Your body is a complicated machine.
Sometimes, there’s a problem and you know exactly what it is: a broken bone, asthma, a sinus infection.
Other times, your body is more sneaky, and it’s silently causing problems for you. There aren’t any outward symptoms you notice, at least not at first, and then all of a sudden you have a big issue.
There’s a solution to this problem: primary care.
Here at Phillips Family Medical in DeSoto, Texas, board-certified family nurse practitioner Pamela Phillips, Ph.D., FNP-C, and our team want you to be in good health. Here’s how primary care helps you stay ahead of silent health issues like cholesterol, thyroid, blood pressure, and more.
Your primary care provider is your first line of defense when it comes to your health. They’re your long-term partner who knows your medical history, your current medical condition, and your lifestyle and risk factors.
You should see your primary care provider at least once a year to check your health status, manage any conditions you’re treating, and assess any risks you’re facing.
Silent health risks are problems that exist and get consistently worse in your body without any obvious signs you can observe. Many people walk around with these silent risks until a major event like a heart attack or stroke occurs.
Well-known examples of this type of risk include:
Primary care is the best way to fight these silent killers. Visiting your provider every year gives you a baseline of your current health condition, including measurements like your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
Because you build up data over time, your provider will know your normal tendencies and can very quickly spot warning signs before they turn into major problems.
Your provider can also recommend preventive health screenings (such as mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) based on your age, lifestyle, and medical history. These screenings are designed to catch diseases early.
If we catch any signs that do indicate a silent health issue, we can then design a treatment plan and coordinate care with specialists if necessary.
Primary care helps provide a comprehensive approach to your health that identifies and manages these silent risks early, before you have the heart attack or stroke, or while the cancer is small. This is invaluable to keep you healthy and strong.
If you’re looking for primary care, our team at Phillips Family Medical is here to help. Call our office at 972-861-1151 to schedule an appointment today, or use our online scheduler anytime.
