The Family Doctor - A True All-Rounder

The Musculoskeletal Systems

The most common causes for a visit to the family doctor are injuries and issues concerning the supporting or locomotor system. Disorders of the muscular and skeletal systems include arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Most of these occur predominantly at an advanced age, and the most frequent complaints are in connection with joint or back pain of varying severity. Worldwide, musculoskeletal disorders are among the leading causes for chronic pain, leading to the inability to work and a reduction in the quality of life. This therefore certifies that early and appropriate treatment is absolutely essential.

The Respiratory system

Acute respiratory tract infections often affect us during the colder seasons. Last year, more than 35 million people visited their GP to receive treatment for respiratory tract infections - an increasing trend, as 16% more patients visited their doctor’s office, than compared to the year 2010. For GPs, the most common diagnoses are infections of the upper respiratory tract, such as bacterial or viral inflammations of the pharynx and nasal sinuses, as well as flu infections. While these infections are usually harmless, respiratory infections are still the most common cause of sickness in the working population.

The Endocrine System

The third most common type of health problems, are disorder of the endocrine system, which affect our hormones and metabolism. Due to our modern lifestyles, which are characterized by a lack of exercise and frequent overeating/malnutrition, this group of diseases is characterized by obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes mellitus. While these diseases used to predominantly occur in the elderly, the recent changes in our lifestyle mean that the patients affected are getting younger and younger.

Cardiovascular system

The older we get, the higher our chances are of developing a cardiovascular disease. These diseases are often treated by our family doctor; especially the treatment of arterial hypertension. Cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac insufficiencies, as well as coronary heart disease, on the other hand, are preferably treated by cardiologists.
 

Psyche

In recent years, there has also been a large increase in outpatient medical visits due to mental illness, especially anxiety disorders and depression. Because depression and anxiety disorders sometimes manifest themselves physically, like in the form of back pain, patients frequently seek out their family doctor first. Because the real cause is not immediately obvious, a diagnosis for these problems is often more difficult.
This brief overview of the most common reasons people visit a GP shows how diverse a GP’s work can be and how significant their role is when it comes to the health care of the general public.

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