When it comes to visits to your family practice physician, there are a number of things that you can do to make the process run more smoothly, usually dependent on your age. For instance, if you are taking a younger child to the doctor, talking to them about what to expect can go a long way towards soothing any fears they may have. For women over 50, a visit to the doctor means that there are some questions that should be asked in order to ensure that they are not only informed, but that the doctor is aware of potential symptoms that could be seen as a sign of underlying illness.
How at risk am I for obtaining a sexually transmitted disease?
In the first 10 years of the new millennium, cases of syphilis in women 45 to 64 tripled, in part because women over 50 sometimes forgo sexual protection because they no longer fear getting pregnant. However, there are more reasons for wearing condoms other than pregnancy and if you have been sexually active and have not been protecting yourself, this is something to which you need to alert your family practice physician. This gives you an opportunity to be properly tested and opens up a dialogue between yourself and your doctor about what you can do to reduce your risk.
Can a glass of wine per day benefit me?
Many people heard this issue in the press and immediately jumped on it, consuming wine regularly as a result of its heart health benefits. However, as your family practice doctor can tell you, the news is not necessarily all good here for women over 50. Recent studies have shown that while imbibing in moderation means some positive physical benefits, it can negatively affect memory, which for some women in the over 50 set may not be worth the trade-off.
Could I be struggling with depression?
Women over 50 are prone to depression in large numbers; in fact twice as many women than that of men in America suffer from depression. This can be due to the fact that women over 50 are often experiencing major life changes, coupled with hormonal changes that can throw them into a mental tailspin that is beyond their control. This is certainly something to discuss with your family practice physician at your regular check-up appointment.
“by Kandice Linwright” at Google
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