Chronic Conditions
The number of chronic medical conditions grows by leaps and bounds each year in the United States. Obesity, stress, inattention to healthy lifestyles, lack of personal time and space--they all contribute to the complexity of living healthy as an American adult. Dr. Nizar Hussain and his staff strive to provide solutions to caring for chronic medical conditions through hands-on and very personalized care for each patient that comes to Woodbridge Primary Care in Woodbridge, VA. It's their mission, and it's what they do best.
What are chronic medical conditions?
The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 81 million people in the United States will be dealing with multiple chronic conditions. What are these chronic conditions--that is, medical issues lasting three months or more in duration?
They include, but are not limited to:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- HIV
- Hepatitis
- Obesity
- Alcohol, substance and tobacco abuse
- COPD
- Asthma
In fact, some chronic conditions set the stage for the development of others. Obesity, for example, affects one in three individuals in the US, says the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Additionally, it contributes to diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and literally scores of other medical issues. Alcoholism, smoking and drug abuse trend the same way.
What's the role of your primary care physician?
Using a team approach and coordinating excellent communication between doctor, hospital, patient and other health care providers, Dr. Hussain manages the many chronic problems that his patients present. Furthermore, he aims to affect cures when possible, empowering patients to take control of their health issues rather than having the diseases control them.
How does Dr. Hussain do this? Of course, he asks to see his patients when they have any acute, or sudden, problems. Beyond that, he is a strong advocate of the annual physical for adults, along with medical screening tests, such as the colonoscopy, as the patient reaches certain age benchmarks.
Additionally, the team at Woodbridge Primary Care in Woodbridge strongly favors excellent patient teaching, informing individuals about:
Medications, their side effects and proper administration
Healthy lifestyle choices, including stress reduction, diet and exercise
What referrals they may need outside Dr. Hussain's scope of practice (follow-up with a gastroenterologist for acid reflux disease, for instance)
Dr. Hussain takes the lead in coordinating patient care for chronic conditions, supervising the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and being the go-to person for patient questions about treatments, long-term care, upcoming hospitalizations and more. In effect, your primary care physician is your health coach, helping you live your best life possible even if you have one or more chronic health conditions.
Is your Asthma under control?
Call Woodbridge Primary Care in Woodbridge, VA at (703) 494-4116
to learn how to control your chronic conditions.