Chronic conditions are medical conditions that persist for at least six months and require ongoing management. Most of these conditions cannot be cured completely,but they can often be controlled with lifestyle changes and the right treatment plan.
Examples of chronic conditions include asthma, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, heart diseases, chronic kidney diseases, chronic migraines, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and others. Managing these and other chronic health conditions requires long-term care, support, and guidance, oftenfrom healthcare professionals like a general practitioner (GP) ora specialist.
In this blog,we discuss how a general practitioner can help manage chronic conditions and where you can go to see a highly trained and compassionate general practitioner for the management of your chronic health conditions in the Bronx.
Why See a General Practitioner?
Since general practitioners are often the first point of contact for patients seeking medical care, they are the most common medical doctors to diagnose most chronic health conditions.
Typically,a GP diagnoses chronic health conditions by taking your detailed medical history and asking questions about your family medical history, your symptoms, past illnesses, and any lifestyle factors that could contribute to your symptoms. They also conduct physical exams to look for the signs of any specific chronic health conditions.
They may also check a patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, body mass index,and respiratory rate, and may order diagnostic tests such as blood tests, imaging scans (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans), and electrocardiograms to confirm or rule out specific chronic health conditions.
Once a GP reaches a diagnosis of a chronic health condition, they work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include medications and lifestyle changes. If needed, they may refer you to a specialist.
Monitoring Chronic Health Conditions
Regular checkups with GPs are crucial to monitor chronic health conditions. During regular checkups,general practitioners monitor your progress, assess how well your treatment plan is working for you (keeping your condition under control),and make adjustments to your treatment plan, if needed.
A GP also ensures that you take your medications correctly and may monitor you for the side effects of medications. They also answer your questions or concerns related to your treatment plan or certain medications.
Education on Chronic Health Conditions
It’s a well-known fact that patients who are well-informed about their medical conditions are more likely to participate in their treatment plans. That is why GPs explain the chronic health conditions of patients to them in simple terms and help them understand what is happening in their body that is causing their symptoms. They also provide guidance on how youcan contribute to the effectiveness of the treatment plan.
Lifestyle Counseling
As a part of their comprehensive care for patients with chronic health conditions, GPs provide lifestyle counseling. It involves providing guidance and advice on making positive lifestyle changes to manage chronic health conditions more effectively and to promote better health.
Typically,GPs offer recommendations on adopting a healthy and balanced diet, getting physically active, managing stress and weight, improving sleep and hygiene, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and adhering to medications.
Emotional Support
Dealing with chronic health conditions can be mentally and emotionally taxing. That is why GPs also offer emotional support to their patients. They understand that a person’s emotional well-being can significantly impact their overall health and recovery.
GPs actively listen to their patients’ feelings and concerns, show them empathy and understanding, allow them to share their emotional struggles, and if needed, refer them to mental health specialists.
General Practitioners for Chronic Disease Management in the Bronx
At Starling Diagnostics, we have a team of highly trained and skilled primary care providers who offer a comprehensive range of primary care, including management of chronic health conditions and women’s specialty services. We also offer diagnostic testing services – all under one roof for your greater convenience and timely care.
To learn more about the comprehensive range of services we offer at our practice, call us today at (718) 319-1610 or request an appointment with our GPsby filling out our online request form.
