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10 Things to Ask Your Family Doctor

Being open with your family doctor is essential. They can help assess and evaluate you for any symptoms and allow you to understand your body better. The more comfortable and transparent you are with them, the easier it will be to achieve better health.

Here are ten things to ask your family doctor about when you visit them for a consultation or check-up:

1. Questions About Medical Tests And Assessments

Medical screenings are crucial tools for detecting illnesses. Your family doctor may require you to undergo various ones during your check-up.

While assessments and screenings are not uncommon, it’s still good to know what will happen during the procedure. Before you proceed, ask them to explain how you’ll benefit from the medical test.

Your doctor should tell you the procedure’s details, how the findings will help their assessment, and how much it will cost.

X-rays, blood exams, and urine tests can help your physician inspect any abnormalities in your body. Some procedures, such as glaucoma tests, mammograms, and Pap smears,can aid in diagnosing serious illnesses.

2. Questions About Diagnoses

Once you’ve gone through all the needed medical assessments, your doctor will arrive at a diagnosis for your condition. Ask them to provide as much detail about it as possible.

Your family physician should also tell you how they arrived at a conclusion based on your test results. They will then talk to you about the nature of your condition, its treatments, and how to keep symptoms at bay.

You should ask about how long your condition could last, what steps to take, and how to prevent it from worsening.

3. Questions About Medications

If your doctor has given you a prescription for a medication, you can ask them to discuss its dosage and side effects. Your family physician will prescribe the correct dosage, the interval of hours for taking it, and the total duration of treatment.

Ask your doctor for possible contraindications if you take other medications, like over-the-counter drugs, birth control pills, and vitamins, to ensure non negative interactions occur.

4. Questions About Surgery

For patients scheduled to undergo surgery, a visit to a family doctor can help with preparation. Ask your physician what they know about the specific surgery you’re about to go through.

Since your family doctor knows your medical history, they can talk to you about possible side effects or risks. You can also ask them to coordinate with your surgeon to ensure a smooth procedure. If steps need to be taken to make you healthier prior to surgery, your family physician can help with that.

5. Questions About Diet Changes

You can ask your family doctor if you plan to change your diet. Your physician can help you plan a balanced nutrition plan to ensure you’re not cutting out any essential nutrients.

They can also let you know whether or not you need to make a diet change in the first place. Severely underweight or overweight patients will be encouraged to do so. However, your doctor may not recommend it if you’re already at a healthy weight.

Patients with specific conditions like diabetes and high blood cholesterol may need to avoid particular foods. Ask your doctor to discuss in detail what you can include in your new diet plan.

6. Questions About Sleep Habits

If you’re experiencing sleep issues, you can ask your family doctor about safe intervention options to take. They may prescribe aids like sleeping pills or over-the-counter melatonin. Calming teas and hot beverages may also help.

Your doctor can help you plan a nighttime sleep routine, too. Ask them about the science behind getting long, uninterrupted sleep to understand why healthy sleep habits are vital.

7. Questions About Exercise

Your family physician can recommend an appropriate exercise plan for your specific health conditions or state of health.

For example, if you’re an office worker who spends long hours sitting down, your physician may prescribe at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. Overweight patients might be encouraged to do more workouts to reach their weight loss goals.

People who suffered from an injury or are recovering from surgery can also consult their family doctor for exercise recommendations. Make sure to ask questions about what specific exercises you should do, and how to prevent injuries when exercising.

8. Questions About Your Family Medical History

Your family doctor knows all about your medical history, including that of your family. Ask them what illnesses and sicknesses you may develop due to being high risk as a result of your family medical history.

Ask them about precautions to take to avoid the same medical conditions your family members have. If you already have them, you can ask your doctor about proper management.

9. Questions About Pain

Consult your doctor if you’re experiencing any discomfort or pain. Even if it’s just mild pain, it could indicate something going on in your body, especially if it is unexplained or is chronic.

Your physician can help you get to the root cause of the pain and recommend treatment options. Most of the time, they will prescribe over-the-counter drugs or minor lifestyle changes to help you recover.

Your doctor will guide you through a treatment plan for severe cases. Be transparent with them regarding your symptoms, so they may evaluate you accordingly. Ask them what could be causing the pain and what steps you can take to reduce the pain naturally. You should also what signs to look out for that indicate you need medical attention regarding your pain.

10. Questions About Future Visits

Don’t forget to ask your family doctor about what to do until your next visit. They may recommend medications, therapy, or medical tests to do until the next appointment.

Also, ask them about the frequency of your visits. Regular check-ups are essential to staying healthy. People with chronic medical conditions may need more frequent doctor visits.

Family Medicine Near You In Wellington, FL

When visiting a family physician, patients should ask about all things related to their health. These include medical tests, diagnoses, treatment options, surgery implications, possible diet changes, changes to sleep habits, exercise plans, and much more.

We at Advanced Medical Clinic are proud to serve as a family practice in Wellington. Dr. Ishan Gunawardene is happy to answer all your questions about your health. Dr. Gunawardene is a board-certified internist who can help you stay on top of your health. Call us at (561) 434-1935for inquiries. You can also schedule an appointment with the best family doctor in Wellington by submitting an online request form.

Benefits Of Going To A Family Medicine Practice

A family medicine practice offers many benefits to individuals and families seeking a doctor for primary care services. A primary care doctor is your first point of contact for medical care. This is the first physician you see when you get sick, need a check-up or vaccine, or want to get your symptoms evaluated.

