Wellington family medicine practice

Vaccine Safety: What You Need to Know

Vaccines have garnered a lot of attention in recent years, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are essential tools for keeping the public healthy and halting the spread of infectious diseases. However, some people are apprehensive about receiving them. This could be due to misinformation or safety concerns about vaccines.

Here’s what you need to know about vaccine safety.

There are a Variety of Vaccines

Vaccines come in different types, and each works a little differently. A few of the most common varieties include the following:

1. Inactivated Vaccines

Inactivated vaccines are created by killing or inactivating viruses or bacteria. Although these vaccines cannot cause disease, they can stimulate an immune response.

2. Live Attenuated Vaccines

Live attenuated vaccines are made from weakened viruses or bacteria that can still replicate and cause a minor infection.Because the viruses or bacteria have been weakened, they are no longer capable of causing serious disease. However, they can still elicit a strong immune response.

3. Subunit, Recombinant, & Conjugate Vaccines

These vaccines are created using components of the virus or bacteria that are crucial for triggering an immune response. For example, take proteins or sugars.These vaccines are less likely to have side effects than vaccines that contain whole viruses or bacteria. That’s because they only contain specific parts of the virus or bacteria.

4. mRNA Vaccines

A more recent kind of vaccine called mRNA uses the genetic material from the virus to trigger an immune response.

5. Vector Vaccines

Vector vaccines use a harmless virus to deliver genetic material from the virus or bacteria that causes the disease.

This process triggers an immune response. It also prepares the body to fight the virus or bacteria if the body encounters it again.

Vaccines Undergo Extensive Testing

Before a vaccine can be approved for use, it must go through several phases of clinical trials. This extensive process is meant to test the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.

Here are the different phases of clinical trials:

First Phase

A small group of healthy volunteers receives the vaccine to assess its safety and determine the proper dosage.

Second Phase

The vaccine is administered to a larger group of volunteers to assess its efficacy and keep track of its safety.

Third Phase

To verify the vaccine’s effectiveness and safety in a real-world setting, thousands of volunteers are given the shot.

Once a vaccine has passed these clinical trial stages and is approved for use, it is still monitored for safety.

Vaccines Are Generally Safe & Highly Effective

Because of extensive testing, vaccines are generally safe and effective. Side effects are possible, just like with any medication. However, serious adverse reactions to vaccinations are extremely uncommon.

The most common side effects include:

  • Redness, swelling, and soreness in the injection site for a few days
  • For babies or young children, feeling unwell or having a fever for one or two days
  • A sensation of heaviness at the injection site

The Benefits of Vaccines Far Outweigh the Risks

Vaccines are extremely effective in preventing diseases such as measles, polio, and hepatitis B, among others. They also protect entire communities through herd immunity. A community’s ability to prevent diseases from spreading is increased when a sufficient number of its members are immunized.

This herd immunity helps protect vulnerable populations that may not be able to receive vaccinations. This includes the following groups:

  • Newborns and young children
  • Those with weakened immune systems
  • People who cannot receive the vaccine due to other health conditions

Several Institutions Work Together to Ensure the Safety of Vaccines

After vaccines are approved for use by the general public, their safety is monitored using a variety of systems. These systems complement one another and aid researchers in observing the safety of vaccines.

For instance, healthcare professionals are critical in providing accurate vaccine information and addressing the concerns or questions of patients. Regulatory agencies, on the other hand, play a critical role in ensuring that vaccines are both safe and effective.

Finally, the general public bears the responsibility of learning about vaccines and making informed decisions.

Family Medicine Near You In Wellington & Palm Beach, FL

Vaccines have been proven to be both safe and highly effective in the fight against infectious diseases. Minor side effects are possible, but they are typically mild and temporary. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Everyone should continue to learn about vaccines to protect themselves and make informed health decisions. You can begin to learn or receive vaccines with the help of a family medicine practice near you.

Get in touch with us at Advanced Medical if you have any questions about vaccines! As the best family practice in Wellington, we offer top-notch healthcare services. You can book a visit with the best primary care physician in Wellington by calling(561) 434-1935 or by requesting an appointment online.

