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primary care doctor in Royal Palm Beach FL

How to Choose a Primary Care Doctor

A primary care doctor is your key to achieving and maintaining optimal health. They provide you with everything from treating common illnesses such as fever, flu, allergies, etc., to screening deadly illnesses like breast cancer or prostate cancer and referral to a specialist.

A primary care doctor is a medical doctor who addresses all your primary care needs. So, it would be best if you chose a doctor with which you can have a rewarding relationship. Your primary doctor can be your family nurse practitioner, pediatrician, Ob/Gyn, internal medicine doctor, etc.

Let’s talk about some tips you can follow while choosing your primary care doctor and where you can find the best primary care doctor in Royal Palm Beach.

Tip#1 Start by Asking People You know

Finding the best primary care doctor in your area can be challenging. So, follow this easy step, i.e., ask around.

You can speak with your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors and get recommendations from them. Another good source is getting recommendations from other healthcare professionals like pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists, etc.

Note down the name of all the primary care doctors in a journal and research them to narrow down the list.

Tip #2 Get Help from Your Insurance Provider

A primary care doctor who shares your insurance plan will decrease your health care costs. So, to pay the least out of your pocket, ask your insurance provider to give you a list of primary care doctors who come under your plan. You can also search for the name of your potential primary care doctor on your insurance provider’s website.

You must choose a primary care doctor who comes under your insurance plan and is compatible with you.

Tip #3 Research the Education and Credentials

Do a background check to narrow down the list of primary care doctors you have in hand. You must find out about the education, training, experience,and accreditation of all the primary care doctors on your list.

Also, make sure that your potential primary care doctor is board certified and has no history of a malpractice claim or disciplinary action.

Tip #4 Know What Other People Say About the Doctor

Knowing what other people say about your potential primary care doctor will give you an insight into how the doctor practices medicine, the attitude of staff and doctors towards patients, and appointment wait times.

For this, read patient reviews and testimonials about primary care doctors. While these reviews can be used as a yardstick when choosing the doctor, you should not completely rely on patient reviews as they can be fabricated and sometimes misleading.

Tip #5 Find Out If your Primary Care Doctor Is Compatible with You

Before choosing a doctor, know them in person. For this, make a one-on-one consultation with them. During your consultation, notice your doctor’s communication style. Also, see if they answer your questions and value your point and treatment preference.

Choose a doctor who considers you a person, not a number.

Primary Care in Royal Palm Beach

If you’re looking for a highly skilled and trained primary care doctor, look no further than Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida. At our clinic, we offer a high standard of primary and urgent care. Our internal medicine specialist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene provide comprehensive treatment options to help you achieve a better quality of life.

To set up a consultation with our primary care doctors, call us today at (561) 434-1935or request an appointment by filling out our online form.

4 Healthy Tips from a Primary Care Physician Near You

It’s no denying that you need to avoid illnesses and practice healthy habitsto thrive and live a long-lasting life. However, avoiding certain illnesses and making healthy choices isn’t always easy.

The good news is that there is a doctor – your primary care doctor – whocanhelp you achieve and maintain good healthby fulfillingall your primary care needs and giving you some healthy tips.

Let’s talk about 4 healthy tips that your primary care doctor may advise you for living the healthiest and longest life and where you can find the best primary care doctor in Royal Palm Beach.

#1 Get Routine Health Screenings

Most people think regular health screening is only for those at risk for certain illnesses due to their genetic makeup. However, routine health screening is helpful for everyone. It helps detect diseases or conditions early when they are most treatable.

So, your primary care doctor recommends you regularly get yourself screened for heart diseases, diabetes, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

During your health checkups, you may also be asked to get screened for diseases specific to your gender and age group.

#2 Take Control of your Health

To live a long healthy life, it’s important that youmust take an active role in your health and well-being. You should make intelligent health choices using the knowledge and skills your primary care doctor equips you with.

For example, if you have a chronic disease, such as diabetes, obesity, or hypertension, your primary care doctor advises you to manage your health condition by keeping a tab on your health numbers like blood pressure, BMI/weight, and blood sugar level.

#3 Maintain a Balanced Diet

One of the easiest things you can do to stay fit and healthy is to make wise food choices. This is because what you eat heavily impacts your health status.

For example, if you’re prediabetic, eating sugary food will keep your blood sugar level high, and you will quickly develop full-blown diabetes.

So, your primary care doctor advises you to incorporate the right amount of real food – whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, fish, and healthy meat – into your diet. Plus, you must reduce your salt intake and alcohol consumption.

#4 Stay Physically Active

People living sedentary lives are at higher risk for cancer, metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and musculoskeletal diseases, such as back pain, knee pain, and osteoporosis.

So, your primary care doctor advises you to engage in physical activity that gets you moving for 30 minutes daily, at least three days a week.

You can stay active by doing simple and enjoyable activities, such as cycling, swimming, walking, running, dancing, etc.

Primary Care Doctor in Royal Palm Beach

At Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, our primary care doctors,Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and ShariffaGunawardene, are committed to providing you with comprehensive primary care and urgent care. Our primary care doctorsofferadvanced, evidence-based, individualized care tohelp you achieve good health and enjoy a long healthy life.

To make an appointment with our primary care doctors, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online.

