primary care near me

Top Questions To Ask Your Family Medicine Provider

Having a family medicine provider is essential for accessing adequate medical services. Family care providers’ are generalists who can deal with health issues impacting people at all stages of life. They help diagnose health problems and provide effective treatments to alleviate them. They can also refer patients to specialists for more extensive treatment, when necessary.

Building a strong professional relationship with your family medicine provider is paramount to ensuring the well-being of you and your family members. You can start cultivating this bond by asking these questions during your first appointment.

What are your credentials and experience level?

While standards exist to ensure that primary care providers meet adequate healthcare competencies, each provider has their unique skill set. Experiences from working on real-life cases can provide insight and expertise that complement theoretical practice. As such, it’s good to check if your provider’s experience aligns with your needs. For instance, if you have diabetes, you want a family medicine provider who routinely treats patients with this condition.

It’s also wise to inquire about your provider’s credentials. In particular, board certification provides concrete evidence that a family medicine provider has mastery in their medical practice.

What healthcare services do you offer?

Family care providers’ can address a wide range of medical conditions, given their status as general practitioners. However, you should make sure your family medicine provider is adequately equipped to handle your family’s specific needs.

Note that specific diagnostic tests and treatment options might require relatively uncommon equipment. As such, it helps to discuss the medical history of your family members with your provider, so you can tentatively plan for medical services you might need in the future.

Work with a family medicine provider who continuously updates their practice with cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art techniques. Innovative family medicine providers will allow you to take better advantage of new developments in medicine.

What check-ups and screening procedures do my family members need?

An annual check-up is a norm for some adults, but the ideal frequency can depend on various factors. If there is a family history of specific illnesses, you might need more frequent check-ups. Having a chronic disease also warrants a more frequent check-up schedule to ensure you remain in control of your condition.

Age also matters when planning check-ups. Children might need more visits to the family care provider to check if they are meeting essential growth milestones. The elderly may also need more screening tests as the risk of some diseases rises with age.

What vaccines does my child need?

Vaccines protect your child from many illnesses and encourage herd immunity. If enough people are vaccinated in a community, those who are unable to take a vaccine will still receive protection. Hence, you should ensure that your child gets the vaccines they need.

Vaccination schedules can be complicated, as specific doses work best at certain ages. Many programs also incorporate booster shots to lengthen the duration of immunity. Coordinate with your family care provider to ensure that everyone completes their vaccination schedules.

How can I access your services?

During your first meeting, establish logistics with your family care provider. Inquire about their schedule, so you can plan accordingly. Consider how you’ll go to and from the family medicine provider’s office, especially if you live far from the facility. Check out the facility premises, especially if a family member has accessibility needs.

Likewise, establish communication lines with your family care provider. Will they respond to email inquiries, or do they prefer phone calls? Know how to reach your family medicine provider, so you’re better prepared when an emergency happens.

Ask if your family medicine provider has telemedicine options. Virtual consultations can save time and allow people who cannot go outside to still get medical advice. The presence of telemedicine options also indicates that your family medicine provider embraces technology and innovation.

What are your office policies?

Don’t forget to ask about appointment options. Would you need to schedule in advance, or can you have same-day and walk-in appointments? Finally, ask about financial considerations, such as insurance coverage and payment methods.

Family Care In Wellington And Royal Palm Beach, FL

Having an experienced and compassionate family medicine provider is crucial for your health and that of your family members. Establishing a strong relationship with them starts with asking about their expertise and services. You should also discuss your medical needs, as well as the ways you can contact your family medicine provider in emergency situations. Working with a reliable and professional medical provider is a big step toward securing your health.

With facilities in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Advanced Medical provides top-notch primary and urgent care to Florida’s families. Our family medicine providers design comprehensive treatment plans to address a wide range of urgent and non-urgent conditions. Call us at (561) 434-1935 and set up an appointment to learn more. We hope to see you soon!

