More than 130 million Americans have chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. If you’re one of them, routine chronic care checkups can minimize uncomfortable symptoms, improve your health, and reduce the risk of complications. At Family Care at Parklawn, Dr. Carla Walker, offers chronic care to people of all ages. To make an appointment at the practice in Midwest City, Oklahoma, call the office or click the online booking tool today.
request an appointmentWhat is chronic care?
Chronic care diagnoses and treats health problems that last for three months or longer. It combines routine checkups, prescription medication, healthy lifestyle changes, and education to reduce side effects and improve your quality of life.
If you’re living with a chronic illness, it’s important to take action. The sooner you adjust your diet and exercise routine, the easier it is to prevent the condition from getting worse.
What are some of the conditions that chronic care treats?
Family Care at Parklawn uses chronic care to treat various conditions, including:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a group of more than 100 diseases that affect the joints. When left untreated, arthritis often results in chronic pain and immobility. Fortunately, with early intervention, it’s possible to manage.
Diabetes
Diabetes occurs due to insulin resistance. If your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, your blood sugar levels spike, increasing the risk of nerve damage and heart disease. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes typically respond well to diet and exercise, while type 1 diabetes requires insulin therapy.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure occurs when the force of the blood pumping through your arteries remains high for an extended period. Over time, that causes your arteries to weaken, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. There’s no cure for high blood pressure, but it usually responds to healthy lifestyle changes like a low-sodium diet and regular exercise.
Thyroid disease
The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones responsible for many of your bodily functions. Family Care at Parklawn treats various types of thyroid disease, including hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, Hashimoto’s disease, and Grave’s disease.
What happens during a chronic care appointment?
A chronic care appointment begins with a physical exam, a review of your medical history, and a discussion of your symptoms, including when they started, their severity, and if they worsen during certain activities like exercise.
After gathering the necessary information, your provider orders laboratory tests, like a blood panel or urinalysis. These screens provide key insights about your health, allowing your provider to make a proper diagnosis.
When the laboratory returns your test results, your provider explains them in detail and designs a custom treatment plan. Your treatment plan varies depending on the chronic condition you’re living with.
To learn more about the benefits of chronic care, make an appointment at Family Care at Parklawn by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool.