Dr. Anika Nawar Chowdhury

Dr. Anika Nawar Chowdhury provides comprehensive family medical care for a wide variety of health concerns affecting patients of all ages, including but not limited to:

Common Acute Conditions

• Allergic Reactions (Mild to Moderate - e.g., Hay Fever, Hives, Minor Food Allergy Symptoms): Providing advice on allergen avoidance, prescribing antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids or other medications for symptom relief, and discussing options like allergy testing or specialist referrals if indicated for more severe or complex allergies.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs - Cystitis, Pyelonephritis - uncomplicated initial): Prompt diagnosis (e.g., urinalysis, urine culture if needed) and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections such as cystitis (bladder infection) and initial assessment/management of suspected uncomplicated pyelonephritis (kidney infection) to alleviate discomfort (dysuria, frequency, urgency, flank pain) and prevent complications.
• Headaches (Tension-type, Migraine - Acute Symptomatic Relief): Assessment of acute headaches to differentiate types (e.g., tension headache, migraine, cervicogenic), provide initial pain relief strategies (analgesics, NSAIDs, triptans for migraine), identify potential triggers, and rule out serious underlying causes requiring urgent investigation.
• Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (Acute Bronchitis, Community-Acquired Pneumonia): Assessment and treatment for acute chest infections like acute bronchitis or mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia, including determining the need for antibiotics based on clinical assessment and guidelines, and monitoring recovery closely.

Mental Health Concerns

• Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety - Management): Ongoing management and support for anxiety disorders, helping patients develop coping strategies, achieve symptom remission or reduction, and improve overall well-being.
• Initial Assessment & Referral for Other Mental Health Concerns (e.g., OCD, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis): Recognizing signs and symptoms of various serious mental health issues and facilitating timely access to the appropriate level of specialist care and support.
• Depression & Other Mood Disorders (e.g., Dysthymia, Seasonal Affective Disorder - Management): Assessing symptoms of depression (low mood, loss of interest/pleasure, fatigue, changes in sleep/appetite) and other mood disorders. Offering empathetic supportive counseling, discussing and initiating treatment options including lifestyle interventions, evidence-based antidepressant medications, and facilitating referrals to psychotherapy or psychiatry for moderate to severe or treatment-resistant cases.

Adult Common Health Issues

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - Symptom Management & Monitoring: Assessing and managing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men commonly due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Symptoms include urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia (waking at night to urinate), weak or intermittent stream, hesitancy, straining, and incomplete bladder emptying. Assessment involves history, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, digital rectal exam (DRE) to assess prostate size/consistency, urinalysis to rule out UTI, and serum PSA discussion (for prostate cancer screening context).
• Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) - Initial Assessment & Management: Providing initial management strategies for RLS, including lifestyle modifications (e.g., regular exercise, good sleep hygiene, avoiding caffeine/alcohol close to bedtime), checking and correcting iron deficiency (ferritin levels), and considering pharmacological options (e.g., dopamine agonists like pramipexole/ropinirole, gabapentin enacarbil) for moderate to severe, frequent symptoms that significantly impact sleep or quality of life. Referral to neurology or sleep specialist for complex or refractory cases.
• Allergic Conjunctivitis & Dry Eye Syndrome - Primary Care Management: Primary care approach to common, non-sight-threatening eye discomforts.
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection - Testing & Eradication Therapy: Testing for Helicobacter pylori infection in appropriate clinical contexts (e.g., patients with peptic ulcer disease, certain types of gastritis, dyspepsia in high-prevalence areas, or family history of gastric cancer) using non-invasive methods like urea breath test, stool antigen test, or serology (less reliable for active infection).

