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primary care physician Wellington FL

Managing Chronic Conditions: How Your Primary Care Physician Can Help

Living with a chronic condition can be challenging, but with the help of a trusted primary care physician, you can navigate through the ups and downs more effectively. Your primary care physician plays a crucial role in managing your chronic condition, providing guidance, support, and personalized treatment plans.

Let’s explore how your primary care physician can assist you in managing your chronic condition and where you can go to find the best primary care physician near you.

Building a Strong Doctor-Patient Relationship

Establishing a strong and trusting relationship with your primary care physician is essential when it comes to managing a chronic condition.

Your doctor becomes your ally, someone who understands your medical history and personal circumstances. They will:

  • Listen to your concerns
  • Answer your questions
  • Provide the necessary support throughout your healthcare journey

Comprehensive Evaluation and Diagnosis

When you visit your primary care physician with symptoms or concerns related to your chronic condition, they will conduct a thorough evaluation. This evaluation may involve:

  • Reviewing your medical history
  • Performing physical examinations
  • Ordering diagnostic tests
  • Assessing your overall health

By gaining a comprehensive understanding of your condition, your physician can make an accurate diagnosis and create an effective treatment plan.

Personalized Treatment Plan

One of the key roles of your primary care physician is to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. They collaborate with you to set realistic goals and explain available treatment options.

This plan may include medication management, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, dietary modifications, or referrals to specialists when necessary. Your primary care physician acts as a central coordinator, ensuring that all aspects of your care align and work together seamlessly.

Regular Follow-ups and Monitoring

Managing a chronic condition requires ongoing care and monitoring. Your primary care physician schedules regular follow-up appointments to track your progress, assess the effectiveness of your treatment plan, and adjust it if needed.

These appointments are crucial for addressing any new symptoms or concerns, managing medication side effects, and ensuring that your condition is well under control.

Education and Support

In addition to medical treatment, your primary care physician provides education and support to help you better manage your chronic condition. They offer guidance on self-care techniques, provide resources for disease management, and help you navigate lifestyle adjustments.

By empowering you with knowledge and support, your primary care physician enables you to take an active role in managing your own health.

Collaborative Care

Your primary care physician acts as the central point of contact for all your healthcare needs. They work closely with specialists, such as cardiologists, endocrinologists, or rheumatologists, to ensure that all aspects of your care are well-coordinated.

This collaborative approach ensures that you receive holistic and comprehensive treatment for your chronic condition.

When to Visit Your Primary Care Physician

Regular visits to your primary care physician are essential for maintaining your overall health and managing chronic conditions.

While it’s important to have routine check-ups, there are certain signs and symptoms that warrant a visit to your primary care physician.

Here are some situations when you should consider scheduling an appointment:

New or Worsening Symptoms

New or worsening symptoms related to your chronic condition warrant a visit with your primary care physician.

Whether it’s increased pain, changes in your energy levels, or the emergence of new symptoms, your doctor can evaluate these changes and determine the appropriate course of action.

Early intervention is often key in preventing complications and ensuring effective management.

Medication Management

If you’re struggling with medication management, it’s important to seek guidance from your primary care physician.

This includes concerns about side effects, difficulty adhering to the prescribed regimen, or issues with medication interactions.

Routine Check-Ups and Preventive Care

Even if you’re feeling well, routine check-ups with your primary care physician are crucial for preventive care.

These appointments allow your doctor to monitor your overall health, assess any risk factors, and catch potential issues early on.

Regular screenings, vaccinations, and discussions about healthy lifestyle habits are all part of preventive care.

Managing Flare-Ups

If you experience a significant increase in symptoms or feel that your condition is not under control, it’s important to contact your primary care physician.

They can provide guidance on managing flare-ups, adjust your treatment plan, or refer you to a specialist if necessary.

Emotional and Mental Well-being

If you’re experiencing increased stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health concerns, it’s important to reach out to your primary care physician.

They can provide support, recommend resources for mental health care, or refer you to a mental health specialist who can offer appropriate treatment and counseling.

The Best Primary Care Physician Near You in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, FL

Managing a chronic condition can be overwhelming, but with the support of your primary care physician, you can face the challenges head-on. Their expertise, guidance, and personalized care are invaluable in helping you lead a fulfilling life despite your condition.

So, don’t hesitate to reach out to your primary care physician and embark on a journey toward better health together.

Are you in search of the best primary care physician near you in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach? If so, look no further than Advanced Medical, the best family practice in Wellington, FL.

Under our care, you can rest assured you will receive the best service you need and deserve. You may reach out to our helpful staff today at (561) 434-1935 with any concerns. You may also book a visit with the best primary care physician in Royal Palm Beach with our online request form.

We look forward to serving you!

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!

