Whether you’re visiting for a regular checkup, or for persistent back pain, make sure you give your primary care doctor as much detail as possible about any other symptoms you might have.
FAMILY DOCTORS KNOW YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY INTIMATELY AND ARE ON THE ALERT FOR SYMPTOMS OF SERIOUS CONDITIONS TO STOP THEM IN THEIR TRACKS. HAVING REGULAR CONTACT WITH A MEDICALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL IS KEY TO PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM LIFE-THREATENING DISEASES.
Family practice physicians understand your medical history better than anyone and can help spot warning signs to diagnose a condition earlier and help prevent it from developing into something serious.
“Preventative” is the latest buzzword if you’re a primary care physician. Parkchester Medical family practice physicians work with their patients to help find problems before they start through checkups or “periodic health examinations” and building an ongoing relationship of confidence and trust.
How regularly should you get a periodic health examination?
A generation ago, most medical groups recommended that you see your family doctor for a checkup once a year.1 More recently, however, the American Medical Association has recommended fewer visits:
Adults 18-39: every 5 years
Adults over 40: every 1 – 3 years
These guidelines do not apply if you are taking prescription medication or have been otherwise advised by your doctor.
This change is owing to the fact that below aged 40, people are generally disease-free, and any serious problems would present in symptoms that you would seek specific medical attention for. Symptoms for diseases that generally affect people aged 40 and above are not as obvious. Also, as we age, we tend to tolerate aches and pains that we wouldn’t when we were younger, and therefore might overlook a serious warning sign.
Why should you attend a regular health examination?
Primary prevention: This means taking action to avoid a disease from manifesting. This includes taking actions such as immunizations and vaccinations, seeking information on risk factors specific to you, requesting general counseling on how to improve your lifestyle to prevent disease, and learning more about nutritional supplementation.
Secondary prevention: This means testing for symptoms that are not visible. Through early detection tests, we can stop a disease in its tracks. Examples include checking blood pressure, cholesterol, performing cervical screenings, and pap-smear tests.
Tertiary prevention: Should you be diagnosed with a disease or condition, our next step is to work together to optimize your health to prevent the disease from worsening. Depending on the disease or condition, this can involve a mixture of medication and lifestyle changes.
Health promotion: You have access to personalized advice from your family physician. Bronx residents are sometimes at a socioeconomic disadvantage, which means it’s sometimes more difficult or daunting to make a lifestyle change. We want to empower our community by helping to inform them about easy, affordable ways to take control of their health. Your family doctor is there to listen to your concerns, learn what is preventing you from making positive change, and then put a plan in place to help you overcome your problems.
HERE AT PARKCHESTER MEDICAL
We know that the relationship between a patient and their family doctor is extremely important. Your best chance at following and maintaining a plan to prevent or treat serious disease relies on your ability to confide in and trust the advice of your doctor.
A good family doctor will be there to see you through all stages of your life. Their breadth of knowledge enables them to help protect you and your family from serious diseases. Our primary care physicians offer a range of services including but not limited to:
We have a well-equipped on-site laboratory to help with speedy assessment and diagnosis. Our care is comprehensive and convenient. Should you be in need of urgent or emergency care, we also offer a walk-in service with no appointment necessary.