help if you continue to experience intense or persistent pain, or the joint begins to suddenly swell up like a balloon.  

If you experience joint pain at any time, go see the doctor to get help as early as possible. The earlier an accurate diagnosis is made, the better the outcome will be. Since stiffness, pain, and immobility are exceedingly common symptoms of joint disease, these complications plus others, can be avoided easily if a doctor performs an examination, and prescribes the right form of treatment. This in return, also will provide you with a higher quality of life in the long run.

To learn more about join pain, and what type of treatment can help remedy it, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.  

 

Is Your Gut to Blame for Your Migraine?

Have you ever experienced a migraine? Not just a headache – but a full blown thunderclap inside your head, with terrible nausea and hypersensitivity to light and sound to boot? Chances are that if you have experienced a migraine in the past, then you have already assessed the need to seek relief with board-certified internist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene. If not, it’s important to do so as soon as possible to make sure that the issue is not something more serious, and so that we can provide you with the relief you seek so your quality of life no longer suffers.

While medications and therapies can definitely help to stave off extremely painful migraines, it’s also important to recognize potential triggers in order to either avoid or prepare for them. Certain triggers are obvious, such as stress, changes in barometric pressure, physical exertion, and sleep imbalance. Less obvious are certain foods and medications that may overreact during digestion due to some very helpful and naturally occurring bacteria that we all carry around in our guts.

Studies show that there is a correlation between migraines and a higher than normal volume of a certain bacteria found in your gut and mouth. The bacteria break down nitrates into nitric oxide (NO), which regulates blood flow and oxygen release to the blood cells and aids the immune system by fighting off parasitic organisms.

However, people who suffer from migraines contain a much higher amount of these nitrate-modifying bacteria in their bodies, which means that more NO is produced than normal. As a result, the higher volume of NO could be what causes these migraines to occur.

Since the bacteria break down nitrates into NO, avoiding certain foods and medications that have a high nitrate content may help to prevent the triggering of a migraine. Nitrates can be found in processed meats like bacon, leafy vegetables like arugula and spinach, wine, and chocolate.

Medications that contain nitrates are nitroglycerin (Nitrostat and Rectiv), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR), and nitroprusside (Nipride). These are all vasodilators whose purpose is to lower blood pressure through widening your blood vessels. Too much nitric oxide could cause your blood pressure to drop too much, leading to a higher risk of stroke or heart attack, and potentially to a migraine based on new research.

Do you suffer from chronic migraines? Get the relief you need as soon as you need it. Our two convenient locations in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach are open Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 5 pm and Fridays, 9 am – 12:30 pm. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Gunawardene online or by calling (561) 434-1935.

Do you suffer from migraines?  What triggers have you faced before?  What do you do to prevent or cope with a migraine?

5 Tips for Living Better with Hypothyroidism

Has living with an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, reduced your quality of life? If you’re in the 5% of Americans diagnosed and living with it, hypothyroidism has probably taken its toll on your activity level, sleep, and even moods, as it can be physically and emotionally draining.

Hypothyroidism is a condition caused when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck in front of your windpipe. The hormones produced by the thyroid are meaningful for regulating metabolism and other hormone interactions with the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the brain. So when you don’t produce enough of these hormones, it throws your other physiological functions out of whack, and you may experience weight gain, hair loss and thinning, body aches, and even depression.

The most common treatment is a simple prescription for synthetic thyroid hormones, with regular monitoring by your doctor. But what else can you do to feel your best while living with an underactive thyroid?

Here are our top five tips for living well with hypothyroidism:

  1. Get educated and involved. As with all chronic illnesses, it’s up to you to know what’s going on. Your involvement in managing your condition will have a dramatic impact on your day-to-day wellness. Do your homework to learn all you need to know about your condition.
  2. Alter your diet. You can help your body function as well as possible and gain a lot of energy back by focusing on your diet. It is important to consult with your doctor regarding your specific dietary needs as an individual, especially if you have an underactive thyroid. Focus on whole foods, incorporating large quantities of vegetables that aren’t known to interfere with thyroid function; eat fresh fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats.
  3. Exercise. Some days living with hypothyroidism, just making it through the day can feel impossible. However, the less you exercise, the less energy you’ll have and the worse you’ll feel. If you exercise regularly, you’ll have more energy, feel better, and it’ll be easier to remain active. For people living with hypothyroidism, it’s actually important to avoid working out too much or too strenuously. Hitting the gym too hard can actually damage thyroid function and make symptoms worse. Instead, find a light aerobic activity you enjoy (walking, jogging, biking, dancing, tennis, golf) and aim to have three to four good sessions per week. Staying active will help with weight management, hormone balance, better sleep, and also stress relief, which is an important component of staying well with hypothyroidism.
  4. Manage stress. Life is hectic and stressful enough without having to manage a chronic condition. Unfortunately, stress makes hypothyroid symptoms worse. Make the effort to find a stress management technique that works for you, and make yourself a priority in your schedule. Many people living with hypothyroidism practice meditation, yoga, daily prayer, or journaling. Others have regular massages or acupuncture. Another way to manage stress is to seek support. Many support groups exist, both in person and online, for people living with hypothyroidism. Support groups offer opportunities to share struggles and be inspired by triumphs. It helps tremendously to talk to people who understand what you’re going through.
  5. Listen to your body. Monitor your own progress, and be your own advocate. Don’t settle for not feeling well. Take charge of your health, and if you feel something isn’t right, speak up to your doctor. If one or a few of your symptoms seem out of control, ask Dr. Gunawardene what else you can do to feel better.

Dr. Ishan Gunawardene seeks to build relationships with his patients, and stay with them every step of the way, from diagnosis to treatment and long-term disease management.

As a highly accomplished internist, Dr. Gunawardene can help guide you through your hypothyroid concerns for the best possible outcome. Call our office today at (561) 434-1935 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gunawardene, or request an appointment online.

Walk-ins and same-day appointments are welcome! Don’t put off getting the help you need and the quality of care you deserve any longer.

Can Weather Affect High Blood Sugar?

Diabetics need to be very informed about what may or may not adversely affect their health. Spikes in blood sugar can be very dangerous, and sometimes things that may be out of our control can put you in a risky situation. Extreme heat can, in fact, affect your blood sugar control! During the summer, temperatures can reach an all-time high. Coupled with outdoor activities and tropical vacations, summer is usually a hard time of the year for diabetics. More people end up in the emergency room and are hospitalized because of illness due to heat strokes.

High temperatures can have a negative effect on other diabetic management supplies, such as test strips. Insulin can be damaged by the extreme temperatures, making them ineffective and unusable.

Here are a few precautions you should take to help you prevent summer from putting a damper on your plans:

Stay Hydrated:
Staying properly hydrated can cool down your body systems to prevent heat strokes. In the heat, increased sweating can quickly cause dehydration. When you are dehydrated, the concentration of blood sugar heightens as you have less blood flow in your kidneys. Drinking plenty of water regularly throughout the day can help prevent many of these heat-related issues.

Store Your Medications Properly:
High temperatures can impact the effectiveness of your medication. It is important to note the instructions on the back of your medicine, and do as it says. Most medications will suggest where to store it and in what temperatures to store it in. Never store your medications in the car, and be wary of taking them around with you if you are spending the whole day outside in high temperatures.

Stay Out of the Heat:
Staying out of the heat may seem impossible, but it is possible to make some minor changes so that you can still enjoy being outside during the summer without risking your health. At the beach, lay under a big umbrella, wear hats and sunglasses, and stay inside between the hours of 12pm-3pm, when the heat is at its highest.

Know when to Exercise:
When you exercise, your body warms up and sweat could make it so that dehydration is easier. It is important to exercise when the temperature has cooled down. You may want to exercise during the early mornings or in the evenings, to prevent spikes in your blood sugar. And again, remember to drink plenty of water while exercising.

Test Your Blood Sugar Levels Frequently:
Since temperatures can make your sugar levels fluctuate, it is a good idea to test your sugar levels more frequently than usual. This will let you know whether you need to take immediate actions.
Summer can be a very fun time for vacations and family get-togethers, but heat can affect your blood sugar levels.

Diabetics need to follow certain steps to prevent risky situations. If you would like to get more suggestions about how to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, our experienced physicians are always there to help! Call us at (561) 434-1935 today, to schedule an appointment!

Welcome to Our Blog

Thank you for visiting our blog, and we look forward to connecting with you.

Advanced Medical is excited to bring you the latest information about research and advancements in primary care. This blog will also be used to post updates about our practice and keep in touch with our patients.

Check back often for new blog posts, and please don’t be shy. We welcome your comments and invite you to share this information with your friends and family.

Have a question about our practice or something you’ve seen in the news?

Want to suggest a blog topic?

You can leave a comment here or give us a call at (561) 434-1935, anytime.