Whether a family is large or small and has children or older members, everyone wants health and well-being for all. To achieve this, there are several key factors to wellness that everyone in a family should practice. The first is to exercise regularly. No matter the family member’s age, exercise has been shown to improve mental health, strengthen bones, improve cardiovascular and respiratory health, and help maintain a proper weight.
Another key to wellness is to spend time outdoors getting fresh air. Taking in the sun’s rays can reduce depression, help with sleeping, and improve breathing. The great outdoors can also encourage exercise.
Next on the list of keys to wellness is a proper diet. Limiting sugar, processed, and greasy food can positively impact our health. Increasing leafy greens, lean proteins, and healthy fats (such as avocado) can help keep our hearts healthy, increase energy, and boost our mood.
Last but certainly not least is to have regular appointments with doctors and other medical professionals. While annual exams with a general practitioner are excellent, you and your family need many different healthcare services. With our busy lives, it’s easy to forget or put off needed medical services. But in the long run, proper healthcare is one of the significant keys to wellness. In this blog, let us explore the top healthcare services you and your family need and shouldn’t ignore.
1. Dental Services
Proper dental care provided by trusted dentists is vital to your family’s health at every stage. Regular dental exams can not only prevent cavities and discoloration of the teeth, but they can help detect other conditions and prevent infection that can spread throughout the body. You can make your life a bit easier by choosing a dentist who practices family dentistry. This way everyone can go together for their exams.
The dentist will have X-rays done to check for abnormalities that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Along with your teeth, they’ll check your gums, jaw, and neck for any issues. After that, a dental hygienist will clean and polish your teeth. The dentist can care for any cavities, chips, or cracks you or a family member has.
The dentist can perform root canals, install crowns, and educate everyone on good oral hygiene. Sometimes, your family dentist will refer you to a dental specialist. For instance, if you are a teen, they may send you to an orthodontist for braces or a retainer to correct crooked teeth. If you have an older family member, the dentist may recommend they see a cosmetic dentist for implants or veneers to relieve pain or improve their smile.
Other times, if you or a family member needs surgery to remove wisdom teeth or correct other delicate issues, you may require the services of an oral surgeon. If you are looking for a dentist or dental services, be sure to ask around other families for recommendations. Many people dread going to dental checkups, so you want someone with a reputation for being kind, gentle, and personable to dispel the fear and anxiety.
2. Pediatric Health Services
If you have children, pediatric care is a key to wellness and critical to their growth, development, and overall health. Children typically see a pediatrician from birth through 18 years of age. These doctors specialize in the development of children and can provide specialized care for common childhood illnesses. They also administer vaccinations, perform thorough wellness exams, and work with parents to ensure children are receiving proper nutrition and vitamin supplements and are reaching developmental milestones.
Under the umbrella of pediatrics are several sub-specialties that you or your regular pediatrician may feel warrant a visit at one time or another. For example, it could include a pediatric ear doctor if your child is prone to infections or doesn’t pass a routine hearing exam. If your child is found to have an irregular heartbeat, your doctor may send you to see a pediatric cardiologist.
Another professional your child may need is a pediatric psychologist. If they’ve suffered a loss or trauma, they need to talk to someone and get proper treatment. The doctor may recommend counseling or pediatric outpatient therapy.
There may also be a time when your child needs the services of a pediatric dentist. Occasionally, children have difficulty losing baby teeth or having adult teeth come in. They may also need help with misaligned teeth or jaws. A pediatric dentist can remedy these abnormalities with extractions or the help of an expander. There’s a vast array of healthcare professionals that specialize in the unique needs of children. Speak with your family pediatrician about finding the right one for your child.
3. Assisted Living and Memory Care Services
It’s not something anyone wants to think about, but as our adult family members age, the likelihood of needing specialized services increases. This may mean needing doctors who concentrate on senior care or home health aides coming to help care for an elderly parent. Often, there will be a need to look into assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or memory care to assist with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Which service you choose will depend on the level of independence your loved one still has. An assisted living facility would likely be a good fit for someone who is not dealing with memory or cognitive decline, only needs some assistance with day-to-day tasks, and may have medical conditions. In assisted living, residents usually have their own suite or apartment and receive support when needed.
A nursing home may be needed when an individual can no longer care for themselves and can’t be cared for at home by relatives. Nursing offers found-the-clock medical supervision and care. Memory care may be part of the services provided by a nursing home in a special unit.
However, some memory care may be offered in a person’s home. Specially trained professionals will come and work with your loved ones, engaging them with activities to help keep their minds active and retain information. Another option available for families that want to keep their loved ones at home but don’t like them left alone all day is adult daycare.
