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What Can a Family Medicine Physician Help You With?

Did you know that about one in every four physician’s office visits – some 214 million in the US alone – are made to a family doctor?

That’s because unlike medical specialists who focus on a specific ailment or injury to a particular part of the body, family medicine physicians provide a wide range of care for a variety of health conditions to patients of all ages.

Here are just some of the many healthcare needs a family medicine practitioner can help you with:

·       Preventive care – A family physician can not only educate you about disease prevention and maintaining your health, but also oversee your preventive care. That includes your mental and emotional, as well as physical, needs. For example, your family doctor can suggest the best forms of exercise for your particular fitness level, provide weight control and nutritional counseling, conduct fertility testing, or show you stress relief and anger management techniques to improve your overall well-being.

·       Handling common health complaints – Whether it’s treating a cold or flu, a sore throat or ear infection, your family doctor’s office is your first – and often only – stop for appropriate diagnosis and medication. Also, if you or your child require immunizations, your family doctor is the person to see.

·       Diagnosis of emerging conditions – As someone familiar with your medical history, your family doctor can analyze new and unusual symptoms and recognize the development of a hidden or serious condition requiring prompt attention. For example, your family doctor is usually the first physician to examine you and screen for early signs of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. That includes ordering, performing, and interpreting tests to diagnose the condition, explain the test results to you, monitor your treatment and rehabilitation, and re-evaluate your therapy when necessary. 

·       Managing chronic illness – One of the responsibilities of a family physician is to provide personalized, ongoing care for chronic and degenerative conditions such as asthma, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. Using diagnostic tests, they assess your rehabilitative progress to determine the most effective follow-up steps in your personal treatment plan.

·       Coordinating your rehabilitation – Your family physician is the one who refers you to a specialist if your condition requires specialized care. But his or her involvement doesn’t end there. Acting as your primary care physician, your family doctor coordinates on your behalf with specialists, physical or occupational therapists, pharmacists, and any other health care providers to make sure that all of your medical needs are addressed.

That is why it is often said that “family physicians do not treat diseases; they take care of people.”

The friendly staff at Advanced Medical is committed to providing the highest quality care you need to return your family to health and keep you well. If you have any questions about our primary care services, please call our office at (561) 434-1935. To schedule an appointment, you can call us or use our secure online appointment request form.

 

Is Bronchitis Contagious?

“I’ve got bronchitis, but don’t worry. It’s not contagious.”

Chances are you’ve heard that from your co-worker or a family member when they’re coughing…incessantly. There is a generally held belief that bronchitis is not contagious. While there is some truth to this belief, it is not entirely accurate.

Bronchitis caused by a bacterial or viral infection most certainly is contagious. This is the most common type of bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is not contagious, when caused by tobacco use or environmental factors. However, people with chronic bronchitis may also have an undiagnosed viral or bacterial infection contributing to their symptoms, so they may still be contagious.

Bronchitis is the inflammation of your bronchial tubes that can cause chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and sometimes fever. For bronchitis caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat it. For a viral infection when antibiotics are not useful, you may take over-the-counter medication to help relieve symptoms. As with most viral infections, time and rest are the best medicine. Chronic bronchitis requires ongoing care with a chronic disease management specialist, such as Dr. Gunawardene.

Tips to Help Prevent the Spread of Bronchitis

Because viruses or bacteria typically cause bronchitis, the way you contract bronchitis is the same way you contract other types of flus, colds, and illnesses. So, breathing viruses or bacteria in or passing it from your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes usually spreads bronchitis.

For this reason, it is important to practice safe hygiene method around those with bronchitis, colds, and the flu. Frequently washing your hands, sanitizing surfaces that collect germs, and keeping your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth can all help you avoid bronchitis and other bacterial or viral infections.

Most importantly, make sure you get your yearly flu shot. Many complications can develop from the flu virus including bronchitis, so if you can avoid getting the flu, you may just avoid getting bronchitis. If you do end up getting bronchitis, be sure to practice healthy hygiene habits. It is important to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, and wash your hands often to avoid getting someone else sick. Also, keep your distance from those who have weakened immune systems and those with asthma and other breathing complications.

While bronchitis usually resolves itself in 7 to 10 days, if left unchecked it can lead to worsening symptoms, or even pneumonia. If you think you may have bronchitis, Dr. Gunawardene and board-certified family nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene at Wellington Advanced Medical Clinic can evaluate and treat your symptoms. For bronchitis treatment in Wellington, call (561) 434-1935 or book an appointment online. Specializing in primary care and internal medicine, we will work with you to get you back to good health.