Everyone wants to be able to stay independent for as long as possible, and with advances in modern medicine and technology, this is getting more and more achievable. The only issue is when people do not utilise modern medicine to its full benefit. Your primary care doctor is there to help you remain comfortable and as healthy as possible for as long as possible, and these simple visits can have a drastic impact on your ability to stay self-sufficient for longer. Here are three ways in which regular visits to your doctor can help increase your time living independently.
Prevention Rather Than Reaction
The primary method of keeping elderly Australians healthy is by preventing the loss of bodily functions and abilities. It is much harder to get movement, eyesight, hearing, touch or anything else back once you have lost it (although in many cases it is still possible) than it is to stop it from decaying that much in the first place. If you let a problem go once you are older, you are far more likely to experience negative consequences than you did in the past when you were younger. Understanding your limitations now that you are older can be hard, but being proactive is the best way to stay fit and healthy.
Treating Conditions Better
The earlier you catch one of the many health issues that become common as you get older, the less intensive the treatment usually is. For instance, skin cancer is very common for many Australians once they reach a certain age, but if you catch it quickly, all you will need to do is have a simple procedure to cut it out, often with just local anaesthetic. If you didn't catch the skin cancer early, however, it can spread to other parts of your body and require much more intensive chemotherapy and surgeries that would take a toll on anyone. Give yourself more time to overcome the issues that will come by seeing a doctor as frequently as they advise.
General Healthcare Advice
Apart from simply treating your conditions and illnesses as they pop up, a primary health doctor can also help make sure you are living a healthy and meaningful life. It is not uncommon for a doctor to advise you to take more walks, eat a wider variety of food, join social clubs or see other professionals like a physiotherapist. These simple pieces of advice and the trust that you build with a doctor is key to enjoying the rest of your life in comfort.