Why You Should Consider Seeing Your Doctor Regularly
If you’re an up-and-coming professional, regular visits to the doctor are in the far back of your mind. You’re focused on earning money, learning, staying physically active, having fun, and living life in general. Well, we can’t blame you. You’re only strong, healthy, and free once.
But that doesn’t mean you should skimp on visiting your doctor regularly. If your schedule is too packed to drive to the doctor’s office, you can opt for teletherapy. Consulting your doctor over video conference is an option if you can’t make it to their office physically due to personal circumstances.
How often should you see your doctor?
Check-ups are essential to staying informed about your own health and the risks you’re in for. Another thing is the fact that prevention is always better than cure. If, by any chance, you’re suffering from the early stages of a disease, and you see your doctor regularly, you can be diagnosed early and receive effective treatment right away.
If you see your doctor only when you’re twisting in pain or find a big lump in any part of your body, chances are it can be too late. Most diseases don’t show symptoms you can detect without the help of medical professionals early on.
The general recommendation for doctor visits is once every three years if you’re in good health below 50 and once annually when you turn 50.
For special cases such as individuals suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), they should visit their doctor more often, regardless of age.
Depending on your health, your doctor will tell you how often you should come in for check-ups and treatment.
What should you expect?
During your yearly check-up, your doctor will review and look back at your medical history, evaluate the current state of your health, and administer appropriate and necessary tests.
For both women and men, here are the typical aspects reviewed by doctors:
- Medical history
- Family history
- List of medication and allergies
- Vaccination and tests history
You should expect to be screened for:
- Lung cancer for adults aged 55 to 80 who are smokers or have smoked within the last 15 years.
- Blood pressure anomalies
- Colorectal cancer beginning at age 50.
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes for anyone with a family history or are at risk.
- Use of tobacco
- Hepatitis C for patients born between 1945 to 1965.
- Misuse of alcohol and drugs
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for patients aged 15 to 65 or ones at high risk.
- Depression
If you’re a woman, you should expect additional tests for:
- Osteoporosis at age 65
- Violence from intimate partners for those who are of age to bear a child
- High cholesterol test at when you turn 45
- A mammogram for breast cancer detection between when you turn 50 until you’re 74
- A pap smear test for cervical cancer screening when you turn 21 and until you’re 65
Here are additional parts of the screening tests men should expect:
- High cholesterol screening at age 45
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm test from 65 until 75 with a history of smoking
- A prostate exam when you turn 50, based on your discussion with your physician
What are the benefits of regular check-ups?
A lot of benefits come with annual doctor visits. Early detection, health advice, and good relations with physicians are a few of them.
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Physician Relations
Establishing a relationship with your physician will help them know the important aspects of your medical history, making it easier for them and other doctors to address your medical concerns and provide medical advice.
It also takes a lot to find the right physician. If you find the right one, make sure you try to establish a good relationship that will benefit your health.
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Figuring Out Risks
If you don’t visit your doctor, chances are you’d never know what you should be careful of when it comes to going about your health. Annual check-ups, family, and medical history will allow your physician to assess if you’re at risk for anything. They won’t be able to do that if they don’t have the information they need.
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You Might Want to Have a Child
This benefits not only women but also their partners. If they’re planning to have a baby in the future, they should be aware of their health conditions before taking action. Some women aren’t healthy enough or have the body to bear a child, and not all men can impregnate a woman.
Staying informed about reproductive health will keep you aware of your ability to bear a child and know how to best manage your chances.
With this knowledge in mind, you can see the significance of having regular health checkups and visits. You can focus on and maintain your health if you keep them up.