Tips on Choosing the Best Doctor for Your Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is nothing to be ignored. In fact, if you are having difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection that is sufficient enough for sex, you should consult a doctor who specializes in men’s health.

The physician you’re looking for will be able to diagnose and treat your ED promptly and without making you feel embarrassed. Let’s talk about how to find the best doctor for you in treating your erectile dysfunction, and where you can go in Wellington for world-class internal medicine.

Talk with Your Primary Care Physician

Your primary care physician (PCP) knows you better than any other healthcare provider. This doctor keeps records of all of your medical treatments and diagnoses, updates your vaccinations, prescribes medications and other services (such as physical therapy), and performs your annual physical exam. This physician is therefore ideal for asking questions about your ED, and the doctor may uncover underlying reasons behind it. Once your doctor has determined the likely cause of your erectile dysfunction, it can be treated successfully.

For example, certain chronic health conditions – such as Parkinson’s disease, MS (multiple sclerosis), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease – can impact blood flow to the penis and proper nerve function. Additionally, some medications you take, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications, can impair penile function.

Consult with a Men’s Health Specialist

Your doctor may already be well-versed in treating men’s health issues, so you may not need to look any further. A doctor who specializes in men’s health will offer state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatments for ED. Testing may include penile ultrasound to evaluate structure and blood flow, a blood draw to check for low testosterone (low-T), and other assessments.

Ask Questions

The physician you ultimately choose to treat your erectile dysfunction should make you feel comfortable in asking personal but pertinent questions, such as:

  • What could be the cause of my ED?
  • Do I have to take oral medications, or do I have other treatment options?
  • Can I improve my sexual function in natural ways?

The right ED doctor can explain all of today’s myriad ED treatment choices, and the doctor will ask you certain questions as well, such as:

  • How long have you had ED symptoms?
  • When do they tend to occur?
  • Are you having issues with achieving an erection, or maintaining one?

These questions are highly personal and can seem embarrassing. However, your physician needs this information to hone in on the underlying causes of your ED so that the best treatment can be determined for you. Keep in mind that most medical issues are indeed highly personal, so this is nothing new for your doctor.

Men’s Health Specialist in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, FL

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, our board-certified internist can diagnose and treat a wide range of adult health issues, including erectile dysfunction. Whereas pediatricians are physicians who specialize in treating children, internists specialize in treating adults – and Dr. Ishan Gunawardene can address health issues of all kinds for both men and women.

Advanced Medical Clinic also offers family medicine for people of all ages, as Dr. Gunawardene’s wife, Shariffa, is a family nurse practitioner here at our practice. We are conveniently located in Wellington, and we are here for you for any non-emergency medical needs.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (561) 434-1935 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your healthcare provider!

Tips to Stay Healthy When You’re Under The Weather

If you are feeling under the weather, you are probably dreading it. Even the mildest of sicknesses can take a toll on your body and prevent you from participating fully in your daily responsibilities and activities. As such, it is useful to know how to avoid getting common illnesses and how to feel better if you do get sick.

Reasons Why You May Be Sick

Most of the time, we think that we get sick by chance, but that’s not necessarily true. Here are some reasons why you might be feeling unwell.

Hereditary Factors

 

You may have inherited some types of allergies from one or both of your parents. Allergic reactions can range from mild to life-threatening. They are caused by the immune system overproducing antibodies to “fight” the allergen present in the body.

Common allergies include hay fever, eczema, asthma, hives, and food allergies. Children are more commonly affected by allergies, but a first-time occurrence can happen at any age.

Workplace Environment

 

If there’s a cold or flu going around the office, there’s a good chance you’re going to get sick, particularly if your immune system is easily compromised.

Workplaces have communal areas and objects that get passed around constantly. Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with a contaminated object is a sure way for you to get the same sickness as your colleagues.

Time of the Year

Some illnesses affect more people at certain times of the year. For example, seasonal allergies like pollen or hay allergies usually occur during spring. Meanwhile, the flu and strep throat are more common during fall and winter.

Chronic Conditions

If you’re experiencing recurring symptoms, you may have a chronic illness. There are a variety of causes of these conditions. These include age, diet, and lifestyle choices such as being overweight, smoking, and drinking excessive alcohol.

Tips to Fight Common Illnesses

No one enjoys feeling sick. It can take away from your busy day, the enjoyment you typically feel participating in your favorite activities, and can even impact your work performance. Not to mention, feeling sick is simply uncomfortable.

Get Enough Rest

You may think that staying on your feet will shake off whatever ailment you’re feeling. However, it’s not advisable to go about your day when your body is giving you signals that it’s not functioning properly. It’s best to listen to your body and take a break.

