Most Important Benefits of Having a Comprehensive Primary Care

Your primary care physician must be the initial point of call for all your medical requirements. Addressing common, everyday health issues and providing preventative health services aid you in managing your health. 

Your entry point into the healthcare system is primary care. The first step in diagnosing and treating any medical issue that is not an emergency is frequently making an appointment with your primary care. 

A better lifestyle and an improved quality of life are the benefits of establishing a long-term connection with comprehensive primary care. Your primary care is your lifelong health advisor and may help you learn how to be healthy, treat you when unwell, and obtain more specialist care when required.

 

Reasons You Need Comprehensive Primary Care

•  Annual check

An annual physical examination may seem intrusive, especially if the patient is healthy. These meetings, however, are crucial and shouldn’t be missed. Your relationship with your primary care physician is established via yearly visits to the doctor. 

Your doctor can identify your condition more quickly if they are familiar with you and how you feel when you are healthy. Regular checkups allow for the earlier detection of diseases and other problems. Patients can save on medical expenses, better manage chronic diseases, and receive specialist referrals.

•  Mental health concerns

Bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other mental health issues are quite prevalent. Many people have noticed how the pandemic has affected their mental health. Treatment for these issues cannot be generalized; it must be tailored to the patient’s specific needs. 

Patients might need numerous visits with their doctor to assess whether the strategy is effective. Your comprehensive primary care physician can help you become connected to the mental health services that are right for you.

• High blood pressure

Chronic high blood pressure can weaken the heart’s muscles and raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots by weakening the heart’s muscles. Although hypertension usually has no symptoms, it must be controlled for the rest of one’s life. Visiting your comprehensive primary care physician frequently will help you manage the illness with medication and dietary modifications.

•  Headaches and migraines

Any pain in the head region is generally referred to as a headache. The occasional headache can have various causes, but it may be a sign of a migraine disease if it happens frequently. 

Chronic or infrequent headaches can negatively affect the quality of life and may even leave a person unable to function. Your primary care physician can help you identify typical headache triggers and the type of treatment you require.

What are the Benefits of Comprehensive Primary Care?

• You’ll stay healthier

According to a 10-year study conducted by scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School, greater access to primary care was directly connected to a longer life expectancy.

Why does getting regular medical treatment make you healthier? Managing chronic illnesses and preventative care are two of a comprehensive primary care physician’s most significant advantages.

Preventive care aids in the prevention of ailment or disease. Better health results result from the ability to identify an illness early when it is simpler to treat it. Those who visit their primary care physician frequently are informed about crucial preventive measures like:

• Regular adult checkups and well-child checks for children from birth to age 18
• Immunizations such as booster doses for childhood shots or annual flu shots
• Mammography for women’s breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings
• Screenings for men’s prostate cancer
• Screenings for both men and women for colorectal cancer
• Management of chronic conditions

A chronic disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, is typically better controlled when you work with a primary care physician. Regular checkups make it easier to keep track of any changes in your health and spot emerging problems earlier. You may be less prone to experience issues that require hospitalization or surgery.

• You can lower your healthcare costs

Many preventive care services are entirely covered by insurance, frequently with no copay, because they are closely linked to better health and cheaper costs. You’re more likely to steer clear of pricey medicines and subsequent care if you regularly visit your comprehensive primary care physician for checkups, screenings, and vaccinations.

However, despite frequently covering preventative care, research reveals that Americans only receive around half the recommended amount of preventive care. Adults with a primary care physician typically have 33% cheaper health care costs and benefits.

For instance, starting around 40, your primary care physician might suggest a diabetic test depending on your general health and risk factors. You may already know that diabetes is a disorder marked by abnormally high blood sugar levels, which can harm your organs and blood vessels and cause other severe health issues.

Before any symptoms appear, a diabetic screening analyzes your blood sugar levels. Earlier detection of diabetes or prediabetes allows for easier management without expensive drugs. Additionally, it lowers the possibility of complications that could raise insurance rates and result in significant out-of-pocket medical expenses.

• You’ll save time

Another advantage of comprehensive primary care physicians is time savings. It is so they can handle several health issues during a single appointment. In just one visit, your doctor may frequently perform a checkup, a screening, and necessary vaccines.

Additionally, you can ask your doctor any health-related questions while you’re there. You can get your health-related issues addressed and, in some situations, even receive treatment that day without needing to make an additional appointment by making the most of your primary care doctor’s extensive range of experience.

• They’re your guide to the healthcare system

Although general care physicians manage many acute and chronic diseases, many of us may require specialist medical care at some point in our lives.

Your primary care physician can assist in putting you in touch with the appropriate specialist, whether you need to see a dermatologist or your child needs an allergist. They will collaborate with your specialty doctors to ensure the proper information is given, nothing is overlooked, and no tests are repeated.

It might be overwhelming to navigate the healthcare system on your own. You don’t need to do it alone if you have a primary care physician.

• You’ll have a trusted health advocate and advisor

In addition to being a health specialist, your primary care physician is also your health advocate.

Your primary care physician and you may become close, which can be advantageous in many ways. Your doctor can treat you better and influence your long-term health if they know your medical history. Knowing your doctor can make you feel more comfortable asking questions and disclosing personal information.

No topic related to health is off-limits. Your doctor’s responsibility is to keep you healthy. Even if you’re feeling self-conscious, other patients have likely posed comparable queries in the past.

And keep in mind that when you have a primary care physician, you are not starting from scratch every time you see a doctor. You won’t need to repeat the same information to your doctor at every visit because they already know who you are and your medical history.

Conclusion

Your comprehensive primary care physician is your lifelong health partner and offers comprehensive medical treatment for your life. They get to know your general health through routine physicals and wellness visits, so they can recommend the best treatments. They can identify possible issues before they develop into significant or life-threatening ones.

By taking care of any potential health issues as soon as they appear, they can help you prevent trips to the emergency room and hospital stays. They will recommend you to trusted professionals when you require more sophisticated care.

Visit Betterment Inc. to learn more about comprehensive primary care.