These facilities offer supervision, medical care if needed, and a variety of activities, meals, and outings throughout the day. You may also consider having a certified nurse aide come to your home to be a companion and support your loved ones with their needs. This allows them to stay in their home and be as independent as possible while still receiving support where needed.
4. Physical Therapy and Rehab Services
There will likely come a time when you or a family member will need the services of a physical therapist. A physical therapist can help people recover from or avoid surgery and assist with injuries suffered in a car accident, sports, or a fall. They can also help people who have had a stroke, have arthritis, osteoporosis, or have back pain. A physical therapist can help patients regain muscle strength and mobility by using various techniques, including strength training, stretching, repetitive exercises, ice, and heat.
The goal is to reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasms. All of this can boost endurance and range of motion. This type of physical rehabilitation is vital for patients to return to work or school, participate, and enjoy their daily lives. Usually, physical therapy is done at a PT clinic a few times a week, along with exercises prescribed at home.
Occasionally, if a person’s injuries inhibit them from going to the facility, the physical therapist will visit the home to perform rehabilitation therapy; if a person has severe injuries or has become disabled by a condition, they may be admitted to a live-in physical therapy rehab center. They can be cared for while they take part in physical and other forms of therapy several times a day to promote recovery. Other therapies at a rehab center may include occupational therapy (helps with fine motor skills and daily living), speech therapy, and memory care specialists.
5. Cardiology Services
Unfortunately, heart disease is a significant issue in the United States. More than 62 million Americans have some degree of heart problems. Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in the function of the heart and blood vessels. They can treat patients who have suffered heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest.
If your general practitioner finds irregularities with your heartbeat, blood pressure, or cholesterol, or if you have been having chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, they will likely refer you to a cardiologist. At the appointment, this doctor will perform a series of tests, including a stress test and EKG. Based on the results, they may recommend you wear a Holter monitor to track your heart rate and record any abnormal rhythms. This will help them determine the best treatment for you.
A cardiologist can treat conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, angina (pain in the chest), blood clots, myocarditis, and arterial disease. Not all heart conditions are sudden. However, there are congenital heart conditions, which means a person was born with it. A cardiologist will also monitor and treat these patients as well.
Typically, these doctors will prescribe a range of medications to control the conditions, along with a regimen of exercise, diet, and weight loss. A cardiologist may also recommend surgery to implant stents if the arteries of the heart have become blocked. If you or a family member has a heart condition, attending appointments with a cardiologist is one of the keys to wellness that must be followed.
6. Spine Adjustment and Back Pain Treatment
One of the keys to wellness that cannot be ignored is taking care of your spine and neuromuscular-skeletal system. This includes the bones, ligaments, joints, and tendons throughout the body. Many people regularly visit a chiropractor to help them with pain treatment, specifically neck and back pain relief.
A chiropractor typically works with their hands and uses their body to stretch, manipulate, and adjust parts of their patient’s body affected by pain, stiffness, and inflammation. While a chiropractor does not prescribe medication, they can advise patients on using heat, ice, exercise, and nutrition to help relieve symptoms of their injury or illness. Electrostimulation and massage therapy may also be utilized for deep muscle injuries. They can take X-rays to help diagnose problems and fit people for braces and shoe inserts to help balance and alignment. Chiropractors can help if you’ve been injured in a car accident or suffered a fall or sports injury.
They can also help improve mobility for people with chronic conditions such as arthritis. Patients sometimes visit a chiropractor for spinal and neck adjustments (getting one back cracked). This can offer quick, temporary relief from pain. If a chiropractor finds that your condition is beyond their scope, they may refer you to an orthopedist, who can prescribe medication and may recommend other treatments, including surgery.
7. Hearing Services
Typically associated with aging, hearing loss can affect anyone at any time. Children can often suffer hearing impairment from chronic ear infections or wax buildup. This is usually temporary, but if not, early intervention by an audiologist and speech therapist may be necessary.
Audiologists help people of all ages with hearing issues. They test, diagnose, and treat problems with the ears and balance. An audiologist can prescribe assistive devices like hearing aids, where you will visit a hearing aid clinic to be fitted.
Problems with your ears may also require a visit to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. These doctors can treat problems such as chronic infection and tinnitus (ringing), remove wax, and prescribe treatments to prevent future issues. If hearing loss is severe enough, a patient could qualify for surgery like a cochlear or brainstem implant. These procedures will be performed by a surgeon specializing in otolaryngology.
Healthcare professionals play a critical role in your family’s health. When combined with a good diet, exercise, and self-care, visiting the above-named medical professionals can help keep everyone in great shape. We hope this list helps guide you and your family toward wellness.
