Your primary care physician is your best resource for preventive medical care, which can ward off chronic health conditions. This doctor delivers nutrition and lifestyle counseling as part of your comprehensive care plan. Here is more about the healthy habits your primary care physician wants you to develop.
Habits for a Healthy Life
Your annual physical examination with your primary care physician is foundational to your health and the preventive care you need to maintain it for a long and vibrant life. Part of your annual assessment is a discussion of habits that support good health. These are lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction, preventive care, and sleep patterns.
Eating a Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health and preventing chronic diseases. Your primary care physician (PCP) can help you create a personalized meal plan which includes the necessary nutrients for your body’s needs. This may mean more plant-based choices, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Plus, your PCP can direct you to special meal planning strategies by referring you to a dietician or nutritionist. Their services prove very helpful if you have or have a familial tendency for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or other chronic conditions. These services will also aid you in reducing your risk of developing these conditions.
Finally, eating the right foods in the right portions helps maintain the body weight just right for you. A trim body boosts cardiovascular health, reduces stress on the joints, improves mood, and helps avoid diabetes and other long-term problems.
Getting Regular Exercise
Regular physical activity is important for both physical and mental well-being. Your PCP will guide you in an appropriate exercise plan based on your current fitness level.
For most adults, this means 150 minutes of light to moderate aerobic activity weekly. For the elderly or for individuals with limiting health conditions, a primary care physician may refer to a physical or occupational therapist who can create customized exercise plans tailored to specific needs.
Avoiding Unhealthy Habits
These unhealthy habits include excessive alcohol consumption, overeating, cigarette smoking, using illegal drugs, and more. Your family practice physician in Bradenton, FL, will discuss the changes you need to make and direct you to special counseling programs and community resources that will support you in your journey to better health.
Reducing Stress
Stress is a major factor in the development of chronic health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, and anxiety. Your primary care physician will help you form practical and effective strategies that can decrease stress levels in your day-to-day life.
Examples of helpful strategies include journaling, meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques. Your doctor may recommend talking to a counselor or therapist or joining a support group to help manage anxiety, stress, and depression, and to improve your emotional and mental well-being.
Keeping Up with Preventive Care
Regular check-ups and screenings are essential for maintaining good health. Your family practice physician in Bradenton, FL, will provide you with comprehensive physical exams, blood work, and other services to catch any potential health issues early while they are still treatable.
Preventive screenings include blood draws to check for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, thyroid dysfunction, and other metabolic disorders. Your doctor will also order cancer screening tests, such as mammography and colonoscopy, as age appropriate.
It is also recommended that you update your vaccines according to the schedule your family practice doctor follows. They will help you avoid contagious diseases, such as the flu, pneumonia, and shingles, and protect your family and community from illness as well.
Getting Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential to both physical and emotional health. People who do not get the recommended 8 hours of nightly sleep routinely are more emotionally reactive, have poor cognition and memory skills, and are at higher risk of developing hypertension and other long-term health conditions.
Be honest with your family practice doctor as you discuss your sleep patterns. He or she may suggest a new bedtime ritual, shutting off screens early in the evening, and making rest a priority in your life.
Counseling with Your Family Practice Physician in Sarasota, FL
Individualized and holistic healthcare is what we provide at Intercoastal Medical Group. We have many family practice and internal medicine doctors on our team. We are also proud to host a team of specialists, including cardiologists and endocrinologists, among others. Our caring professionals can provide everything you need to attain and maintain your best health.
To see your PCP for an annual physical examination at Intercoastal Medical Group, please contact the location near you for an appointment. Our family medicine doctors see patients at Beneva Family Practice, Beneva Professional Center, Cattleridge Medical Building 1, Lakewood Ranch 1 and 2, and Palmer Ranch 1 and 2. We look forward to helping you have excellent health habits for life.
