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Staying Healthy All Year Around

Everyone wants to be healthy. Unfortunately, unless you take active steps to maintain your health, as you get older, it is likely to deteriorate. I discovered this the hard way. For many years, I avoided visiting the doctor and I didn't really pay attention to my diet. As a result, I developed a number of medical conditions. Thankfully, the staff at my local healthcare clinic were able to help me to recover. From the moment I called and booked my first appointment, to the day of my surgery, the doctors and nurses supported me and explained every step of the treatment plan. I hope you like my blog.

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Staying Healthy All Year Around

Two Situations in Which It Is Vital to See a GP as Soon as Possible

by Samuel Henderson

There are certain situations in which you should book an appointment with a general practitioner at a nearby health clinic as soon as possible. Read on to find out what these situations are.

You're experiencing unexplainable weight loss

Healthy people will usually only lose weight if they create a caloric deficit, by reducing the amount of food that they eat or by increasing the frequency with which they exercise.

If you are not doing either of these things but are still losing weight, then it's important to speak to one of the general practitioners at your local health clinic, as your unexplained weight loss could be a sign of an underlying condition that requires treatment.

For example, unintentional weight loss can sometimes be a symptom of an overactive thyroid (known as 'hyperthyroidism'). This condition is quite serious and sufferers usually need to take medication on a daily basis to regulate their thyroid hormone levels.

Weight loss can also be a symptom of type 2 diabetes, a condition which affects the pancreas' ability to produce insulin. This condition needs to be treated with a combination of medication and dietary changes; if it is not, it can lead to major health complications.

Your GP can test for both of these conditions by taking a blood sample and having the blood tested at the health clinic.

You're constantly exhausted

It's very common for busy people to feel tired a lot of the time. However, if you find that you feel exhausted and lethargic even after you have had a good night's sleep or a relaxing day off work, then it might be worth popping into your town or city's health clinic so that your GP can run some tests.

The reason for this is as follows; constant exhaustion could be a sign of a number of illnesses, most of which can easily be resolved with medication or lifestyle changes.

For example, tiredness is often a sign of anaemia. Anaemia occurs when a person does not have enough iron in their diet; this reduces the number of red blood cells that their body produces, which, in turn, affects the body's ability to deliver oxygen to its organs.

If detected at an early stage, anaemia can be treated very easily. However, if it is not diagnosed and addressed promptly, it can increase a person's risk of developing problems with their lungs, heart or immune system. As such, it is important to speak to your GP as soon as possible if you suspect you may be suffering from this condition.

If your GP has reason to believe that you might have anaemia, they will perform a blood test to check your iron levels. If the tests confirm their suspicions, they will probably prescribe an iron supplement and recommend that you increase the number of iron-rich foods that you eat (such as red meat and green, leafy vegetables).

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