A family practice doctor in Andover, Kansas provides preventive care for people of all ages, although many patients only visit these clinics when they want to be diagnosed and cured of a health problem. They might only set an appointment if they have been struggling with a sore throat or an earache, for instance. General practice physicians want patients, in general, to be more proactive about their health, including coming in for annual checkups.
An Example
Consider a person who has episodes of abdominal pain that are almost debilitating, yet the incidents do not seem to be connected to any disease. A family practice doctor in Andover, Kansas will want to learn the patient’s dietary habits instead of simply prescribing medication to deal with the symptoms. With this step, the doctor and patient may be able to figure out the cause of these episodes and stop them from happening in the future.
The patient may have an allergy or an intolerance to a food substance. This person may be eating so much insoluble fiber that it is causing gas and bloating, symptoms that become quite uncomfortable and even painful. Irritable bowel syndrome is another possibility that can be diagnosed by reviewing all the symptoms.
Preventive Care as Patients Get Older
Physicians with an organization such as Wichita Family Medicine Specialists LLC build relationships with their patients over time. As patients get older, certain kinds of preventive care become especially important, and an annual checkup can uncover potential problems and stop them before they get out of control.
Doctors want their patients to have some lab blood work done so they can check organ function as well as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If the patient’s fasting blood sugar is too high but not yet at the level of Type 2 diabetes, this person has a good chance of getting the numbers back down where they belong. Research has confirmed that primary health care can be crucial for maintaining optimum wellness. A person who never gets blood pressure checked will not be aware of any problem and will not have access to the essential medicine.
