Primary care is the cornerstone of preventive medicine. Typically, a visit to your primary care provider(PCP) may happen when you are acutely ill, but this physician also oversees your general health, delivering the preventive care and patient education you need to thrive. In this blog, we will discuss how your doctor can be your partner in long-term preventive care.
The Annual Check-up
A major component of the yearly wellness exam is health history. Your PCP is trained to assess the impact that your family and personal medical history may have on your health status both now and in the future. During your check-up, you will discuss any risk factors which can lead to chronic problems such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and others.
You will also receive a head-to-toe physical assessment, including vital signs and physical measures, such as your body mass index (BMI), height, and more. This information gives your doctor a picture of the current state of your health and what the potential for change is as you age.
Health Screenings
Health screening tests form the foundation of preventive care. Your physician will order urine and blood tests to screen for endocrine and metabolic disorders, such as thyroid disease and diabetes. You will also receive referrals for age-related cancer screenings including a colonoscopy, mammogram, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, and others.
Your doctor and support staff maintain your medical records and will coordinate any specialty care you may need, such as physical therapy or referral to a gastroenterologist. This continuity of care provides you with faster and more reliable access to targeted health care services in your community.
Exercise, Diet, And Lifestyle Recommendations
Preventive care includes advice on routine exercise and a healthy diet–both of which help lower the risk for chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, bone and joint degradation, cancer, and others. Your PCP will help you set proper goals based on your age, gender, current health status and more.
This aspect of primary care helps you manage your risk factors, improves positivity, and prevents serious complications of existing health problems, such as hypertension. In other words, incorporating preventive care can help improve your long-term health outcomes.
Finally, your PCP can help you decide what adverse health habits you wish to change and provide ways to be successful in reaching your health goals. For instance, if you wish to quit smoking, your doctor can provide you access to medications, support groups, and educational materials to support you on your journey to a smoke-free life.
Vaccines
Primary care providers have advocated for vaccine administration, or “shots,” for decades, seeing the benefits of communicable disease prevention for the individual and in society as a whole.
Your doctor will recommend certain “shots” to maintain the strength of your immunity against communicable diseases. Adult vaccines include influenza, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus, and others. Some are administered only once, while others require periodic boosters.
Primary Care Provider in Irmo, SC
At South Carolina Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation, our providers want every patient who comes through our doors to thrive for a lifetime. Why not call us to book your next wellness check-up with one of our board-certified primary care physicians?
Reach out to us at today (803) 749-1111 or request your visit online. Take charge of your health through the best in preventive healthcare.
