Why Do You Need a Primary Care Physician?

Primary care physicians are medical generalists that can treat a long list of common conditions, injuries, and ailments, including:

• Alcohol abuse
• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Back pain
• Bronchitis
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Constipation
• Cough
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Dizziness, vertigo
• Earaches and infections
• Earwax impaction
• Eczema
• Fever
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Gout
• Headaches and migraines
• Heart disease
• Heartburn
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Influenza
• Insomnia
• Laryngitis
• Malaise/fatigue
• Minor aches, pains, and sprains
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis
• Pneumonia
• Rashes
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Shingles
• Sinus infections
• Sore throat (pharyngitis)
• Upper respiratory infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Weight gain, weight loss

Primary care is important for a number of reasons as it provides the community with all of their medical needs; complex situations that require specialized attention can receive a referral from a primary care physician to a trusted specialist. One of the most important aspects of primary care is preventative care, which helps to detect diseases early on when they are easier to treat and respond better to conservative therapies. Primary care doctors know their patients and their medical details and health intricacies; they have invaluable insight into disease risk based on their robust knowledge of the patient. Furthermore, several studies have shown that people who have a primary care physician live longer lives, have fewer diseases, and experience fewer hospitalizations.

Yes, some primary care physicians, particularly ones with a background in pediatric and family medicine, can treat an entire family, accepting them all as patients. These physicians are the cornerstone of family health; the family history and medical information they know can provide a much higher level of insight, resulting in a better provision of care.

It is important to note, however, that not all primary care physicians treat entire families; although this is a highly sought-after skillset, only a percentage of all physicians have this capacity of care. In particular, internists, physicians who specialize in adult medicine, do not often provide care to patients under the age of 18. In most cases, people who are looking for a doctor to care for their entire family has young children, so finding a family doctor is essential.

There are many benefits of having a close-working relationship with a primary care provider; the main benefits include:

• Longer Life Expectancy — According to a number of studies, people who have a primary care physician live longer lives; this is because PCPs provide crucial preventative care that focuses on the early detection of disease and prevention of health risks.

• Fewer Chronic Conditions — Also owing to preventative care, patients of primary care physicians experience fewer chronic diseases (like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney failure) than do people without a primary care physician.

• Fewer Hospitalizations — When people get the care they need when they need it, they are much less likely to experience complications as treating ailments early is typically much easier and does not require as intensive of care as more complex cases.

• Lower Healthcare Costs — For people that do not have a primary care physician, it is easier to delay care until something serious arises. Unfortunately, this often results in more complicated symptoms and more complex treatments; it also often takes longer to recover from progressed diseases, requiring a greater number of visits. These healthcare costs can add up quickly, so it is much more cost-effective to have a primary care physician who can treat any ailments right away.

Discover the amazing benefits of having a primary care physician at Suburban Healthcare Associates today. We serve patients from Naperville IL, Plainfield IL, Joliet IL, Woodridge IL, Wolfs IL, Warrenville IL, Crystal Lawns IL, Romeoville IL, Lockport IL, Crest Hill IL, Shorewood IL, Gilletts IL, and Fairmont IL.