10 Things to Ask Your Family Medicine Provider

Being open with your family medicine provider is essential. They can help assess and evaluate you for any symptoms and allow you to understand your body better. The more comfortable and transparent you are with them, the easier it will be to achieve better health.

Here are ten things to ask your family medicine provider about when you visit them for a consultation or check-up:

1. Questions About Medical Tests And Assessments

Medical screenings are crucial tools for detecting illnesses. Your family medicine provider may require you to undergo various ones during your check-up.

While assessments and screenings are not uncommon, it’s still good to know what will happen during the procedure. Before you proceed, ask them to explain how you’ll benefit from the medical test.

Your family medicine provider should tell you the procedure’s details, how the findings will help their assessment, and how much it will cost.

X-rays, blood exams, and urine tests can help your family medicine provider inspect any abnormalities in your body. Some procedures, such as glaucoma tests, mammograms, and Pap smears,can aid in diagnosing serious illnesses.

2. Questions About Diagnoses

Once you’ve gone through all the needed medical assessments, your family medicine provider will arrive at a diagnosis for your condition. Ask them to provide as much detail about it as possible.

Your family medicine provider should also tell you how they arrived at a conclusion based on your test results. They will then talk to you about the nature of your condition, its treatments, and how to keep symptoms at bay.

You should ask about how long your condition could last, what steps to take, and how to prevent it from worsening.

3. Questions About Medications

If your family medicine provider has given you a prescription for a medication, you can ask them to discuss its dosage and side effects. Your family medicine provider will prescribe the correct dosage, the interval of hours for taking it, and the total duration of treatment.

Ask your family medicine provider for possible contraindications if you take other medications, like over-the-counter drugs, birth control pills, and vitamins, to ensure non negative interactions occur.

4. Questions About Surgery

For patients scheduled to undergo surgery, a visit to a family medicine provider can help with preparation. Ask your family medicine provider what they know about the specific surgery you’re about to go through.

Since your family medicine provider knows your medical history, they can talk to you about possible side effects or risks. You can also ask them to coordinate with your surgeon to ensure a smooth procedure. If steps need to be taken to make you healthier prior to surgery, your family medicine provider can help with that.

5. Questions About Diet Changes

You can ask your family medicine provider if you plan to change your diet. Your provider can help you plan a balanced nutrition plan to ensure you’re not cutting out any essential nutrients.

They can also let you know whether or not you need to make a diet change in the first place. Severely underweight or overweight patients will be encouraged to do so. However, your family medicine provider may not recommend it if you’re already at a healthy weight.

Patients with specific conditions like diabetes and high blood cholesterol may need to avoid particular foods. Ask your family medicine provider to discuss in detail what you can include in your new diet plan.

6. Questions About Sleep Habits

If you’re experiencing sleep issues, you can ask your family medicine provider about safe intervention options to take. They may prescribe aids like sleeping pills or over-the-counter melatonin. Calming teas and hot beverages may also help.

Your family medicine provider can help you plan a nighttime sleep routine, too. Ask them about the science behind getting long, uninterrupted sleep to understand why healthy sleep habits are vital.

7. Questions About Exercise

Your family family medicine provider can recommend an appropriate exercise plan for your specific health conditions or state of health.

For example, if you’re an office worker who spends long hours sitting down, your family medicine provider may prescribe at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. Overweight patients might be encouraged to do more workouts to reach their weight loss goals.

People who suffered from an injury or are recovering from surgery can also consult their family medicine provider for exercise recommendations. Make sure to ask questions about what specific exercises you should do, and how to prevent injuries when exercising.

8. Questions About Your Family Medical History

Your family medicine provider knows all about your medical history, including that of your family. Ask them what illnesses and sicknesses you may develop due to being high risk as a result of your family medical history.

Ask them about precautions to take to avoid the same medical conditions your family members have. If you already have them, you can ask your family medicine provider about proper management.

9. Questions About Pain

Consult your family medicine provider if you’re experiencing any discomfort or pain. Even if it’s just mild pain, it could indicate something going on in your body, especially if it is unexplained or is chronic.

