Do I Need Regular Check-Ups When I Am Already Healthy?
Annual medical check-ups are a tradition among Americans using healthcare services, but whether they are needed is a matter of controversy. Several years ago, I asked my doctor for an examination, and he chuckled, noting that I was fine. So, is this annual tradition really necessary? It all boils down to three simple questions.
Seeing a doctor is obviously quite a personal matter, so there is no easy way to put together a guide that fits everyone. If you already have a medical condition or are already seeing your doctor regularly, keep doing what you are doing. We are going to see what the part of people who are generally healthy and have not seen a doctor lately should do. This means that there is no serious antecedent illness, obvious ailment, or any other obvious medical visit. We also stick with the usual old primary care doctors, so specialized care, including obstetricians-gynecologists, is something you’ll want to talk to your doctor about for a specific recommendation.
Otherwise, you can ask yourself three questions. If you answer no to any of these questions, it’s time to make your first appointment. I spoke with primary care physician Dr. Dan Weisswasser to get to the bottom of these issues.
Have you seen me before in the doctor’s office?
If you have moved to a new city or changed your insurance company, you may have to choose a new therapist. Regardless of your age, this is a good time to schedule your health check-up. This exam provides the foundation for any potential future problems.
As the name suggests, wellness screening is about prevention and usually involves some very simple tests, including: blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, and, depending on your weight or risk factors, diabetes screening. All in all, this is a short meeting with some of the tests and blood tests that provide the standard of where you are when you are healthy. If something happens, you and your doctor will schedule check-ups for future examinations.
The goal of a wellness check-up is to take a step back from problem visits and get a more complete picture of your health. This way, your doctor can not only identify potential problems that you might not be aware of, but also establish what your test results are when you are healthy.
Am I caught on checks and shots?
An important aspect of going to a doctor is preventive examinations. These examinations vary based on age, gender, personal health problems, family health problems, habits , etc. There are hundreds of tests, services and exams out there, but fortunately, Dr. Weiswasser points out a few apps that greatly simplify the process of determining what you need.
First of all , this is an Agency for Medical Research and Quality app created for the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Download the app, enter your information, and the app will give you a list of recommended checks based on importance. Weisswasser points out right away that while these guidelines often do not reflect the latest research, they are helpful in deciding whether you need to make an appointment for age-related and risk-related examinations. So if you do go in and your doctor wants to do more tests, don’t be surprised.
In addition to examinations, Dr. Weisswasser also recommends checking the relevance of vaccinations. This tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can help you. Just take the test and you will see a list of suggestions for which vaccinations to ask your doctor about. It’s not as obvious as you might think. For example, one question concerns international travel. Depending on where you are going to, you will want to get a set of vaccinations for things like meningitis or hepatitis A. – for the history of the disease. (for example, the chickenpox vaccine if you have never had chickenpox).
If you are aware of all the checks and vaccinations, you’re done. If not, make an appointment and talk to your doctor about what you might be missing.
Am I leading a healthy lifestyle or do I know how to live it?
Finally, there is one very simple thing a doctor can help you with, even if you are feeling healthy: how to feel even better . Nobody is perfect, and unless you do a ton of research, you’re probably not sure if you’re eating and exercising right. If you have questions, your doctor can answer them or refer you to people who can. In a way, this goes back to the health exam we discussed earlier. The tests at your medical examination will help your doctor guide you towards a healthier lifestyle. Weisswasser explains:
Many of us simply don’t understand how we should stay healthy beyond those of the USPSTF. Such questions may include “what exercises should I do?”, “How do I eat?” And “how much should I weigh?” Others know what they should do, but benefit from the notorious kick in the pants, which can be obtained from an objective professional who tells you that you need to take better care of yourself.
The point is, depending on your own self-awareness, your doctor may make it easier to determine what you should be doing. You may be healthy, but you weigh a little more (or less). Or maybe you have good blood pressure right now, but it may get worse. Basically, if you are unsure if what you are doing is working, or if you are unsure of what to do next, a visit to your doctor can figure things out.
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you really don’t need to see a doctor if you feel healthy. Annual check-ups are not as frequent as they used to be, and given how expensive healthcare costs, this is not a hard and fast rule. Don’t schedule a visit to your doctor just because you feel like you should. If you’ve done all of the above, a good doctor should give you a reasonable timetable for what to do next and when he wants to see you again.