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primary care physician in Wellington FL

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!

Coping With Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) impacts 30 million men in the United States alone. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for ED. In Royal Palm Beach, Advanced Medical Clinic is the place to go to discuss erectile dysfunction confidentially and to get the coping strategies and treatments you need for satisfying sexual health.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

Frankly, most men would admit they experience some degree of sexual dysfunction from time to time. However, persistent difficulties in achieving and maintaining an erection sufficient to have intercourse are abnormal. Men who experience this issue need help from their primary care physician.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Your family doctor encounters many patients who struggle with ED. The reasons for the problem vary, but usually, they fall under two categories: physical and psychological.

The physical causes include:

●     Poorly controlled diabetes

●     Injury to the groin, abdomen, or back

●     Obesity

●     Cardiovascular disease

●     Hypertension

●     Prostate issues, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy

●     Neurological problems

●     Certain medications

●     Some surgeries

The psychological causes include:

●     Alcohol or substance abuse

●     Family or work stress

●     Relationship issues between partners

●     Depression

●     Anxiety

Coping With Erectile Dysfunction

The first and best coping mechanism is an open, honest discussion with your primary care physician. They will assess your overall health and ask about your symptoms. They may order blood tests and other lab work to check for diabetes and other problems which could cause ED.

Additionally, your doctor will screen you for emotional health issues, such as depression and anxiety, to determine if you require counseling or other psychological interventions.

To manage your ED, you and your physician will pursue a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. Some men benefit from oral medications, such as Viagara and Cialis. There are suppositories and self-injectable medications that help many men, as well.

Other men may need a surgically-inserted penile implant to aid in obtaining and keeping an erection. Plus, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not just for women. Men with erectile dysfunction may have low-T (testosterone) and can benefit from HRT taken in pill form.

For most men–and this likely includes you–lifestyle changes greatly improve sexual function. Here are some suggestions that really work:

●     Avoid being sedentary, and start exercising. Regular exercise improves your mood, reduces stress, and benefits your vascular function.

●     Stop all smoking, and limit alcohol consumption. Both adversely impact the microcirculation in the lower extremities.

●     Achieve a healthy body weight. The bigger your waistline, the greater your chances of developing ED.

●     Eat fewer processed foods and more vegetables and fruit. Studies show a direct link between junk food and ED.

Don’t Wait for Erectile Dysfunction to Go Away

You can manage sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, with the help of your primary care physician. So, why not take back control by calling Dr. Ishan Gunawardene? He is board-certified in internal medicine and has expertise and training in many subspecialties, including men’s health.

Contact Advanced Medical Clinic to schedule a consultation. Call us at (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment online.