Do annual checkups really matter?
Annual physical exams are the foundation for preventative care. They are important for anyone older than 18 months, as they regulate growth, help catch health issues early on, and allow for personal advice to shape individual healthy lifestyles.
What exactly do annual checkups include?
Comprehensive health assessments: Your doctor will test vital health assessments (eg., blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, etc.), administer a physical examination, and look over your medical history
Preventive screenings: Since treatments have the greatest effectiveness early on, preventive screenings aim to identify conditions such as diabetes and cholesterol as soon as possible. Some tests include mammograms (for detecting breast cancer), pap smears (to check for cervical cancer), colonoscopies (to look for colon polyps or bowel cancer), and blood tests (for a variety of conditions and vitals).
Personalized health advice: Based on your risk factors and individual health levels, doctors will give flexible individualized health advice to better health. These may consist of lifestyle changes, preventative measures, and vaccinations. They will also prescribe current medications and keep up with any medication changes.
Why are they important?
Early detection is key for treating many conditions. Since many serious diseases develop slowly and silently (with no symptoms until a later, severe stage), annual checkups enable your doctor to discover any problems early and provide the best treatment possible. The lifestyle and other changes based on risk factors and health status suggested by your doctor also follow preventative healthcare with advice to cultivate a balanced diet, exercise plan, and stress management techniques. Lastly, annual checkups help build a strong bond between doctor and patient, which is essential for familiarizing them with your patient profile and individual needs. Familiarity then enhances your care.
References
Doshi, Sangita. "5 Reasons Why Annual Physical Exams Are Important." Virtua Health, 3 Jan. 2022, www.virtua.org/articles/your-annual-physical-and-why-its-important.
"How Important Is an Annual Physical Exam?" Scripps, 29 Nov. 2023, www.scripps.org/news_items/7479-how-important-is-an-annual-physical-exam.
"The Importance of Annual Checkups: Why Regular Visits to Your Doctor Matter." Wooster Community Hospital, 26 Aug. 2024, www.woosterhospital.org/the-importance-of-annual-checkups-why-regular-visits-to-your-doctor-matter/. Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board