Many patients only see their doctor if there’s something wrong, such as chronic pain or an injury. While you should indeed see a doctor for those reasons, it’s even more important to have regular checkups in order to maintain good health and to catch things early – before they develop into something more severe.
Reasons to Have Checkups with Your Primary Care Physician
Regular visits to your primary care physician is one of the best investments you can make toward your health. Here’s why:
Early Detection of Health Issues
Most diseases are treatable in their early stages. If you see your primary care physician regularly, they will be able to check for signs that point to a health condition or disease.
Catching problems early on may also translate to lower overall healthcare costs, because you will be able to manage the condition and not allow it to further affect your health. On the other hand, the longer you continue living with an undiagnosed disease, the greater the chance of you requiring more extensive treatment later – or of the condition becoming too severe to treat at all anymore.
Disease Management
Seeing your primary care physician regularly also helps with managing any preexisting conditions you may have. The physician can verify that any medication you are taking is working, or if it needs to be changed – and if so, to what other medication.
Moreover, regular visits to a primary care physician is also a strong motivator for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying on top of your prescriptions, if any. The goal is to help you live a normal, active, productive life despite any underlying health conditions or susceptibilities.
Preventive Care
Patients who have regular checkups can have any developing health condition detected and treated before it becomes a real problem. After all, early detection of a health issue almost always enables a more positive outcome – as opposed to those who don’t see a doctor and may find their condition too late for treatment to be beneficial.
Therefore, your regular checkups are not just about finding something wrong, but also about preventive care. The physician will perform or order a blood analysis, a urinalysis, check your blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, skin condition, etc. The doctor will also ask you if you’ve had your latest mammogram if you’re a woman, or they’ll check your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels and will perform a DRE (digital rectal exam) if you’re a man. Maintaining normal blood glucose levels can prevent the development of diabetes, and healthy cholesterol levels can help to prevent cardiovascular disease and heart disease. All of this falls under maintenance or preventive care.
Your primary care physician will know your own medical history, your family’s health history, and your lifestyle. The physician will also maintain records about any screening results you’ve had (mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) according to known health risks, as well as what’s recommended for your gender and your age group by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Primary Care Physicians in Sarasota and Manatee County
Seeing your primary care physician regularly can help you stay healthy and live a longer life. Our compassionate team of primary care physicians here at Intercoastal Medical Group provide comprehensive medical care to our patients, and we would be honored to have you as our patient.
To schedule a checkup, call our location nearest you or fill out our online appointment request form today. Let us be your partner in a lifetime of health and wellness.