3 Major Benefits of Walking

Walking requires no gym membership or special equipment. It’s no wonder walking is one of the most popular forms of exercise. Several studies show that it’s one of the simplest things you can do to improve your physical, emotional, and mental health. A 30-minute daily walk program can burn calories, reduce cholesterol, increase endurance, and improve depression, among many other things.

Here are three major benefits of this underestimated activity:

#1: Strengthens Bones And Muscles

Walking daily transfers weight from your joints to your muscles and helps increase bone density. This makes you stronger and more resistant to musculoskeletal injuries.

Osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become weak and prone to breaking, can also be prevented through regular walking. This activity also tones your leg and abdominal muscles.

Additionally, older adults can lower their chances of impairment and arthritic pain by walking for at least 10 minutes daily.

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable way to get more movement, you can start with this!

#2: Improves Your Heart Health

Walking helps promote heart health in three ways. It does the following:

  • Improves circulation
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Decreases cholesterol levels

People who follow a daily walking routine have a 30% lower risk of heart attack or stroke. In addition, a walking program can help manage your blood pressure, resting heart rate, weight, body fat, and cholesterol. It can reduce days spent in a hospital and even increase your life expectancy compared to no leisure-time physical activity.

Do you have an existing heart condition and are thinking about starting a daily walking routine? Consult a doctor to know the most suitable way to introduce this into your lifestyle.

#3: Increases Cognitive Function And Boosts Mood

Adding a daily walk routine has notable mental benefits. You may experience increased brain function and improved mood compared to those who do not walk much.

Walking can also heighten creativity by an average of 60%. It enhances divergent thinking and increases brain flow by exploring many possible solutions quickly. Additionally, walking can improve memory and stop the loss of brain tissue with age.

Physical activities like it do more than boost cognitive function. They also encourage the body to release endorphins. This feel-good hormone can help:

  • Elevate mood
  • Stimulate relaxation
  • Lower stress levels

Starting A Daily Walk Routine

The first step to starting a walking routine is to consult your primary care doctor for a general assessment. They can help you identify the risks and benefits of a suitable and effective walking program.

Once you have a schedule in place, all you need to do is be consistent with it. Here are a few notes to help you get started:

  • Warm up and cool down before and after your walking sessions.
  • Start at a relaxed pace and quicken as you go.
  • Interval is key. Try to vary your speed for small amounts of time.
  • Have a bottle of water with you and drink plenty of fluids.
  • Consult a primary care doctor to ensure you are maintaining healthy walking habits.

Primary Care Near You In Wellington, FL

Daily walks can improve your quality of life by strengthening muscles and joints, improving heart health, and boosting brain function. Most people can safely engage in modest exercise, such as brisk walking. However, it’s best to check with a health professional, preferably your primary doctor, before you take on a new exercise program.

If you’re searching for a primary care physician in Wellington, Florida, consider us here at Advanced Medical Clinic. Our board-certified healthcare providers work hand in hand to bring patients’ goals to fruition. As the top Wellington family practice, we aim to provide the highest quality of compassionate health care. That way, our patients can focus on living their best lives.

To schedule an appointment with a primary care physician in Wellington, call our office at (561) 434-1935. You can also use our convenient online request form.

Coronavirus Treatment Evolution – What we now know about how to treat COVID-19

Coronavirus Treatment Evolution – What we now know about how to treat COVID-19

You may be hearing about coronavirus on a daily basis, but do you know what to do in case you develop symptoms? There’s no telling whether you will get mild or severe symptoms when you get infected. Fortunately, we have learned a lot about treatment over the past several months.

Mild Symptoms

If you develop a fever, dry cough, and body aches and think you may have COVID-19, you must stay home. Call your primary care doctor and let them know of your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you get tested to make sure you know the cause of your symptoms. Follow your doctor’s instructions to help make your recovery more comfortable. Monitor your symptoms closely.

According to the CDC, people with mild symptoms of coronavirus can recover from home. Take care of yourself and do what you can to be healthy and help your body fight the virus. Rest, eat nutritious food, take your vitamins, hydrate, take a fever reducer, sleep, and do light exercises. Most people with mild symptoms feel better after a week. Most people who get COVID-19 have mild symptoms. As such, there is no need for prescription medication while they recover in most cases.

Moderate to Severe Symptoms

In the case you have severe symptoms, treatment may be necessary. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help with symptoms, but not to treat COVID-19 itself. While the world awaits a vaccine, so far, only one medication has been approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19, and that is Remdesivir. This is only for patients who are hospitalized. A corticosteroid called dexamethasone is also used for patients with severe symptoms who need a ventilator. Convalescent plasma therapy or using the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19 is also used to help reduce the severity of the symptoms and help patients recover. If you have severe symptoms, your doctor will determine which (if any) of these treatments can help you.

If you develop severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, a consistently high fever, or if your lips turn blue, go to an emergency room immediately. Remember, only patients with severe and life-threatening symptoms are admitted to the hospital.

The FDA is expediting the development of COVID-19 treatments at this time. In the meantime, mind your hygiene, follow social distancing guidelines, and do what you can to strengthen your immune system.

Primary Care Doctor in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

Our primary care providers, Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and Shariffa Gunawardene, ARNP are dedicated to providing personalized care and treatment. They are focused on restoring you to your optimal health. In light of the pandemic, we closely monitor patients who are COVID-19 positive and those who are showing symptoms but have not been tested. We understand that these are scary times, which is why we provide personalized care and support backed by medical science. If you have questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, call (561) 434-1935 or use our online request form.