Common Chronic Conditions

• Osteoarthritis & Other Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain (e.g., Chronic Back/Neck Pain, Fibromyalgia): Long-term support and care for managing the symptoms of degenerative joint disease and other chronic musculoskeletal pain, focusing on self-management and maintaining an active lifestyle.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD - Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis): Comprehensive management strategies for COPD, focusing on smoking cessation support (critical for slowing progression), appropriate pharmacological therapy (bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids), supplemental oxygen therapy assessment (if needed), pulmonary rehabilitation referrals, influenza/pneumococcal vaccinations, and proactive management of exacerbations to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms (breathlessness, chronic cough, sputum production), and slow disease progression.
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) & Associated Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Comprehensive, ongoing management of high blood pressure through regular monitoring (in-clinic and home BP), medication initiation and titration according to guidelines, extensive lifestyle counseling (DASH diet, low sodium, exercise, weight management, stress reduction), and screening/management of associated risk factors (e.g., dyslipidemia, diabetes) to prevent long-term cardiovascular complications.
• Anemia (Iron Deficiency, B12/Folate Deficiency - Chronic): Primary care approach to identifying and managing deficiencies or chronic conditions that lead to persistent anemia.

Joint Muscle Pain

• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI), Tendinopathies & Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) - Initial Assessment & Conservative Management: A first point of contact for work-related or activity-induced repetitive strain injuries, guiding effective conservative management, facilitating return to function, and providing documentation for workplace accommodations if necessary. Referral to specialists (e.g., sports medicine, orthopedics, physiatry) if symptoms are persistent, severe, or require further investigation/intervention.
• Fibromyalgia & Other Widespread Chronic Pain Syndromes - Primary Care Diagnosis & Multimodal Management: A supportive, holistic, and patient-centered primary care approach to helping individuals manage the complex and often debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia (widespread pain, profound fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive dysfunction - 'fibro fog', mood disturbances), aiming to improve daily function, reduce pain interference, and enhance overall quality of life.
• Gout & Pseudogout (Crystal Arthropathies) - Acute Attack Management & Chronic Prevention Strategies: Diagnosing (often clinical, supported by serum uric acid levels; joint aspiration for crystal analysis if diagnostically uncertain or to rule out septic arthritis) and managing acute gout or pseudogout attacks with appropriate anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs like naproxen/indomethacin, colchicine, oral or intra-articular corticosteroids).

This list offers some examples of common conditions managed in family practice. A diagnosis is always based on an individual assessment by Dr. Chowdhury. If your specific health concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic to discuss your needs.

• Well-Child Visits & Developmental Surveillance (Infancy to Adolescence): Comprehensive, age-appropriate check-ups for newborns, infants, children, and adolescents, focusing on monitoring physical growth, developmental milestones (gross motor, fine motor, language, social-emotional), nutrition, vision/hearing screening, and providing anticipatory guidance to parents/caregivers on safety, behavior, and healthy habits.
• Joint Injections for Pain Relief (e.g., Corticosteroid - if trained/equipped): Performing therapeutic joint injections (e.g., corticosteroid injections) for certain conditions like osteoarthritis, bursitis, or tendinitis in specific joints (e.g., knee, shoulder) to reduce pain and inflammation, if appropriately trained and equipped.
• Management of Other Chronic Conditions (e.g., GERD, IBS, Anemia): Providing ongoing care and management for a variety of other long-term health issues such as chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic anemia, and more, focusing on symptom control and quality of life.
• Grief, Loss & Bereavement Counseling (Initial Supportive Care): Providing a safe and understanding space to navigate the complex emotional, cognitive, and physical reactions to loss, and connecting with specialized bereavement services or support groups if needed.
• Fungal, Viral & Bacterial Skin Infections: Managing common cutaneous infections to resolve symptoms and prevent spread or recurrence.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr. Chowdhury. For a comprehensive understanding of all services, or to discuss your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Family Doctors in BC and the ethical and professional standards set by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

At Dr. Anika Nawar Chowdhury's practice, family medicine is centered on a collaborative partnership to help individuals like you achieve significant improvements in your health, manage ongoing conditions effectively, and enhance your overall well-being. Dr. Chowdhury frequently works with patients towards goals such as:

