MEDICAL FOCUS
Don’t Delay Primary Care Visits Delaying primary care visits can put your health at risk. It’s important to prioritize primary care visits even when you’re busy juggling other responsibilities in life. And with cold and flu season here, taking steps to stay healthy and prevent the spread of illness can give you and your family peace of mind. Here’s a look at key primary care visits to get caught up on:
ton Methodist Primary Care Group at Riverstone. “They provide protection for you and others against flu, pneumonia, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.”
Cancer Screenings
If you have been putting off primary care wellness visits, you may not be aware of cancer screenings that are appropriate for your current age. “Your primary care proLola Okunnu, M.D., family medicine, and Zenithe Pierre Ware, M.D., vider may recommend getting a internal medicine and pediatrics Annual Wellness mammogram, colonoscopy, lung Checkups cancer screening, prostate screening or another cancer screen“Seeing a primary care provider who knows you and your ing test at a wellness visit,” said Okunnu. “These tests help find health history can help you manage your health — and even certain cancers early, when they are more treatable.” save your life,” said Lola Okunnu, M.D., board-certified family medicine physician with Houston Methodist Primary Care Chronic Disease Management Group at Sugar Land. “Your primary care provider can also help coordinate your care with specialists, which is essential when you’re managMental Health Screening ing diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other conditions,” said You can talk to your primary care provider about mental Ware. health concerns, such as anxiety, depression and other mood Don’t delay in getting caught up on your family’s preventive disorders. wellness checks, screenings and vaccinations. To schedule inperson or virtual appointments with Houston Methodist Primary Vaccinations Care Group, call 713.394.6639 or visit www.houstonmethodist. “It’s more important than ever to stay on schedule with recorg/pcg/southwest. ommended vaccines,” said Zenithe Pierre Ware, M.D., boardVisit www.houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more certified internal medicine and pediatrics physician with Housabout Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
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