At a Glance
Why You Need a Primary Care Provider
Chronic diseases are debilitating and take away from your quality of life . According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) chronic diseases result in seven out of 10 deaths for Americans every year , and account for 75 % of healthcare costs in the U . S .
Genetics can play a role , but many times chronic diseases like diabetes , heart disease , and cancer are preventable .
What can you do to take control of your health and live a robust life ?
“ I can ’ t wait for my physician visit ,” said no one ever . Most of us only think about seeing our physician when we ’ re sick . We wake up with a fever and chills – forced to pick up the phone and call for an urgent appointment .
Annual wellness checkups are just as important as the urgent sick calls . Your primary care physician can help you navigate a healthy lifestyle . And healthy lifestyles are the first line of defense in preventing chronic diseases . Getting established with a primary care physician helps to establish a baseline for your health . Your primary care provider will get to know you and can work with you to help create a healthy lifestyle plan .
And once you become established with a primary care physician , it becomes much easier to get into the see the physician when you do get sick .
There are some routine screenings that you and your physician will want to discuss at your wellness exams . Screenings are in most cases part of preventive care and can help detect diseases much earlier , allowing for better outcomes .
Here are six recommended screenings for men and women you should be discussing with your primary care physician during your wellness exams :
PROSTATE SCREENING for Men : Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men , second only to skin cancer . It ’ s the second leading cause of death in men behind lung cancer . Early detection can treat cancers with a high risk of spreading before it spreads to other areas of the body .
COLONOSCOPY : Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in both men and women . Early detection through screening can find precancerous polyps . Polyps can be removed before they turn into cancer . There are no symptoms in the early stages of colorectal cancer , making early detection critical . Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early .
A1C SCREENING Type 2 Diabetes : Testing can help find prediabetes and assist your physician with counseling you and preventing Type 2 diabetes .
BLOOD PRESSURE : High blood pressure has no symptoms , making screening even more important . Having high blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease and stroke .
CHOLESTERAL SCREENING : High cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and stroke . Knowing your cholesterol levels helps you stay in control of your health .
LOW-DOSE CT SCREENING : Low-dose computed tomography ( LDCT ) is the only recommended screening test for lung cancer . If you are a current smoker , or one who has quit within the last 15 years , and have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history and between the ages of 50 and 80 , LDCT talk to your physician about getting a referral . When lung cancer and lung disease is caught early , successful treatment is more likely .
Halifax Health - Primary Care offers six convenient locations . Our providers have extensive training and experience in treating adults , children , adolescents and seniors . Services offered include physical examinations , routine vaccinations , adolescent healthcare , women ’ s health and preventive medicine , and sick visits , as well as health education .
For more information , or to schedule an appointment , please visit halifaxhealth . org / primarycare or call 386.425 . MYMD
MAMMOGRAM SCREENING for Women : Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women , second only to skin cancer . Mammograms can help detect cancer early when it ’ s easier to treat , and before it becomes big enough to feel and cause symptoms .
› Halifax Health - Center for Women and Infant Health , a Perinatal Center of Excellence , recently earned recertification from The Joint Commission to receive the elite Perinatal Care Certification . halifaxhealth . org / ob
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