If you were developing heart disease or diabetes, would you want to know about it? Most people would answer yes to that question. In fact, detecting disease early so it can be managed successfully is a key reason why an annual check-up is essential for overall wellness.
Let’s look at some reasons to take advantage of a regular physical examination.
1. The Annual Check-up Reviews Important Measures of Health
That means your PCP will assess your height, weight, vital signs, vision, hearing reflexes, mental acuity, and emotional wellness. Getting baseline information as a younger adult helps the doctor understand what your normal baseline is, and then, as changes may occur over time, the right care plan can be developed accordingly.
Also, the annual check-up is the perfect time for you to raise concerns about various issues. You may notice frequent heartburn you never had before, or your allergies have worsened. Are you struggling with a depressed mood? These concerns need the attention of the healthcare provider who knows you best, i.e., your primary care physician or GP.
2. Your General Practitioner Can Order Health Screenings
These include measures of metabolic function, including blood sugars and cholesterol levels, which are both risks for diabetes and heart disease. As age-appropriate, your doctor will order cancer screenings–mammograms for women, prostate blood tests for men, and colonoscopies for everyone in middle age as prime examples.
3. A GP Can Update Your Care Plan for Chronic Conditions
The annual physical is the time to discuss how well your asthma or thyroid medications are working, how your joint pain from arthritis is progressing, or if you notice signs of prolonged sadness after a personal loss. Your doctor will discuss medication changes you may need, specialty care, or even lifestyle changes that could improve your overall health.
4. Regular Visits Make You Accountable for Your Health Habits
If you have decided to lose weight, begin exercising, stop smoking, or start a family, you should discuss your goals and your progress toward them with your PCP. These check-ups are an opportunity, to be honest about how you are doing and also to learn how you can improve the behaviors that impact your health-related goals.
5. You Can Update Your Personal Information
An annual visit to the primary care doctor is the time to update your health insurance information, change contact information, deliver a health care proxy, settle outstanding financial obligations, and more. Plus, if you have not signed up for a patient portal, you can do this with an office team member after you see your provider.
Your General Practitioner in Bradenton and Sarasota, FL
At Intercoastal Medical Group, we are pleased to offer our patients highly skilled and compassionate care in 10 state-of-the-art offices located in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. We have family care physicians and internal medicine providers on staff to manage your ongoing and preventive care. Plus, they coordinate specialty needs with our many board-certified providers who are part of our medical group.
We encourage you to be proactive about your health needs by booking your annual check-up at Intercoastal Medical Group today. To get started, contact the location nearest you, or request your consultation online. We look forward to seeing you soon.
