网曝门事件 Health Why pediatricians are important for your child鈥檚 health and wellness

Set up your family for a lifetime of wellness.

Routine checkups are important to your child鈥檚 health, but it鈥檚 easy to put them off when life gets busy. When you make wellness exams a priority, however, the whole family benefits.

鈥淲ellness checkups are so much more than just evaluating the physical health of the child, although that is a significant aspect,鈥� says Luis Diaz, MD, a pediatrician at 网曝门事件 Health Clear Lake Medical Office 鈥� Clearlake. 鈥淭hese checks help the entire family make healthy

habits for life.鈥�

Here are three reasons to see a pediatrician at least once a year.

Early detection

Spotting developmental delays, chronic conditions and diseases early gives your pediatrician the best chance of intervention and treatment. At well-child visits, providers screen for vision and hearing impairment, congenital heart defects (present at birth), abnormal growth patterns and autism.

鈥淓arly intervention is key,鈥� says Liz Osborne, a family nurse practitioner at 网曝门事件 Health Clear Lake Medical Office 鈥� Lakeport. 鈥淔or instance, we can detect oral health problems and refer kids to a dentist before they need dental surgery, which no one wants to subject a child to.鈥�

Prevention

Immunizations are a principal reason to stay up to date with well-child visits.

鈥淭he diseases vaccines can prevent are pretty devastating to kids,鈥� Osborne says, 鈥渟o it鈥檚 worth it to see your pediatrician for immunizations.鈥�

Your pediatrician can also advise you on how to help your child avoid diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, through healthy eating, sleep and physical activity.

Family support

鈥淧ediatricians may focus on children鈥檚 health, but we鈥檙e really caring for the whole family,鈥� Dr. Diaz says, 鈥渂ecause healthy parents raise healthy kids.鈥�

That鈥檚 why 网曝门事件 Health pediatricians practice family-centered care. They offer support for families dealing with violence, substance misuse, parent separation, unemployment, mental health problems and housing instability.

鈥淲e offer trauma-informed care and have social workers who can help,鈥� Osborne says. 鈥淭hese make a big difference in a child鈥檚 health.鈥