Blood Pressure: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and Why it’s Important

Blood pressure measures the force that the heart uses to pump blood around the body, and it can go up and down throughout the day and night according to activity level. If, however, blood pressure readings remain at a consistently abnormal level, it can indicate a problem, which, if left untreated, can lead to potentially life-threatening medical conditions.

We all require a certain amount of pressure to successfully move blood around the body. Normally, blood pressure rises during the day when we’re moving about or exercising, and when we’re resting or sleeping, it usually drops, which reduces the strain on the cardiovascular system.

How Is Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is determined by measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, and it is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Systolic blood pressure measures the force at which the heart exerts on the walls of the arteries each time it contracts (beats) – when pressure is at its highest. Diastolic blood pressure measures the force your heart exerts on the walls of the arteries when the heart rests between beats – when pressure is at its lowest.

The reading is recorded as two numbers – systolic pressure is the higher number and diastolic pressure is the lower number. Readings fall into four general categories, which range from normal to stage 2 high blood pressure. To get an accurate blood pressure measurement, your family medicine provider will evaluate your blood pressure readings based on the average of two or more blood pressure readings. Ranges can vary depending on age and other factors, but as a general guide, the readings are as follows:

  • Normal blood pressure, which has a systolic reading of less than 120 and a diastolic reading of less than 80
  • Prehypertension – 120-130 (systolic) and 80-89 (diastolic)
  • High Blood Pressure stage 1 – 140-159 (systolic) and 90-99 (diastolic)
  • High Blood Pressure stage 2 – 160 or higher (systolic) and 100 or higher (diastolic)

Low blood pressure (hypotension), which is much less common, is considered as 90 or lower (systolic) and 60 or lower (diastolic). It can be caused by certain medications, medical conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy, or an underlying condition such as heart failure or dehydration. Low blood pressure requires further investigation, and treatment will depend on the cause.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, means blood pressure is consistently too high – even when resting, and means the heart has to work hard to pump blood around the body. High blood pressure is often termed as the “silent killer,” because it doesn’t always present noticeable symptoms but can cause significant cardiovascular and organ damage and increase your risk of life-threatening health complications. High blood pressure can cause progressive damage to blood vessels by causing them to become rigid or narrow. This makes it easier for fatty material, known as atheroma, to build up in them, which, in severe cases, can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

There isn’t always an exact cause of high blood pressure. It can be related to unhealthy lifestyle habits including smoking, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, being overweight, not exercising enough, and consuming too much salt.

Secondary hypertension is caused by another medical condition, such as kidney disease, adrenal gland tumors, coarctation of the aorta (a narrowed aorta from birth), pregnancy, and thyroid dysfunction. Often, if the source of secondary hypertension is treated, blood pressure can return to normal.

Risk of high blood pressure can increase if you are over 65, have a close blood relative with high blood pressure, have a medical condition such as diabetes, or due to certain medications such as birth control pills.

Diagnosing and Treating High Blood Pressure

Without symptoms, people can have high blood pressure for years without even realizing. The only way to diagnose high blood pressure is to have it measured – usually with a blood pressure cuff, which is a quick and painless process. A blood pressure cuff is positioned around your arm and inflated. As air in the cuff is released, a stethoscope is used to listen to the pulse. Pressure is recorded as blood returns to the arm. It is then classified as normal, prehypertension, or high.

Further tests to check your organs for damage may be requested, which may include blood or urine tests, an eye exam, imaging tests, or specific tests to detect heart or blood vessel damage.

Treatment for high blood pressure primarily consists of lifestyle changes (such as weight loss, exercise, and dietary changes) and medications to bring it back within a normal range and reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions.

Quality Primary Care in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

If you are concerned about your blood pressure, speak to the compassionate primary care providers at Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida. At Advanced Medical, we diagnose and treat high blood pressure along with many other medical conditions and urgent care needs.

To learn more about our services, or to arrange an appointment, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or you can request an appointment online.