The Art of Medicine Direct, PLLC
Direct Primary Care located in Charlotte, NC
When it comes to your health, prevention and wellness are key components for ensuring you’re healthy today and for years to come. At The Art of Medicine Direct, PLLC, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bruce Hughes, MD, and Jeffrey Cardwell, MD, offer a variety of comprehensive preventative services for your general health, such as physicals, family planning, gynecology, allergy prevention, and weight management. To book an appointment, schedule online or by calling the office.
Prevention & Wellness Q & A
During a physical, your doctor at The Art of Medicine Direct, PLLC, assesses your current health, using exams and lab work. He usually checks the following:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Respiratory rate
- Temperature
- Weight
- Lungs
- Your ears, eyes and throat
Your doctor may also ask if you smoke or exercise, and other lifestyle behaviors. He may recommend a prostate or hernia exam for men, and a breast and gynecological exam for women.
It allows you to stay on top of your future and your sexual health, and may include the following information:
- Reproductive health
- Contraceptives
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Resources for preconception, pregnancy, and infertility
- Breast and pelvic exams
- Breast and cervical cancer screenings
Your doctor can also help you plan your family’s health outcomes, desired family size and birth spacing.
It helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle and minimize the risk of disease. Depending on your age and individual assessment, your doctor may recommend both a pelvic and breast exam. Women over 21 should get pelvic exams annually and girls should begin preventative care and counseling as early as 13.
During a pelvic exam, your doctor examines your external genitalia, and uses a speculum to look inside your vagina and cervix. Then he takes a swab of your cervical tissue to test for STDs and cancer(also known as a pap smear).
Breast exams may detect cancer early. Your doctor feels the tissue for abnormal lumps that might indicate a tumor. Women over 40 should also get regular mammograms.
Work with your doctor on a management plan. Some ways you control allergies include:
- Keeping a symptom diary
- Taking your medication
- Wearing a medical alert bracelet
- Having an emergency plan
If you’re at risk for anaphylactic shock, you should carry an epinephrine pen.
Your doctor can help you set safe and realistic goals for your body, and you’ll have someone to keep you accountable during regular checkups.
By keeping track of your blood pressure, heart rate, and lab work, your doctor can properly manage any risks before they arise.
To learn more about preventative health and wellness services offered at The Art of Medicine Direct, PLLC, call the office or schedule an appointment online.