Conditions we diagnose and treat

Primary care doctors and specialists at Ascension Sacred Heart in Northwest Florida provide care for chronic conditions, minor illnesses and injuries.

Conditions

Doctors and specialists at Ascension Sacred Heart in Northwest Florida deliver primary care to children and adults. Primary care doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating minor illnesses and injuries. They also provide care for chronic conditions.

Most allergic reactions happen when the immune system reacts to a harmless irritant. Normally the immune system attacks harmful things, such as viruses or bacteria. But sometimes it responds to things that are usually harmless, such as dust, mold, pollen, or food.

Arthritis is the swelling (inflammation) of a joint. A joint is where two or more bones meet. There are more than 100 different arthritis diseases. Rheumatic diseases include any condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. Arthritis is usually ongoing (chronic).

Asthma is a long-term (chronic) lung disease. The airways become inflamed. The airways may be sensitive to allergens, irritants and things like weather changes or respiratory infections. These things trigger changes in the airways. In asthma, airway changes include: swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscles around the airways, and increased production of sticky mucus. All of these things cause the airways to narrow. This makes it hard for air to go in and out of your lungs.

A cold and the flu (influenza) are two different illnesses. A cold is relatively harmless and usually clears up by itself. Sometimes it may lead to a secondary infection, such as an ear infection. But the flu can lead to complications, such as pneumonia. What may seem like a cold could be the flu.

Feeling sadness or stress from time to time is a part of life. But for people with depression and anxiety, these feelings interfere with daily living. Treatment may include medication, counseling, or a combination of both.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body doesn't make enough insulin or can't use the insulin it makes (insulin resistance). Insulin helps sugar (glucose) enter your cells to be used as energy. Without insulin, too much sugar stays in your blood. There are three main types of diabetes. They are called type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

A middle ear infection occurs behind the eardrum. It's most often caused by a virus or bacteria. Most children have at least one middle ear infection by the time they are 3 years old, but adults can also get them. Inflammation in the middle ear most often starts after you’ve had a sore throat, cold, or other upper respiratory infection. The infection spreads to the middle ear and causes fluid buildup behind the eardrum.

A headache is pain or discomfort in the head or face. Headaches vary by location and intensity of the pain, and how often they occur. Almost all people have headaches during their life. While headaches can sometimes indicate a serious medical or neurological condition, headaches do not usually pose any serious risk.

A migraine is a severe, throbbing type of headache. Symptoms other than pain can occur with a migraine headache. Nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light, and other visual changes are common. A migraine headache may last from 4 to 72 hours.

Heart disease is any condition that affects the structure or function of the heart. It includes conditions that affect the heart’s blood vessels (coronary artery disease), the heart muscle, valves, or rhythm (arrhythmias). Heart disease can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, or sometimes no symptoms at all. It is often related to factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and family history.

Primary care doctors provide care for minor injuries such as first-degree burns, minor cuts, sprains, strains, minor fractures, insect bites and more.

A sinus infection can happen after a cold. The cold inflames the nasal passages. This can block the opening of the sinuses and lead to infection. Allergies can also cause the nasal tissue to swell and make more mucus and cause sinusitis. If mucus drainage is blocked, bacteria may start to grow. This leads to a sinus infection, or sinusitis. The most common viruses and bacteria that cause sinusitis also cause the flu or certain kinds of pneumonia.

Thyroid hormones control how your body uses energy. These hormones affect almost every organ in your body. 

Hypothyroidism is the most common type of thyroid disorder. It means your thyroid gland is not active enough. This tiny gland is found in the front of your neck. Its job is to make thyroid hormone. If the gland is underactive, it may not make enough thyroid hormone.

Hyperthyroidism means your thyroid gland is too active. This tiny butterfly type of gland is found in your neck. An overactive thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. This makes your metabolism work at a faster rate.

An upper respiratory infection (URI) is an infection that affects the upper part of the respiratory system, which includes the nose, sinuses,and throat. URIs are usually caused by viruses (like the common cold or flu), but can sometimes be caused by bacteria. Common symptoms include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, sinus pressure, and mild fever.

Urinary tract infections or UTIs are infections in any part of the urinary tract. They are a common health condition that affects millions of people each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs. Normal urine is sterile and contains fluids, salts, and waste products. It does not contain bacteria, viruses, or fungi. A UTI happens when germs, most often bacteria from the digestive tract, get into the opening of the urethra and start to multiply.

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