Getting ample sleep is critical to a speedy recovery. Good quality sleep has been proven to boost the immune system, which is crucial for recovery. To help you get quality sleep, make sure the room is dark, quiet, and cool.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Cold viruses are transmitted by touch. If you use the same utensils and equipment as others, share the same food, or interact frequently with someone who has a cold, you’re more likely to get sick.

It’s important to thoroughly wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds several times a day, as well as avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes when you are outside your home. These steps can help prevent many common illnesses.

If you are sick, it’s important to continue taking these precautions as to not spread your illness to others around you.

Drink Lots of Fluids

Drinking water and other beverages like juices, broth, and electrolyte drinks when you’re feeling sick helps you replace the fluids you’ve lost. You also take in vital nutrients and eliminate waste.

Remember that being dehydrated can prolong your illness, so be sure to monitor your fluid intake over the course of a day.

Take Over-the-Counter Medications

Some go-to medications when you’re feeling flu symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and sore throat are acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Take these medications to reduce fever and muscle aches, as well. Meanwhile, seasonal allergies can be treated with oral antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays. These drugs treat sneezing, itchy skin, and stuffy nose.

Consult with Your Doctor

If you cannot pinpoint why you’re feeling unwell or if your symptoms persist for more than a few days, it’s best to seek the help of an expert. Your doctor can diagnose what’s ailing you and guide you towards the best treatment options.

You should also consult with a doctor if you suspect that you may have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, bronchitis, or high blood pressure.

Primary Care Physician at Wellington and Palm Beach, Florida

If at-home remedies do not work or you believe that you’re experiencing something more serious, it’s best to get yourself checked out by a doctor.

Here at Advance Medical, we provide quality healthcare to our patients. We offer internal medicine and family medicine services in Wellington and Palm Beach, Florida. Our comprehensive treatment options and experienced healthcare providers ensure that your visit with us will be both seamless and worry-free.

If you have any questions about our services, contact us at (561) 434-1935. You can also fill out our convenient online appointment request form. We look forward to getting you back to full health! 

Tips on How to Recover From Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury that usually results from a car accident. It develops when the neck is forcefully moved back and forth, like a whip. However, you can get whiplash from other activities, too, such as sports.

Fortunately, most cases of whiplash can be addressed using conservative methods, like medication and exercise. Here are some tips to speed up your recovery.

Rest

Just like any other injury, rest can relieve whiplash symptoms. A few days of bed rest can help you recover. However, excessive lack of movement may delay recovery. The structures in your neck can weaken due to prolonged immobilization. Your doctor will give you advice on how long you should rest and any movement restrictions to follow.

Use Neck Support

Your doctor may advise you to wear a neck foam or brace to relieve pain and promote healing. A brace or a collar could help reduce the pressure on your neck by holding it still.

Most experts say that you shouldn’t wear neck support for more than 72 hours. The duration will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injury. Your doctor will give instructions on how long you should wear the brace and when to take it off.

Apply Hot/Cold Packs

Apply a hot or cold compress to reduce muscle swelling and pain. You may do this every 3 hours for 15 minutes. If you’re using ice packs, wrap the ice in a cloth first. Avoid direct application to avoid damage to the skin.

Take Medication

Your doctor may recommend medication to relieve painful symptoms. For mild to moderate whiplash pain, you can try over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen and Tylenol. If you have more severe symptoms, you may require prescription medication. If needed, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants to relieve nerve pain. For your safety and health, it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking any medications.

Your doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxants. These medications force tight muscles to relax to provide pain relief. However, muscle relaxants can induce drowsiness. Your doctor may also recommend injection treatments. This ensures targeted delivery of the medicine into the painful muscle areas.

Stay Active

Rest can help in the first few days following your injury, but you will need to be active to complete your recovery. Being inactive for too long can be detrimental. Muscle stiffness and decreased physical strength are typical problems for those who have sustained an injury and remained at rest for a significant time. To combat this, your doctor will likely incorporate light exercises or physical therapy into your treatment plan.

Physical therapy aims to improve range of motion and rebuild strength. Here are some of the exercises your doctor may recommend:

●      Rotating your neck clockwise/counterclockwise

●      Tilting your neck to the left and right

●      Shoulder rolling

●      Bending your head towards and away from your chest

Treatment For Whiplash Wellington, FL

Most cases of mild whiplash can be resolved with over-the-counter medication and home care. However, severe cases may result in chronic pain and other prolonged complications. If you are suffering from whiplash due to an accident or physical trauma, see a doctor immediately.

If you would like to seek help for whiplash in Wellington, look no further than the Advanced Medical Clinic. We are a primary care practice committed to delivering personalized healthcare treatment to patients of all ages. Our team crafts appropriate treatment plans for urgent and non-urgent conditions.

Let us know you’re coming! Call us at (561) 434-1935 or fill out our online appointment request form.