Health & Fitness

What To Expect From A Visit To Your GP?

May 23, 2022

It is a fact that everybody needs to make regular visits to their GP to ensure their general health is good and there are no potential health issues that need to be treated. For most people in reasonable health, it makes sense to visit your GP for a general check-up between once every three months and twice a year. If you are not in the habit of having regular medical check-ups, you may be unsure or slightly apprehensive about what to expect. Here are some of the key things that your GP visit may entail.

Your Doctor Will Update Your Medical History

A key role in being able to assess your general health is having access to your medical records. Your GP will be able to have a clear picture of your previous medical health from this information and will update these records as you are prescribed medications for various illnesses across your lifetime. A doctor will look over your medical history during or before your visit to gauge your previous levels of health and any problems that you might be experiencing. It is worth knowing that you have a right to access your medical records and can request these in writing from your doctor. 

Your Doctor May Use Technology To Assess You

In today’s world of healthcare your doctor will have access to a range of medical devices and tests to check your health. Companies such as medical-supermarket.com supply a range of medical equipment to surgeries and hospitals to aid patient assessment. These can range from common medical equipment such as a stethoscope which allows your GP to check the functioning of your lungs and hear your heartbeat, to blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters which check the oxygen levels in your blood. Technology plays a vital role in todays assessments of patients and is a key tool in identifying health problems before they become chronic.

Your Doctor May Prescribe Medication

If you are visiting your GP because of a new ailment that has not been treated before, your doctor will be able to assess you and determine the nature of the illness. Common conditions may dictate the prescribing of certain widely prescribed medications that act to treat and stop the illness. However, it is worth noting that in terms of minor infections the use of antibiotics in medication is being reduced. Today it is less likely that antibiotics will be used to treat sore throats, ear infections in children and minor chest infections. This is because antibiotic resistance is becoming a big problem in the modern world and healthcare professionals are seeking to limit their use to ensure that antibiotics can be used in the future.

You May Need A Follow-up Appointment

Whilst most routine check-ups to the GP do not require further action on the part of yourself or your GP, if you have an illness or condition that requires treatment your doctor may arrange a follow-up appointment. This is to ensure that the treatment has worked effectively, and you are now fully clear of the illness. Often your doctor may just ask that you take the prescribed medication and contact him or her again after the course has been completed only if you are still suffering any adverse effects. 

What To Expect From A Visit To Your GP? was last modified: by

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