Middle-aged Australians encouraged to have regular medical check-ups
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR: MIDDLE AGE
AMA Family Doctor Week 16-22 July 2012
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today it is vital that middle-aged Australians have regular check-ups with their family doctor.
Dr Hambleton said that the first major health scare that people experience can happen during middle age, and it changes the way people think about their health and manage their health care.
“A health scare is often a catalyst for significant lifestyle changes, and family doctors can help people navigate these changes with proper advice and education and quality care,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Family doctors encourage and assist people to do simple and practical things such as losing weight, doing exercise, giving up smoking, and drinking more responsibly.
“It is vital that people in middle age have regular check-ups because this is the time of life when many chronic diseases can emerge and take hold without preventive action.
“Chronic disease, which now accounts for 70 per cent of the total health expenditure on disease, can have a significant impact on quality of life and life expectancy.
“People in middle age are also encouraged to start thinking about and discussing with their families end of life decisions and considering issues such as organ donation.”
You can view Dr Hambleton’s YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR: MIDDLE AGE message at http://youtu.be/bdA-X3QB4zs
Family Doctor Week is a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the nation’s family doctors – the GPs who serve local communities in the cities, the suburbs, rural centres, country towns, and remote areas of Australia.
This year, the theme is Family Doctor Week: For a Lifetime of Trusted Care.
Each day this week, the AMA will focus on a stage of life and the key role that family doctors play in helping their patients throughout that stage.
20 July 2012
CONTACT: Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753
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