Seniors Specialty Services
Provida Family Medicine not only provides our senior patients with the services of a traditional medical practice, but we also go above and beyond to give our patients the most extensive list of specialty services and top-quality care.
Gastrointestinal Health
Digestive health is very important and it starts with the health of the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract includes the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Examining the health of your GI Tract can be done with a colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is an exam which helps your doctor detect any changes or abnormalities in the large intestine, or colon, and the rectum. This exam screens for colon cancer in a patient, but also can help determine the source behind other health issues, such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea or constipation, and other problems with the intestines.
A few days before a colonoscopy exam, eat a low-fiber diet without whole grains, nuts, or raw fruits and vegetables. The day before a colonoscopy, a patient cannot eat any solid foods, consuming only clear liquids like broth, black coffee or tea, and clear juice. A patient can also eat clear soft drinks or sports drinks, and Jell-O. The day of the colonoscopy exam, a patient must continue the clear liquid food diet, but a patient can’t eat or drink anything two hours before the exam.
Senior should schedule regular exams to monitor the health of their colon starting after the gave of forty.
Behavioral and Mental Health Evaluations
Provida Family Medicine offers all of our patients behavioral health evaluations. These evaluations are preformed by a a highly-trained doctor on our staff and allow us to better understand and detail any outlying behavioral difficulties a patient may be experiencing. Your doctor can then make an accurate diagnosis and create an individualized treatment plan and counseling.
At Provida Family Medicine, we work to include patients in every step of their healthcare and are happy to answer any questions or concerns you have about behavioral health evaluations.
Behavioral and Mental Health Evaluations Available:
- Alzheimers and Dementia
- Anxiety and Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bi-Polar Disorder
Provida Family Medicine is please to announce they will begin sponsoring Clinical Trials for patients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia very soon.
For more information, call (847) 548-2200.
Rheumatic Disorders
Rheumatic diseases are autoimmune diseases diseases which cause your immune system to attack your joints, muscles, and bones. There are several rheumatic diseases, but they are most commonly known as “arthritis”.
Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that attacks your joints, but can damage other body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Some symptoms of arthritis are tender and swollen joints, stiffness in the joints that worsens after inactivity, fatigue, and loss of appetite. These diseases are more common in older patients, and can develop in multiple joints at once.
Early on, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects smaller joints first, mainly in the joints in your fingers, hands, toes, and feet. With progress, pain often spreads to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders on both sides of your body.
While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are treatment options available, including physical therapy and medication to slow the disease’s progression. If you are experiencing these symptoms or would like to explore your treatment options, please visit Provida Family Medicine as soon as possible.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes musculoskeletal pain. Fibromyalgia is believed to amplify painful sensations because it affects the way the brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include muscle tenderness and chronic pain in the muscles, abdomen, back, and neck. These symptoms can also be accompanied by feelings of fatigue, memory loss, mood issues, and mood swings.
Treatments for fibromyalgia include creating a medication plan and stress reduction.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition which causes the bones to become brittle, and many people have little to no symptoms until they experience a bone break or fracture. Treatments for osteoporosis include medications, following a healthy diet, and daily weight-bearing exercises to prevent bone loss and strengthen weak bones.