Why It’s Important To Keep Your Chronic Disease Doctor’s Appointment

Six in ten American adults have a chronic disease.

Think about that number for a minute.

That’s over half.

Now consider this: Four in ten U.S. adults have two or more chronic diseases such as diabetes.

This all comes with a hefty price tag and contributes to the rising health care costs in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the leading drivers of death and disability add to the country’s $3.5 trillion in annual health care costs. More than 75 percent of this cost is caused by chronic disease.

We understand that during a time of COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it, you may be tempted to delay your appointment with one of our Raleigh internal medicine doctors.

We want to assure you that we are taking every precaution to keep you safe. We also want you to know that by skipping these important appointments, you’re placing your health at risk.

In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, more than two-thirds of all deaths in America are caused by one of the following chronic diseases:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• COPD
• Diabetes

How We Keep You Safe During COVID-19

We want to just review a few of the many things we are doing to keep you safe during this period.

We are:

• Requiring masks or face coverings for everyone who visits
• Thoroughly disinfecting the lobby and any common areas
• Virtually screening anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms through telehealth
• Disinfecting all patient rooms
• Offering telehealth visits
• Providing COVID-19 screenings via drive-thru

We never compromise your safety. We want to be sure you feel comfortable visiting us. Remember that we also offer telemedicine appointments.

Complications Related to Chronic Diseases

Regular appointments help you avoid any serious complications that can arise from chronic illnesses. Still not convinced? We’ll take a look at some of the serious problems that can happen if these diseases are left unchecked.

DIABETES

When you have diabetes, it may take your body longer to heal from injuries or infections. You can also develop other serious problems such as:

Glaucoma
Cataracts
Kidney disease
High blood pressure
Stroke
Heart disease

Some of these problems, such as kidney disease, don’t show any symptoms until the disease has dramatically progressed. That’s why regular appointments—including blood tests—are so important for those with diabetes.

Almost half of those with diabetes can also develop neuropathy, which is another word for nerve damage.

You may not think of diabetes affecting your skin, but if left unchecked, the disease can also lead to bacterial infections such as:

• Styes
• Boils
• Folliculitis
• Deep skin infections (carbuncles) Nail infections

As internal medicine physicians in Raleigh, we specialize in treating diseases such as diabetes, because we take a look at how one illness can affect the systems of the entire body.

HEART DISEASE

Heart disease is sometimes called the silent killer because you may not be aware that you even have it.

By working with us, you can be sure you’re keeping up with the things needed to reduce your risk for the disease. For example, we’ll be able to monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol.

If we detect a problem, we’re also able to offer heart stress testing to help us reach a diagnosis.

If you have heart disease, it’s important to follow-up with your cardiologist to ensure that you’re following the right treatment protocols. Failure to do so can lead to more serious tissue destruction, heart attack or stroke.

CANCER

You’ve heard it time and time again: early detection is the key to being a cancer survivor. That’s one reason why it’s so important to have regular cancer screenings. For example, we offer cancer screenings such as Pap smears that detect cervical cancer early.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and that’s another reason why we offer prostate cancer screenings as part of our men’s wellness services.

Raleigh Medical Group Wants to Be Your Medical Home

Chronic diseases never stop. They don’t wait for your schedule to be more convenient. They can consistently lead to some of the most devastating medical problems. That’s why diligence is vital. That’s why you can’t afford to skip your doctor’s appointment if you have a chronic disease.

At Raleigh Medical Group, we’ve helped thousands of Triangle residents who are fighting chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Through treatment, education and nutritional counseling, we’ve helped them make positive changes that enable them to live their healthiest life possible.

We want to be your medical home and partner in your care. Contact us to schedule an appointment.