With different types of primary care doctors to choose from, it’s important that you know what makes family medicine physicians a top choice for most people. Here are some of the biggest benefits of going to a family medicine practice.

Convenience

Family medicine physicians are trained and experienced in seeing patients of all ages. If you have a family, this can be extremely convenient for you. Instead of having different primary care doctors for yourself, your children, and your parents, everyone can be seen at a family medicine practice. This can translate into significant saved time, money, and energy. For instance, you can schedule annual check-ups or the flu shot for the entire family at the same time and place.

Familiarity with Family Medical History

Another important benefit of being part a family medicine practice is that you and your family members will be taken care of long-term. For instance, if a certain illness runs in your family, your family medicine doctor will be on the lookout when caring for your parents, you, and your children. Your doctor will understand how the health of your parents can influence your health, and how your health can influence your children’s health. An example of this is heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes – all of which can be passed down in families. Having a physician with insight into your entire family’s health history is invaluable.

Continuity of Care

Another benefit of seeing a family care doctor is continuity of care for you and your family. A family medicine doctor can treat patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatric patients. This means your children can see their childhood doctor when they become adults without any issues. It also means that you won’t have to change doctors as you get older and your healthcare needs change. Due to their experience in providing primary care for all age groups, a family medicine doctor will be able to take care of you at every stage of life.

Personalized Preventative Care

Getting treatment for illnesses is not the only reason to visit a family medicine practice. When it comes to your health, prevention is always the key. Your family doctor is your partner in maintaining your overall health and well-being. They can recognize patterns in your health over time and see which illnesses you are prone to develop. So, the care they give will be tailor-fitted to your needs.

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic in Wellington, we have a holistic approach to health. Our services go far beyond simply treating illnesses as they sprout up, and include:

●      Weight control and nutritional guidance

●      Techniques in managing stress and depression

●      Contraception and fertility counseling

●      Strategies on how to maximize physical exercise

Diagnostic Services

Family medicine practices are equipped to provide diagnostic services that are commonly required for primary care. Examples of diagnostic services you can take advantage of at a family medicine practice include:

●      Blood draws

●      EKG

●      Echocardiography

●      Pulmonary function testing

●      MRIs

●      CT scans

Family Practice in Wellington, FL

If you’re looking for excellent primary care from a family practice in Wellington, FL, your search is over. Advanced Medical Clinic is a leading facility for family health. Our team of providers focuses on achieving optimal health for you and your family. We do this by administering compassionate and patient-centered care.

We have offices conveniently located in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida. If you want to visit us or learn more about our services, give us a call at (561) 434-1935. You can also request an appointment online.

6 Causes of Serious Headaches

The pain from headaches and migraines can interfere with your daily life. You might not function at work as you should. The discomfort may even disrupt the time you spend with your family. When you understand the causes of serious headaches, you will know when you should visit a primary care physician or someone who is an expert in Wellington family practice. The most common causes are:

 

1. Brain Infection 

A brain infection, though not a common cause of serious headache, is a problem that can cause serious complications. Therefore, you should take notice if you have a serious headache accompanied by any of these symptoms:

·    Delayed Speech 

·    Vision Changes

·    Muscle Function Changes

·    Vomiting

·    Fever 

·    Chills

A brain infection usually stems from one of the following microbes: 

·    Virus

·    Bacteria

·    Fungi

 

2. Hormone Headaches 

If you’re a woman, you may experience hormone-related headaches triggered by changes in your estrogen levels. For example, you may notice your headaches occur before your menstrual cycle. Pregnancy, perimenopause, birth control medications, and menopause can all cause serious headaches due to hormone changes.

Hormone headaches in men can occur as well. Specifically, men who have low testosterone levels are more likely to experience chronic migraines than men with normal testosterone levels. 

3. Hemicrania Continua

This particular type of headache usually causes moderate pain, but you can experience bouts of severe pain. Keep in mind that the headaches from hemicrania continua happen daily, and you won’t have any periods without pain. In some cases, this type of headache will cause migraine-like symptoms like sensitivity to light, nausea, and vomiting. 

The cause of hemicrania continua isn’t known, but a specialist in family medicine Royal Palm Beach can prescribe a medication to manage your pain and other symptoms. 

 

4. Sleep Deprivation

Your body requires an adequate amount of sleep to function normally. When you don’t receive enough sleep, you may develop headaches or migraines during the times when you lack sleep. 

Moreover, sleep and headache disorders both rely on the same brain structures, which make you more prone to serious headaches. 

 

5. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, classifies as a silent condition because it doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, when your blood pressure levels unusually rise , you may develop a severe headache. 

Generally, mild or moderate hypertension won’t cause headaches, which is when your blood pressure is between 140 to 159 over 90 to 99 or 160 to 179 over 100 to 190. 

 

6. Meningitis 

Meningitis is a term that describes inflammation  of the membranes surrounding your spinal cord and brain. In the United States, a majority of cases start with a viral infection. 

The initial symptoms of meningitis often mirror symptoms of the flu. Your neck could feel stiff, and you may even experience excessive sleepiness. Severe headaches and headaches accompanied by nausea and vomiting could occur, too. 

A primary care physician at Royal Palm Beach can diagnose and treat severe headaches. Therefore, you can go back to living your normal life without the debilitating headaches that interfere with your daily life. 

Contact Advanced Medical PA — a family medicine practice that serves Wellington and the surrounding Florida area — today for relief from your serious headaches. Call us at (561) 315-4172. While we’d love to speak to you personally, for your convenience, you can also use our online appointment form.