Henry’s Health And Medical Advice

Posted on: 25 October 2017

A General Practitioner (GP) is a doctor who specialises in family and general medicine. While being a GP does not carry the same status as being a brain surgeon or an emergency room doctor, this does not mean that they do not carry out important work. A GP will often be the first point of contact a patient has with the medical service before they are referred on for further treatment or testing. Below is a guide to 3 things a GP can help you with.

Sexual Health

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in Australia, with cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis all much higher than they were a decade or so ago. For this reason, it is very important that you take steps to care for your sexual health. Your GP can diagnose possible STIs and offer advice about safe sex before signposting you on to the sexual health clinic if you need further tests and treatment. The sexual health clinic will also be able to offer you advice about the various forms of contraception.

Mental Health

It is estimated that 20% of Australians will experience a mental health problem every year. While it is normal to feel sad when you experience a major life change such as a divorce or the death of a loved one, a persistent low mood which impacts on the quality of your life and your relationship with others may require professional treatment. If you believe you may be experiencing a period of depression or anxiety, you should book an appointment with your GP. The GP will be able to listen to you as you describe how you are feeling. They may ask you to complete a simple multiple choice test which allows you to rate how you feel on a daily basis. Once this is completed, the GP will be able to offer you anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication. They may also refer you on to a talking therapy service so you can explore and deal with whatever is troubling you.

General Health

If you are feeling tired, have a persistent cough or pain which won't go away, you may be tempted to carry on with your life and write the experience off as part of getting older. However, symptoms such as these could be a sign of a more serious underlying problem. Your GP is trained to investigate these problems so they can rule out any serious illness or condition or refer you to a specialist for further testing.

If you have any concerns over your health, you should visit your GP today.