Your family medicine provider can help you get to the root cause of the pain and recommend treatment options. Most of the time, they will prescribe over-the-counter drugs or minor lifestyle changes to help you recover.

Your family medicine provider will guide you through a treatment plan for severe cases. Be transparent with them regarding your symptoms, so they may evaluate you accordingly. Ask them what could be causing the pain and what steps you can take to reduce the pain naturally. You should also what signs to look out for that indicate you need medical attention regarding your pain.

10. Questions About Future Visits

Don’t forget to ask your family medicine provider about what to do until your next visit. They may recommend medications, therapy, or medical tests to do until the next appointment.

Also, ask them about the frequency of your visits. Regular check-ups are essential to staying healthy. People with chronic medical conditions may need more frequent family medicine provider visits.

Family Medicine Near You In Wellington, FL

When visiting a family medicine provider, patients should ask about all things related to their health. These include medical tests, diagnoses, treatment options, surgery implications, possible diet changes, changes to sleep habits, exercise plans, and much more.

We at Advanced Medical Clinic are proud to serve as a family practice in Wellington. Dr. Ishan Gunawardene is happy to answer all your questions about your health. Dr. Gunawardene is a board-certified internist who can help you stay on top of your health. Call us at (561) 434-1935for inquiries. You can also schedule an appointment with the best family medicine provider in Wellington by submitting an online request form.

6 Causes of Serious Headaches

The pain from headaches and migraines can interfere with your daily life. You might not function at work as you should. The discomfort may even disrupt the time you spend with your family. When you understand the causes of serious headaches, you will know when you should visit a primary care provider or someone who is an expert in Wellington family practice. The most common causes are:

1. Brain Infection

A brain infection, though not a common cause of serious headache, is a problem that can cause serious complications. Therefore, you should take notice if you have a serious headache accompanied by any of these symptoms:

  • Delayed Speech
  • Vision Changes
  • Muscle Function Changes
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills

A brain infection usually stems from one of the following microbes:

  • Virus
  • >Bacteria
  • Fungi

2. Hormone Headaches

If you’re a woman, you may experience hormone-related headaches triggered by changes in your estrogen levels. For example, you may notice your headaches occur before your menstrual cycle. Pregnancy, perimenopause, birth control medications, and menopause can all cause serious headaches due to hormone changes.

Hormone headaches in men can occur as well. Specifically, men who have low testosterone levels are more likely to experience chronic migraines than men with normal testosterone levels.

3. Hemicrania Continua

This particular type of headache usually causes moderate pain, but you can experience bouts of severe pain. Keep in mind that the headaches from hemicrania continua happen daily, and you won’t have any periods without pain. In some cases, this type of headache will cause migraine-like symptoms like sensitivity to light, nausea, and vomiting.

The cause of hemicrania continua isn’t known, but a specialist in family medicine Royal Palm Beach can prescribe a medication to manage your pain and other symptoms.

4. Sleep Deprivation

Your body requires an adequate amount of sleep to function normally. When you don’t receive enough sleep, you may develop headaches or migraines during the times when you lack sleep.

Moreover, sleep and headache disorders both rely on the same brain structures, which make you more prone to serious headaches.

5. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, classifies as a silent condition because it doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, when your blood pressure levels unusually rise , you may develop a severe headache.

Generally, mild or moderate hypertension won’t cause headaches, which is when your blood pressure is between 140 to 159 over 90 to 99 or 160 to 179 over 100 to 190.

6. Meningitis

Meningitis is a term that describes inflammation  of the membranes surrounding your spinal cord and brain. In the United States, a majority of cases start with a viral infection.

The initial symptoms of meningitis often mirror symptoms of the flu. Your neck could feel stiff, and you may even experience excessive sleepiness. Severe headaches and headaches accompanied by nausea and vomiting could occur, too.

A primary care provider at Royal Palm Beach can diagnose and treat severe headaches. Therefore, you can go back to living your normal life without the debilitating headaches that interfere with your daily life.

Contact Advanced Medical PA — a family medicine practice that serves Wellington and the surrounding Florida area — today for relief from your serious headaches. Call us at (561) 315-4172. While we’d love to speak to you personally, for your convenience, you can also use our online appointment form.