A Primary Care Physician, popularly known as a General Physician (GP), is a doctor who provides non-surgical medical care. Such a doctor treats numerous diseases including cold, cough, indigestion, fever, infections, dengue, malaria, jaundice, cholera, typhoid, stomach flu, intestinal infections, respiratory issues et al. To practise as a General Physician in India one has to have a five-year MBBS degree recognized by the General Medical Council. They will also need a two-year foundation course of general training. That said, some other specialties or extra qualifications which GPs have are –
- D.M.S
- Doctor of Medicine
- MD – Physician
- MBBS
- BMBS
- Mb BCh
Who are primary care physicians?
A Primary Care Physician is the doctor you would consult first whenever there is any discomfort with our health. GPs assess medical conditions that affect various systems of your body by means of physical check-ups. They can also recommend lab tests before diagnosis and treatment. At times they might treat through therapeutic means and suggest lifestyle changes as well. These doctors possess comprehensive understanding of a number of complex drug reactions and are updated with the new and emerging protocols of treatments. They also have specialised training for research and report analysis. You will also need to consult a physician for regular health check-ups to evaluate the status of existing diseases or medical conditions.
Moreover, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all of us are especially concerned with our health indices and are looking for consulting Primary Care Physicians or General Physicians on a regular basis. However, given that staying home is now a high priority, many are opting for online general physician consultation to access quality healthcare from the comfort of their home. If you are looking for consulting a general physician online, you can book an appointment with one of the highly experienced and renowned Primary Care Physicians or GPs on DocGenie. Online physician consultation ensures optimal care, rapid, accurate and real time consultation from certified doctors. Notably, media reports reveal that online medical consultations have increased 500% since March, 2020, with five crore Indians opting for online healthcare amid the covid-19 pandemic.
Reasons to consult a Primary Care Physician or General Physician
Primary Care Physicians or General Physicians treat a wide spectrum of diseases and ailments among any group. Hence there could be several reasons for consulting them. However, in general an annual visit to a Primary Care Physician or General Physician is highly recommended. But, if you have been diagnosed with a disease or ailment then you should visit your doctor as and when asked.
You should visit a General Physician if you have any of the following conditions –
- Cardiac diseases
- High/low blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Cold, fever, flu, nausea, and vomiting
- Body and joint pains
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure, high blood sugar, heart conditions like- post-heart attacks or ischemia of heart muscles, severe chest pain
- Respiratory illnesses such as asthma, pneumonia, distress, COPD (Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), bronchitis, emphysema, fibrosis of the lung, Tuberculosis
- Severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, parasitic infection, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers, fatty liver, gastric problems
- Neurological issues like- epilepsy, brain stroke, paralysis
- Anemia, Thyroid hormone abnormalities or Pituitary disease, metabolic disorders
- Lifestyle Modifications
Also read: How to Select the Right General Physician or Primary Care Provider
Other areas where consulting GPs is very effective
Problems like heartburn, stomach-ache, peptic ulcers, constipation, irritable bowel movement, fistulas, and colitis, etc., are very common and are called Gastric issues. General Physicians treat these conditions deftly. That said, consulting a General Physician can also be very effective in case of joint pains. However, if your symptoms of joint pains do not get better over time, your GP is likely to refer you to an Orthopaedic or a Rheumatologist. You can also consult a physician for breathing trouble, muscular pain, sleep apnoea, trouble in swallowing, convulsions and seizures, generalized weakness, numbness and tingling of fingers or in the foot, or obesity.
We at DocGenie are committed to providing the best healthcare services from highly-trained General Physicians to promote public health. If you are afflicted with gastric problems or joint pains, consult one of our General Physicians today.
Also read: Why Should You Consult a General Physician Online?
Prevention is better than cure
Remember! Prevention is better than cure. Prevention enables you to stay informed about illnesses and their complications. A General Physician can guide you in preventing a number of health issues and help you live a quality life. Age is another factor which makes it imperative for us to visit a Primary Care Physician or General Physician. With age the human body undergoes various changes and become susceptible to a host of diseases. In addition, your busy lifestyle or a sedentary life means little or no physical movement or exercise.
On top of that your food habits often include eating unhealthy and junk foods, which greatly affects your general wellbeing. Hence, it is highly essential to take all your heath symptoms and signs seriously. Be very watchful about any changes in your body. Remember! Early diagnosis leads to better health outcomes. Hence, seek medical advice even if your symptoms seem to be mild. Today you can go for online general physician consultation from home and remain at the top of your health.
If you are noticing any abnormality with your health, consult a general physician or book an online physician consultation on DocGenie, today!
DocGenie is an online telemedicine platform that provides you with quality healthcare from the comfort of your own space. On DocGenie, you can book an online consultation with highly qualified doctors as well as book lab tests for home collection.