General Medicine in Higashicho

General medicine focuses on the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases of the internal organs. A medical doctor who specializes in general medicine is usually called a general medicine doctor or a general physician (GP). Although they mostly treat adults, they may also treat adolescents and children. They treat all medical conditions, including conditions that affect the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, hematological, or endocrine systems. Some of the most common conditions general medicine doctor can treat include but are not limited to:

• Respiratory system, including lung fibrosis, asthma, pneumonia, and Emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Cardiovascular system, such as hypertension and ischemic heart disease (heart attack, angina).
• The neurological system, such as cerebrovascular accident (strokes), dementia, and epilepsy (seizures).
• Gastrointestinal system, including gastroenteritis and liver disease (such as alcoholic liver disease).
• Hematological, such as anemia.
• Endocrinological, such as pituitary disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease.

A general medicine doctor can arrange a wide range of tests, such as electrocardiogram, blood pressure test, urinalysis (U/A), blood sugar level, and fecal occult blood tests. They may also arrange laboratory investigations, such as blood tests or other fluid samples from other parts of the body. Occasionally, they may also arrange a biopsy for diagnosis, which will be sent to a pathologist for analysis. General medicine doctors can also work with radiologists to use X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or ultrasound, as well as nuclear medicine specialists for certain tests, such as PET scans. They may also refer patients to another specialty for special tests, such as a cardiologist for an angiogram and a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy.

Common procedures or interventions that general medicine doctor perform are as follows:

• Perform clinical examinations of patients to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor the patient’s condition.
• Interpret findings from investigations, such as blood tests, to help reach a diagnosis.
• Use life support skills and emergency procedures, such as defibrillation, when necessary.

How Long Should I Stay in Higashicho?      

You can leave the medical facility immediately after, plan to stay at least 2 to 5 days in Higashicho for a follow-up appointment. During the follow-up appointment, your doctor evaluates how your body is responding to treatment or, if you had diagnostic tests, explain the results, and discuss the treatment plan with you. However, if your doctor tells you that no follow-up appointment is necessary, you should be allowed to leave for home on the same day. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time can be different from one person to another, depending on the illness or disease you have and your overall health. You will be advised to take several days off work and avoid strenuous activities to allow your body to recover. Your doctor will let you know the specific time you can return to work and your normal activity. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you an aftercare instruction tailored to your particular condition, which may include activity restriction and recommended diet. Your doctor may likely prescribe medicine as well. It is important to take the medicine as directed and follow all the instructions closely. They will also let you know if you need follow-up appointments. For certain illnesses, they may refer you to a specific specialist.

What's the Success Rate?

For many people, general medicine is the first point of treatment. It has a high success rate in diagnosing and treating many conditions, as well as referring patients to the relevant specialist for specialized treatments. Experienced and skilled general medicine doctors can learn a great deal by simple observation. Looking at hands, nails, skin, mouth, and eyes, as well as examining your lungs, heart, and abdomen can give them some clues and help them decide on the most appropriate tests to undertake to confirm their clinical suspicions. 

Are there Alternatives?

The alternatives depend on your condition. For example, you should be able to see a cardiologist for heart conditions without talking to your general medical doctor first. However, in some cases, you may need a referral from your general medical doctor to see other specialists.

General Medicine in and around Higashicho

About Higashicho

Higashicho is an area in Koganei, a city located in the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Due to its ease of access to Tokyo and more affordable prices, Higashicho is frequented by tourists who wish to stay in a quiet and affordable accommodation than the ones in the center of Tokyo. Today, the area is also frequented by medical tourists looking for high-quality treatments in Japan. The clinics and hospitals in this area are known to have top quality services, reasonably priced treatments, state-of-the-art medical technology, as well as well-trained and licensed medical professionals.

Popular Parts of Higashicho

The most popular attraction near Higashicho is Koganei Park, which is a huge park with many different attractions. The park has free outdoor basketball courts, baseball fields, and tennis courts. It also has large open areas, perfect for those who want to go picnic or throw Frisbees. You can also find barbeque pits for rent. The park is also a good spot for plum blossom viewing in February and cherry blossom viewing in March. In fact, it is listed in the top 100 cherry blossom spots in Japan.

The park is also home to Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, a museum of historic Japanese buildings. This museum is a branch of the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryōgoku, Tokyo. The museum includes numerous buildings, from the middle-class ordinary Japanese houses to the homes of the powerful and wealthy, such as the residence of Takahashi Korekiyo, Japan’s former prime minister. In this museum, visitors can enter and explore various traditional Japanese buildings of different periods, styles, and purposes.

Transport in Higashicho

Since there is no international airport in Higashicho and Koganei, most international tourists arrive at the Narita International Airport. This airport serves domestic and international flights to numerous cities around the world.

Visas in Higashicho

Holders of passports issued by 66 countries, including all EU countries, Australia, the US, and the UAE, can visit and stay in Japan without a visa for up to 90 days. Most other countries not listed in the visa-free policy need to obtain a visa prior to arrival. Budget airlines, including Jetstar Japan, operates flights from this airport. Medical tourists can arrive in Koganei by train by taking the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku west from thirty minutes, then take a taxi or bus to Higashicho.

Weather in Higashicho

Higashicho has four seasons. The summer (June to August) is hot and humid, with a lot of rainfall. Autumn (September to November) has mild weather with less humidity. November is the peak typhoon season. Winter (December to February) is dry, sunny, and cold, but the temperature rarely drops below 0°C. Spring (March to May) has pleasant weather and clear skies.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY) is the local currency. 1 USD is approx. 106 JPY.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs can be found around the area. Credit cards are not always accepted, so always bring cash with you. Tipping is not mandatory.
3. Local Language: Japanese is the official language. English is not widely spoken, except in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The main religion in the area is Shintoism and Buddhism. There is also a small group of Christian.
5. Public Holidays: Emperor’s Birthday, Children’s Day, and Constitution Memorial Day are some of the public holidays celebrated in Higashicho.