Preventive Care Services

disease management - chronic disease - Star Medical Associates - Dr. Rani Anbarasu - health and wellness - Wound Care - Skin Lesion Removal - preventive care

Preventive Services

At Star Medical Associates, we believe in the power of preventive medicine. We recommend patients follow tried-and-true preventive healthcare guidelines to ensure a long and healthy life.

Preventive care goes hand-in-hand with our disease management services. But you don’t have to have an existing chronic medical condition or disease to benefit from our preventive care.

Annual physical examinations (including well-woman exams) are important preventive healthcare tools your doctor uses to assess your health and look for early signs of illness or disease. Other preventive services we offer include:

Immunizations

There are several immunizations that can benefit those age 18 and up. Some of the more common vaccinations used are:

  • Flu shots
  • Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) for men and women
  • Pneumonia vaccine
  • Shingles vaccine
  • Tetanus booster

What you need will depend on what vaccines you received as a child, as well as your age and general health. Healthcare workers and pregnant women may need additional vaccines.

If you are traveling to other countries, there are additional specific vaccines that are recommended before you travel. Find out more about travel vaccines  on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Ask your doctor which vaccines may be appropriate for you.

Weight Management & Nutritional Counseling

Weight management is extremely important to your health. That’s because obesity is associated with an increased risk of so very many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Your doctor can help you identify the best combination of weight loss approaches that will work for you. This generally includes lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and regular exercise. If diet and exercise alone have not been successful for you, Dr. Rani Anbarasu may be able to recommend other methods including medications, supplements, meal replacement plans, or specific types of weight loss programs. Dr. Anbarasu can even assess whether you are a good candidate for certain weight-loss surgeries.

It’s especially important to involve your doctor in your weight loss efforts. Depending on your health and risk factors, you’ll want medical oversight to ensure the weight management methods you undertake don’t do more harm for you than good.

Nutritional counseling is an important element of healthy eating. Oftentimes, people are unaware of what is needed to maintain proper nutrition for their age and overall health. Proper nutrition plays a significant role in helping to stave off medical problems associated with , bone health, and more.

Cancer Screenings

Regular Pap smears, often part of a well-woman exam, allow your doctor to look for changes or abnormalities in the cells lining your cervix. This can help identify precursors to cervical cancer, which allows you and your doctor to take action before cancer develops. Testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) can be performed at the same time as a Pap smear and can identify women who may have an increased risk of cervical cancer.

Breast cancer screenings include a breast exam by your doctor (again, often part of a well-woman exam) and annual mammograms on a schedule determined by your age and whether you have a family history of breast cancer.

Prostate cancer screenings typically involve a PSA blood test and a digital rectal examination (DRE). The first tests a sample of your blood for prostate-specific antigen levels. Generally, higher levels may indicate prostate cancer. The latter is when your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for any abnormalities.

Skin cancer screenings are periodic visual inspections of your skin – from your scalp to your toes. Your doctor will look for moles, birthmarks, and unusual marks or discolorations that may be a sign of skin cancer. Biopsies of suspect lesions may also be taken during the exam.

Dr. Anbarasu may recommend you undergo a colonoscopy, depending on your age and family history, to identify and treat early signs of colon cancer, one of the most preventable cancers. Colon cancer typically shows no symptoms until it has progressed to advanced stages.

Other Screenings & Tests

Blood pressure readings and blood work are common preventive tests performed at your doctor’s office. Blood tests allow your physician to measure the levels of various substances in your blood, such as blood-sugar and cholesterol levels. Blood tests are used to detect a wide range of abnormalities.

Additional screenings or other diagnostic services may be ordered depending on potential health concerns. These include tests for atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and urinary incontinence.

Preventive Care in Denton and Frisco, TX

In many cases, simple measures taken now can help you prevent serious health problems down the road. Let the medical professionals at Star Medical Associates keep you healthy with preventive healthcare. Call us at (940) 382-6900 in Denton, Texas, or (469) 301-2300 in Frisco, Texas, to schedule your visit. You can also request an appointment online.