Family Medicine
Family Medicine, also known as Family or General Practice, is a specialty devoted to treating the whole individual. It is the first port of call for the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of all medical conditions. Family Medicine is the one specialty in the world of healthcare that remains constant. Its foundation is based on the continuous and personal relationship between the doctor and their patient that focuses on integrated care of all aspects of a patient’s healthcare requirements. Unlike other specialists who treat a particular organ or disease, with a Family Medicine practitioner the complex interplay between all conditions and your unique circumstances are taken into consideration in every consultation. A Family Medicine doctor cares for patients of all ages and genders.
Why Should You See a Family Medicine Consultant?
Family Medicine doctors conduct around 20% of all medical office visits. This is due to the fact that they are the first point of contact before seeing any specialist. In fact, most insurance companies require individuals to see a Family Medicine doctor first before making an appointment with any other specialist. This is because Family Medicine doctors are best equipped to properly diagnose any problems and recommend further treatment or referral if required. The Family Medicine doctor has studied and worked extensively in multiple specialties and has a great deal of experience in identifying, diagnosing and treating the majority of illnesses without the need to over-investigate patients.
Conditions Treated by a Family Medicine Consultant
Family Medicine doctors can work from hospitals, clinics and some even conduct home visits. Apart from diagnosing and treating illnesses, they provide preventative care which includes immunisations, routine checkups, screening tests, health-risk assessments and personalised counselings on staying healthy amongst others. By coordinating with other specialists, they also manage chronic illnesses. Some Family Medicine Consultants have advanced training in sub-speciality areas.
Mental Health
Mental health includes our psychological, emotional and social well-being. It affects how we act, feel and think. Mental health is important in every stage of life and determines how we relate to others, handle stress and make choices. Factors that contribute to mental health issues include:
- Life experiences such as abuse or trauma
- Biological factors such as genetics or brain chemistry
- Family history of mental health problems
Mental health issues are common, but help is available and individuals suffering from it can get better and may recover completely.
Men’s Health
Men tend to visit their doctors much less frequently than women and they’re particularly notorious for not seeking advice when they need to, tending to needlessly ‘bottle things up’ until they become very unwell.
Data from the UK suggests that one in five men dies before the age of 65, the majority of whom die from preventable conditions such as cardiovascular disease and the complications of diabetes. There are also a number of conditions that are unique to men such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer which are amongst the leading causes of death for men. However, if they are picked up and diagnosed at the right time they can be treated appropriately with very good outcomes.
It’s really important for men to make an effort to try and see their Family Medicine doctor and other specialists if they have any symptoms that they’re concerned about.
Preventive Care
This is the care you need to keep you healthy, for example vaccinations that protect you from diseases such as the flu (Influenza). It also includes being on blood pressure and cholesterol lowering medications to prevent the complications of hypertension and high cholesterol.
Pregnancy
They can provide prenatal care and post-delivery care to expectant women. In addition to taking care of the expectant mother, a Family Medicine doctor cares for the baby after delivery and after the newborn has been discharged. In some cases, they can work with an obstetrician to coordinate your care.
Book a consultation with Dr Ali Razzak, leading Family Medicine Consultant and Aesthetics Expert in Dubai to know your options, cost and the next steps.
- Address The Residences at Marina Gate 1, King’s College Hospital, Dubai Marina
- Email bookings.mmc@kch.ae
- Phone +971 04 581 3222
- WhatsApp +971 50 839 5920