Health Matters - Apple Magazine Health Matters Spring 2018 | Page 3

Family health
primary care
Visiting your family doctor is the
first step to good health, whether
it’s for a regular checkup or to
talk about a particular concern.
By getting to know you and your
medical history, your doctor can
give you informed medical advice
and treatment. As well, your
doctor can connect you to other
healthcare professionals if you
need them. They can also help you
proactively manage your health
in order to prevent illnesses and
diseases.
Primary care health
professionals include:
Registered nurses, dietitians, dental
hygienists, pharmacists, mental
health therapists, kinesiologists,
occupational therapists
and social workers.
How a registered nurse
can help you
Maternity & newborn care
Having a baby means big changes
to your life. Maternity care helps
parents through the pregnancy
journey, even before conception.
It includes all aspects of pre-
and postnatal care, as well as
nutritional guidance and mental
health support for moms, dads and
babies. Health professionals, such
as registered nurses, help you learn
about caring for your newborn;
many are also certified lactation
consultants, ready to assist with
breastfeeding. Dietitians help with
healthy food choices for both
parents and baby.
Registered nurses (RNs) work
closely with family doctors and
other health professionals to
support you through all stages
of growth and development, and
degrees of wellness and illness.
They help with assessing, screening
and determining health concerns,
as well as setting achievable
health goals. RNs can answer your
health questions, offer support for
treatment and make it easier to
manage a chronic disease.
HEALTH MATTERS
SPRING 2018
THREE