The Role of a Medical Practitioner in Preventive Healthcare

Consulting with your medical practitioner at least twice every year should be part of every adult’s preventative healthcare routine, even when you are feeling fit and healthy. It is similar to remembering to service your motor vehicle every 15000km, even though it is running well, or visiting your dentist bi-annually, even when you are not suffering from toothache. Unfortunately, many adults perceive their healthcare as a responsive process.

They attend doctor’s visitations to treat an illness, disease or injury as they occur, which, in many cases, is counterproductive. In reality, your health and well-being must be maintained proactively with constant checks and balances, ensuring that you uphold optimum physical and mental fitness. Additionally, proactive general check-ups with your medical practitioner may lead to early diagnosis of potentially serious diseases or conditions and can be treated quickly and effectively.

The community of qualified health professionals at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics understands that it may be difficult to maintain a regimented health routine on top of managing a busy professional life and a growing family. However, your family relies on you to be present, which will not be the case if you are in ill health. That said, we share the role we can play in your preventive healthcare and how we might assist you in proactively maintaining pique physical and mental health.

Develop a Relationship with One Medical Practitioner

The importance of developing a relationship with one general practitioner (GP) cannot be overstated. A doctor who knows you well possesses an in-depth knowledge of your and your family’s medical history and has documented evidence of your ailments and injuries will be able to treat you more effectively. They will have tests, x-rays and laboratory results that have previously been undertaken. They would know of any allergic reactions you might suffer from, and which medications work best for you.

Committing to one doctor has many advantages and could save you both time and money. Seeing multiple doctors from various practices could result in duplication of tests and other procedures which may be unnecessary, expensive, and time-consuming. Moreover, an unfamiliar GP observes only what your signs and symptoms display at the time of the consultation and has available the information you volunteer. It is merely a snapshot of who you are and your general health. Without adequate information, a doctor could misdiagnose your symptoms or prescribe inadequate medication. Having a trusted relationship with one medical practitioner can help you focus on maintaining your health through preventive healthcare.

What is Preventive Healthcare Practice? 

The purpose of preventive medicine is exactly as the name suggests – it aims to prevent illness or disease before it manifests. It also focuses on protecting, promoting, and maintaining physical health and mental well-being which is why it is important to consult with your doctor regularly, even when you feel healthy.

A medical practitioner can avert disease, disability or death by early diagnosis in bi-annual consultations. By examining your physical state, asking relevant questions and applying their comprehensive medical expertise, GPs can play a pivotal role in detecting conditions early on. This may sound very technical, but it is seldom more complicated than going for a routine checkup and having a conversation with your doctor.

Many health issues may reflect no significant signs or symptoms to begin with. So, to ensure that your mind and body are functioning well, the consultation may include:

• Screening for diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes or signs of cancer.
• Investigating and addressing future risks of diseases like high cholesterol or obesity.
• Discussing alcohol use and safe drinking tips or advice on how to stop smoking.
• Advising on mental health issues and ways to deal with stress.
• Encouraging a healthy lifestyle, optimal diet and promoting exercise.
• Discussing current medications, vitamins or supplements that you might be taking.
• You have the opportunity to discuss more personal concerns and be open and honest.
• Updating vaccinations and scheduling more specialised treatments.

Why Preventive Healthcare Practices Are Important

Heart disease, various forms of cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, sexually transmitted diseases, and chronic lower respiratory diseases are manageable and, in some instances, preventable. One dedicated GP will be able to keep track of your health through the years and constantly monitor and detect minor changes.

Preventive healthcare practices and following your doctor’s advice may assist in preventing many types of ailments from affecting your life. Healthy habits, eating well, exercising, and avoiding tobacco products will assist in boosting a healthy lifestyle while ensuring that preventative measures are taken daily. However, sometimes genetics or genetic mutations might work against you and to diagnose these instances early is critical. Therefore, during your bi-annual consultation, your medical practitioner may test, or schedule tests for:

• Frequent blood pressure testing (daily or tri-weekly to form a pattern)
• Monitoring daily blood sugar levels (for diabetes detection)
• Cholesterol and blood toxification levels (to detect hypertension)
• Colon cancer screening
• Testicular cancer screening
• Genetic testing (for breast, cervical or ovarian cancer)
• Scheduling gynaecological consultations and mammograms
• Osteoporosis screening
• Tests for chlamydia, syphilis, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases

Preventative Care Makes You More Aware of Your Body

 

Although your responsibility to yourself is to visit your GP twice a year, there are many self-checks that you can conduct to ensure that you stay healthy. In addition to consulting with your doctor, another essential part of preventive healthcare is learning to recognise changes in your body that may not appear normal. These changes may be detected whilst performing daily, weekly or monthly checks of your body and might appear in the form of:

• An unusual lump of any sort, anywhere on your body (gelatinous or solid)
• Unexpected weight loss
• A fever that will not break or persists for longer than a few days
• Scratches in the back of your throat or lingering coughs that get progressively worse
• Lingering aches and pains, and muscle strains that will not go away
• Blood in your urine or stools
• Skin changes, blemishes, sores, open wounds or scabs that do not go away or get worse
• Any other sign or symptom that appears unusual, or that you have never experienced before

How to Find Preventive Healthcare Practice Professionals and What You Can Do

 

There are many ways to exercise preventive healthcare without the aid of a trained professional. Adjusting your smoking habits, not using illegal drugs or not abusing over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, drinking alcohol in responsible moderation and practising safer sex are immediate physical changes you can make that will work in the immediate short term.

Regular exercise, a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy might also assist. But for a long-term investment in your health and well-being, get in touch with a medical practitioner who cares about your well-being. You can find one right here at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics. Conveniently located in most cities and their adjacent suburbs, the qualified doctors and friendly medical personnel will support you in practising preventive healthcare. Contact us to find your doctor. Intercare – Leaders in Health.

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