• Dr. Chowdhury supports patients through concerns about possible medication interactions between prescriptions from different doctors, aiming for outcomes like having their pain, whether acute from a recent injury or chronic from a long-standing condition, acknowledged without dismissal, assessed comprehensively using a biopsychosocial lens, and managed more effectively with a personalized, multimodal plan from Dr. Chowdhury, so they can return to activities such as nurturing and maintaining strong, supportive, and deeply fulfilling relationships with their immediate family members, close friends, and wider social network through regular, active, and meaningful engagement.
• Struggling with their teenager expressing concerns about their body image or eating habits? Dr. Chowdhury helps patients target their newborn receiving excellent, thorough initial care, meticulous monitoring for healthy growth and crucial early development, and invaluable support for new parents during the critical and often overwhelming early weeks of life, all from Dr. Chowdhury, making a return to activities such as successfully maintaining their cherished personal independence in all complex daily routines, intricate personal care tasks, and instrumental activities of daily living, which is especially crucial for aging seniors or individuals managing disabilities more achievable.
• Many patients have successfully addressed a nagging low backache that's making it hard to sit, stand, or even sleep comfortably with Dr. Chowdhury's support. This often leads to achieving substantially better and more integrated management of their multiple co-existing chronic conditions (multimorbidity) through the highly coordinated, holistic, and patient-centered approach to care championed by Dr. Chowdhury and the ability to fully participate in joyfully and responsibly taking care of beloved family pets, which includes activities like daily walking, regular feeding, grooming, active playtime, and providing necessary veterinary care once more.

Your personalized healthcare plan, developed in discussion with Dr. Chowdhury, will be thoughtfully designed to help you reach your specific functional, preventative, and wellness objectives. She believes in empowering patients with the knowledge and support needed to take an active role in their health journey.

Dr. Chowdhury's practice is located at a family medical clinic in Princeton, situated in a family medical practice in the central Princeton neighborhood of Princeton. The clinic is conveniently located near local community centers, schools, and shopping areas and is accessible via major local public transit routes. Free patient parking is often available on-site or on nearby streets.

What exactly is a family doctor (Family Doctor) and what is their role?

Your family doctor (BC) is your primary healthcare provider, expertly trained to care for a wide spectrum of health issues, from newborns to seniors. She manages acute illnesses and injuries, oversees the care of long-term chronic diseases, provides routine health screenings and lifestyle counseling, administers vaccinations, and ensures you get access to specialized medical services through referrals when needed. The continuity of care she provides, understanding your health history and individual needs, is fundamental to effective family medicine.

Do I need a referral to see a family doctor (Family Doctor) in BC?

Generally, you don't need a referral to see a family doctor in BC if that doctor is accepting new patients. However, finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients can be challenging. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC website may have a "Find a Doctor" tool to help. A referral from a family doctor is usually required to see specialists.

How can I find a family doctor (Family Doctor) in BC who is accepting new patients?

Finding a family doctor in BC who is accepting new patients may take time and effort. Check the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC website for a "Find a Doctor" tool or list. Ask friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations. Contact local community health centres or clinics directly. It can be a challenging process.

Is seeing a family doctor (Family Doctor) covered by Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC in BC?

Medically necessary visits to a family doctor are typically covered by BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) for eligible residents with a valid health card. However, some services (like cosmetic procedures or sick notes for work) may not be covered and may have a fee. Please confirm with our clinic if you have questions about specific services.

98 RIDGEWOOD DR, PO BOX 610, Cascade Medical Centre
Princeton, BC, V0X 1W0

Phone: (250) 295-4482

Dr. Anika Nawar Chowdhury is regulated by the Health Professions Act (British Columbia) in BC and is a registered member in good standing with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

Registration Number: 59456

Verify registration with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC): https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/registrant-directory/search-result/366695/Chowdhury%2CAnika

Family doctors like Dr. Chowdhury are skilled in managing a wide range of health issues. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your family doctor about all aspects of your health, including any treatments received from other practitioners.