We all know that good physical and mental health is the key to a happy and healthy life. However, one can't live a healthy lifestyle by only visiting the doctor when they're sick. Routine check-ups and regular visits with a primary health care provider are equally, if not more, important.
A primary care doctor is a trusted resource who provides an overall picture of your health. Their job isn't just to diagnose and treat illnesses but also to take a preventative and proactive approach to ensure their patient's health and well-being.
As the name suggests, a primary care doctor is often your first contact with the healthcare system. Visiting the same doctor for years allows you to develop a sense of trust and comfort with them. This familiarity gives them deeper insights into their patients’ health concerns and helps them to provide personalized care and support to each patient.
Here we have listed down a few of the endless benefits of seeing a primary care physician:
Personalized and Continuous Care:
With a primary care doctor, you can get regular check-ups. Having a long-term association with the same doctor means that they have seen you through different stages of life, from infancy to adulthood. They have in-depth knowledge of you and your family's medical and personal history. This allows them to provide comprehensive care and come up with an effective and accurate diagnosis for medical conditions.
Since your physician is aware of the specific red flags to look out for, they can detect health issues early on. Moreover, they can recommend the right treatment plan before your condition progresses. As a result, they play a key role in making the recovery process more streamlined, effective and efficient.
Moreover, you aren't just a patient file for your primary care physician. Their bond with you is personal.
Manage Medications:
People often underestimate the number of issues that can arise due to self-medication and the unwarranted use of over-the-counter drugs. Medication should only be taken under the supervision of a primary care doctor as improper dosage, allergic reactions, or side effects can lead to long-lasting and permanent organ damage. Drug interactions are another thing to keep an eye out for. Different doctors recommend different medicines for various conditions. When a patient takes more than one drug regularly, the risk of unwanted side effects gets doubled.
A primary care physician acts as a gatekeeper in this regard. They keep a regular track of all your medications, their frequencies and dosage. If they notice any contraindication with your medication regimen, they will recommend alternatives or consult with the prescribing doctor to better handle the situation.
Time and Money Savings:
In most cases, primary care physicians have regular appointments with their patients. A well-established doctor-patient bond allows for swift and efficient solutions. Often, a physical appointment isn't necessary if your doctor can address the situation quickly over a phone call. An effective course of treatment can be agreed upon without delay. Recovery is much smoother when illnesses are detected in earlier stages before they've progressed into something worse.
When symptoms aren't detected early on, and illnesses are allowed to progress, the infection spreads and grows in surrounding areas—often leading to conditions with permanent or fatal consequences. The more severe and complex an illness, the lengthier and more expensive its treatment will be. Hence, keeping your health in constant check and treating issues without delay also helps save both money and time in the long run.
Prevention:
We've all heard that prevention is better than cure. The more in touch a doctor is with your current and past health issues, the more likely they'll identify a problem before it happens. If there are certain health conditions in your family, you may be susceptible to them, too. Under these circumstances, tests need to be conducted now and then to check the risk and progression of such diseases. For patients edging on danger, doctors recommend lifestyle changes and treatments to reduce the risk of developing a serious illness later in life.
Behavior:
An individual's behavioral health is as significant as physical health. Therefore, ensuring a patient's mental well-being is also one of the duties of a primary health care provider. Providing emotional and moral support becomes easier when the doctor is aware of your personal situation. Problematic situations at home, financial issues and strained parent-child bonds are all common reasons for depression and anxiety among patients. Primary care physicians take into account a patient's past and current traumas while assessing and evaluating them.
Types of Primary Care Doctors:
Primary health care providers have expertise in several areas and can efficiently treat a wide range of health conditions. However, different primary care doctors have different specialties, backgrounds and focus. Some are more equipped to deal with infants and younger age groups, while others specialize in health care for adults. There are three main types of primary care doctors to consider:
- Internal Medicine Doctors: Specialize in issues of adulthood and the elderly.
- Family Physicians: Care for an entire family. Deal with patients from their adolescence to old age.
- Pediatricians: Their focus is solely on kid's health.
If your goal is to live a healthy, long life, then your first step should be to get in touch with a reputable primary care physician. This small step can offer tremendous advantages for your overall health and well-being in the long run. Dr Judepatricks Onyema, at CertMedicals, is a certified primary care provider with years of training and experience in dealing with patients age 17 years and above. He and his team work hard to ensure that every patient coming in receives top-notch care and attention. You can book a consultation or schedule an appointment with the ease of mind that at CertMedicals, you will be fully taken care of. Your satisfaction and comfort are our utmost priority!