Family medicine doctors are our everyday heroes. They provide comprehensive primary healthcare to patients of all ages for a variety of conditions, such as colds, strep throat, and flu. They also help patients manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
In this blog, we will look at these health problems and at how your family doctor can help you manage them.
Colds
One of the most frequent conditions treated by family medicine doctors is the common cold. This viral infection affects millions of people every year and causes symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, sneezing and coughing.
Family doctors provide treatments to alleviate these symptoms and to prevent complications, such as pneumonia or middle ear infections. Also, your family doctor can show you ways to limit your exposure to the many seasonal viruses that cause the common cold.
Influenza
Flu is another acute condition that family medicine doctors see frequently. Influenza, like the common cold, is caused by a virus – typically, different ones that develop during the annual flu season.
Fortunately, today’s yearly influenza vaccines effectively protect against the flu. Your family doctor likely will recommend you receive one. Vaccinations can start as early as 6 months of age. Flu vaccines also are important if you are in a high-risk group, such as:
- Being 65 or older
- Having a chronic health condition, such as asthma or diabetes
- Being a healthcare worker or routinely contacting medically fragile individuals (such as an elderly parent)
Your family doctor will discuss your risk factors with you as part of your annual physical examination.
Plus, as the flu, colds and other acute illnesses are highly contagious, your family doctor will give practical ways to reduce your risk of getting sick. Examples include thorough and frequent handwashing, staying out of crowds, and covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection affecting the throat and tonsils. It is most common in children between the ages of five and 15 but can occur in adults as well.
Symptoms include a very sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Strep throat is highly contagious. It can spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact with an infected person.
If you suspect that you or your child has strep throat, see your family doctor. He or she will perform a physical examination and do a rapid strep test to confirm the presence of the bacteria. Treatment for strep throat usually involves antibiotics and comfort measures, such as fever-reducing medications, rest, and plenty of fluids.
Hypertension
Also called high blood pressure, hypertension is a very common chronic health condition in American adults. Classically defined as a blood pressure reading higher than 140/90 mmHg, hypertension more recently is recognized as anything higher than 130/80 mmHg.
Checking your blood pressure is an important part of your annual physical exam. This cardiovascular condition can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and more. Hypertension often has no symptoms, so it is known as a “silent killer.”
Your family medicine physician may prescribe medication to control your blood pressure. Be sure to take it as prescribed.
Also, your doctor may recommend changing some lifestyle habits, such as smoking, eating a fatty, salty diet and being sedentary. While you cannot change hereditary risk factors for hypertension, lifestyle changes are highly effective in avoiding or managing hypertension.
Diabetes
Consistently high levels of blood glucose are characteristic of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops due to obesity, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle. Type 1 is related to the body’s inability to produce the hormone insulin. Because diabetes can run in families, your family doctor may suggest routine screening if you have close relatives with this disease.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, carefully follow your doctor’s recommendations for managing the condition. This includes monitoring your blood glucose levels regularly, taking medication as prescribed and making necessary lifestyle changes. You must maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly to control blood sugar levels.
Additionally, individuals with diabetes should be aware of health complications. These may include diabetic retinopathy, nerve damage in the feet and hands (neuropathy), heart disease, and kidney disease.
Your Family Doctor Provides Preventive Care and Chronic and Acute Disease Management in Wellington, FL
At Advanced Medical Clinic, we are passionate about family medicine. Internal medicine physician, Dr. Ishwan Gunawardene, and his wife, family nurse practitioner, Shariffa Gunawardene, provide patient-centered care for people of all ages and walks of life. So, whether you are a middle-aged adult, a parent with young children, or a senior with a few chronic conditions, we can help you enjoy the best possible health.
Contact us to learn more about our services or to arrange your annual physical. Call (561) 434-1935, or request your visit here.
