Preventative Medicine
At Addison Internal Medicine, we believe the best way to promote good health and longevity is through preventive medicine and screenings.
Preventive medicine consists of measures taken for disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment. By being proactive in your health and wellness, you are more likely to reduce your risk factors for chronic diseases and recognize a condition early when it is most responsive to treatment.
Our internal medicine specialists are committed to providing patients with the highest quality of preventive care, including well-woman exams, men's wellness, biometric screening, and more. We strive to equip our patients with the tools and resources they need to stay healthy and to promote the best possible outcomes in their healthcare journey.
Well-Woman Exams
A well-woman exam, or annual exam, is a once-yearly office visit with one of our internal medicine doctors. It is a general health checkup that includes a breast exam and pap smear. The medical team at Addison Internal Medicine believes that an annual well-woman exam plays a crucial role in early detection and maintaining a woman’s general health and well-being.
Our team of experienced physicians and staff strive to make each visit as comfortable and efficient as possible. We take pride in providing the best care and services to our patients.
Breast Exams
Having regularly scheduled breast exams to detect early symptoms of breast cancer is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure early diagnosis and long-term health. Our internists use the latest imaging equipment to scan for tumors, cysts and any abnormal tissue growth. If necessary, our doctors can offer comprehensive treatment solutions and refer you to a specialist when necessary.
Tell your Doctor if you:
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have discovered a lump
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are pregnant or breastfeeding
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noticed any change in your breasts’ appearance
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have a family history of breast cancer
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have breast implants
Pap Smears
A Pap smear is a screening test used to check for cervical cancer. Most cervical cancers can be detected early by regular screenings, and we recommend women include pap smears in their well-woman exams.
Men's Wellness Exams
Men’s wellness exams are an important part of maintaining overall health and vitality.
At Addison Internal Medicine, men’s wellness exams include a variety of important tests and screenings to assess overall health and wellness. These exams typically include testing of testosterone levels and a prostate exam to check for any abnormalities.
Wellness exams are important for men to receive once a year for screening and early detection of any potential health issues. Additionally, our doctors provide general advice on men's health, such as diet and lifestyle changes, to help you maintain long-term wellness. With regular men’s wellness exams, you can help maintain your health and well-being for years to come.
Testosterone Levels
More than 12 million American men suffer from low testosterone. Unfortunately, most with low testosterone levels do not know of their condition. Common symptoms of low testosterone include fatigue, low libido, weight gain, and reduced mental clarity.
While many men attribute these symptoms to a normal part of aging, there is a medical solution. The medical doctors on our Addison Internal Medicine team can provide testosterone replacement options that are a safe treatment option for low testosterone.
Prostate Exam
The prostate is an important part of the male reproductive system that can impact their overall health. An enlarged prostate can lead to a variety of health problems, including difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and pain in the pelvic floor that may get worse with pressure. An enlarged prostate may also be a sign of prostate cancer. Having a yearly prostate exam is an essential step in monitoring your health and early detection.
Biometric Screenings
Biometric measurements refer to biological facts collected in a health screening or wellness assessment. These screenings are usually sponsored by your employer along with your medical insurance carrier.
Commonly recorded biometric measurements include blood and glucose levels, blood pressure readings, measurements of height and weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and other physical assessments.
Biometric screenings are also used to promote healthy lifestyle changes that impact your long-term health. Health screenings benefit your insurance carrier (by reducing costs associated with health complications from untreated health issues) and your employer (by reducing loss of productivity through illnesses and health complications). These screenings also benefit you, as an employee, through discounted medical insurance premiums and early detection of health conditions that may require treatment.
Blood Pressure
Our internal medicine specialists recommend blood pressure screening as a regular component of our biometrics testing.
Blood pressure is a measurement of pressure exerted by the movement of blood against the walls of your blood vessels. Blood pressure is considered high when the force of pressure has the potential to cause heart health problems. If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause heart disease and related complications such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol, which is found in several foods, can be beneficial. High-density cholesterol, or HDL, is sometimes referred to as the “good cholesterol.”
Other types of cholesterol can harm the body by causing plaque buildup inside arteries. This harmful cholesterol is low-density cholesterol, or LDL, and may lead to dangerous blockages that cut off blood flow to the heart. Our doctors at Addison Internal Medicine recommend all patients undergo cholesterol testing as part of biometric screenings, especially if they have risk factors for high LDL cholesterol.