In today’s society where health issues arise unexpectedly with the need for immediate medical attention the advancements in healthcare have played a vital role in the management of such situations. Healthcare is now more focused on giving convenience and comfort to their patients with one tap or call in the comfort of their own space. The services include the doctor’s visit at home and the availability of advanced diagnostic tests for better evaluation of the overall health, such as the tests for thyroid, routine tests, lipid profiles, and other valuable diagnostic tests that give an overall picture of an individual’s health.
This article is focused on the importance of these services and how they cater to the needs of special groups of society.
Why Thyroid Health is Vital?
Disorders associated with the thyroid gland are becoming more common now which is leading to several health issues. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland present in the neck and is responsible for various vital functions within the body such as regulation of the metabolism, maintaining energy levels, and regulating the hormonal balance. When the function of the thyroid gland is disrupted various health issues are observed in an individual including unexplainable fatigue, fluctuations in weight i.e. either weight gain or weight loss, and noticeable mood changes.
Thyroid disorders should be addressed promptly for an effective treatment and management of the disease. Raising awareness along with timely tests for the evaluation of thyroid disorders is crucial to start early treatment as many people mistake thyroid disorders for other health issues. When the disease is diagnosed on time, it ensures that the disease is managed timely and effective.
Home Visits in Modern Healthcare
A doctor home visit was once considered a luxury and mostly the elite class would benefit from this service but now it is becoming more popular and the demand is increasing greatly. This service is particularly benefitting these groups of the society;
- Elderly people having issues with mobility
- Patients who need follow-up care after the surgery, these patients recover quickly at their homes rather than in a hospital setting.
- Families who prioritize their privacy and comfort.
- People who have a fear of visiting a hospital or get anxiety in the hospital or clinical setting.
Medical assistance at home not only gives convenience and comfort but also saves time and money and helps in the better recovery of patients in their safe spaces. The doctors can also give better treatment options and lifestyle changes after understanding the living conditions of the patient.
Importance of Diagnostic Test for Thyroid Gland
A thyroid testis used for the assessment of the functioning of the thyroid gland. This test provides valuable insights into the health of an individual and the conditions related to thyroid dysfunction that are discussed briefly below;
- Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is producing the thyroid hormone excessively resulting in symptoms such as fast heartbeat, weight loss without a known reason, and changes in mental status such as onset of anxiety.
- Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces the thyroid hormone less than the normal range resulting in various health conditions and the individual starts exhibiting the symptoms of fatigue, sudden weight gain, and depression.
- Thyroid Nodules
A thyroid nodule is the presence of a lump within the thyroid gland and the symptoms are visible in an individual including the swelling of the neck, a hoarse voice, neck, jaw, or ear pain, and difficulty breathing.
- Goiter
Goiter is a condition in which an abnormal or irregular enlargement of the thyroid gland is observed and is accompanied by the symptoms of dizziness, neck pain, and swelling.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disorder
Conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Grave’s disease are disorders in which the immune system starts attacking the thyroid glands and the associated symptoms are tiredness, muscle weakness, constipation, intolerance to colds, depression, changes in the skin and hair and changes in the pattern of menstrual bleeding and cycle.
People having a history of thyroid disorder in the family should get themselves checked regularly or individuals experiencing symptoms associated with the abnormalities of the thyroid gland. Early detection is crucial for timely medical intervention and significantly improving the quality of life.
Integration of the Home Healthcare Visits and Diagnostic Tests
Combining the two valuable services of a visit to the doctor at home and the diagnostic test for thyroid gives a comprehensive health status of an individual with a variety of benefits including;
- Convenience of not traveling to the healthcare facility while being time and cost-effective.
- Provides extreme comfort for the patients in their own space. This whole setting is way less stress-free than a typical hospital setting which can give chills to even a healthy individual.
- Doctors can easily manage and control the follow-up treatment along with monitoring the health of the patient closely, the response to the treatment, and suggest further steps based on the test results.
How Does It Work?
- Initially consult the doctor for an accurate assessment of the patient’s health by thorough examination of the symptoms and the medical history.
- Blood samples for diagnostic tests can be collected by the healthcare technician at home without the need to commute to the diagnostic facility.
- After the availability of the test the doctor diagnoses the condition after recommending the treatment plan.
- Regular visits to the doctor at home ensure that the patient is recovering fast, or if the treatment is not showing expected results it is adjusted accordingly.
Conclusion
Thyroid health is an essential aspect of a good general health and well-being of an individual. To ensure good thyroid health regular testing is important so that the disorders can be diagnosed and managed early to prevent severe complications associated with the disorder. The combination of services such as doctor’s visits at home and diagnostic tools such as tests for the thyroid gland shows a rapid advancement in healthcare for providing a more patient-centric approach.
