When you need quality primary care in East End, Houston, TX, and Pasadena, TX, the team at Lawndale Medical Clinic can help. Our compassionate and respected medical providers can help prevent, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases that affect many people.
What Is a Chronic Disease?
A chronic disease is any ailment that requires ongoing management and care from doctors. While some chronic diseases may result from heredity, many can also come from lifestyle choices.
Some of the most common chronic diseases that doctors often diagnose include:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Various types of cancer
When it comes to cancer, colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed ones, but it can also have a high rate of recovery if you catch it early. Obesity is a major concern as it can increase the risk of other chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. However, a healthy diet and regular activity can help keep your weight down.
How Can Doctors Help?
When you get regular primary care in East End, Houston, TX, and Pasadena, TX, it should include regular annual wellness checks. These checkups matter as doctors can run tests and screenings, such as blood work and X-rays, and check for specific disease markers like high blood sugar levels or blood pressure. The earlier your doctor can detect problems, the more likely you are to have a successful intervention.
Doctors know what lifestyle modifications you should make to prevent or reduce complications for existing issues. Such changes often include dietary adjustments that may include reducing calorie, salt, or sugar intake. Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption can also help. Regular exercise of at least 30 minutes of activity five days a week can help keep weight down.
You may need help from other medical specialists, nutritionists, or personal trainers; your primary doctor can provide a good referral.
Medication can also help manage certain issues. In addition to watching your diet, blood thinners and other prescriptions can help you manage hypertension. You may need insulin injections for Type 2 diabetes. Doctors can adjust medication dosage or change prescriptions based on how your body responds.
Chronic disease affects many people, but many are preventable. At Lawndale Medical Clinic, you have access to expert primary care in East End, Houston, TX, and Pasadena, TX. Get started on your health journey by appointment with one of our providers at 713-924-4907.