Your family doctor is an all round expert, trained to treat a whole range of illnesses and injuries, from coughs and colds to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Family practice doctors keep their knowledge and practices current through regular review, for which they prepare with family practice board review courses. This enables them to provide standard or higher than board-recommended levels of care using new concepts, strategies and treatments.
What do family doctors do?
Doctors who have taken family practice board review courses have improved diagnostic and testing strategies, a stronger all major diseases treated under general practice of family medicine. They learn the latest concepts and techniques in cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune system, skin, orthopedic, renal, neurological illness as well as specialized knowledge in adolescent and geriatric medicine. They can also prescribe treatments for ADD, weight loss, testosterone replacements, suboxone treatments, insomnia and pain management.
In practice, that means you can take your injuries and illness, from the smallest to what may turn out to be the most complicated, to your family doctor with the confidence that you will get the best treatment. Some common problems that family doctors treat are:
ADHD
In 2011, more than one in ten children in the ages between 4 to 17 years, or around 11% of the total, were diagnosed with ADHD. That’s 6.4 million children. Boys are twice as likely as girls to have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD leads to behavioral and learning problems at school and at home, but it can be treated. Your family doctor can prescribe treatment including drugs and therapy to treat ADHD and help your child function better.
Pain management
Chronic pain in the back, neck arms or legs is a common condition. Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 24 hours. A quarter of all Americans suffer from some kind of chronic pain, and many millions suffer from acute pain. A family practice doctor can prescribe a pain management treatment which includes medicine as well as exercise and therapy.
Alcohol addiction
The top addiction problem in the U.S. is alcohol abuse. More than half or 53% of all American adults have one or more close relative who has a drinking problem. Young adults are the most likely group to abuse alcohol and people over the age of 65 years are the the least susceptible. One in five or about 20% of all college students in the U.S. have Alcohol Use Disorder. Surprisingly, people with a higher education are the most likely to have drinking problems.
The road to recovery form alcohol and other addictions can begin at your doctor’s office, with a referral to a good treatment program.
Obesity
Obesity is reaching near-epidemic levels in the U.S., and about two thirds of all adults in the country can be characterized as overweight or obese. Obesity puts the individual at risk for serious disease, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. These diseases are some preventable and some of the main factors in causing preventable deaths.
Obesity can be controlled through a weight loss program. A healthy weight also helps to control cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
Family practice board review courses and examinations keep doctors up to date
For a wide range of common illnesses and injuries, your family doctor is the best place to begin seeking treatment. Family doctors are highly qualified and regularly pass review. Their knowledge is buttressed by family practice board review courses and examinations so that they can continue to provide the highest levels of treatment. Another advantage of going to a family doctor is familiarity. Because they have been treating an individual over a long time, they are more likely to notice if something is wrong and may be able to provide early warning of medical problems. They are also well placed to recommend suitable treatment or referrals.
