In addition to brushing twice a day, eating kale chips, or squeezing in those daily workouts, yearly visits to a doctor should be part of any health plan.
1. General Health Maintenance
Although not fun or sexy, keeping up to date with recommended vaccinations and screenings is a fundamental part of good health. Many people faithfully go to the dentist every six months for a cleaning and exam, and the doctor should be considered in the same light. Regular medical checkups are akin to changing the oil in a car, rotating the tires, or getting a 50,000-mile tune-up.
Regular medical checkups are akin to changing the oil in a car, rotating the tires, or getting a 50,000-mile tune-up.
Vaccinations not only prevent some serious diseases, such as polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and even cervical cancer, but also provide “herd immunity” to those who cannot get vaccinated or who have weakened immune systems. Screenings can lead to early identification and treatment of underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer. Early detection is important because it not only improves the overall prognosis of the disease, but also provides the best opportunity for a cure.
2. Knowing Your Numbers
Do you know what your blood pressure or cholesterol are? More than one-fifth of Americans have never had their cholesterol checked. Given that 71 million (or 33.5 percent) of American adults have elevated “bad” cholesterol, and that having high total cholesterol approximately doubles the risk of heart disease, it’s important to get a jump on these numbers. Meanwhile, 1 in every 3 American adults (or 31 percent) has high blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked provides a baseline to compare to over time, so it’s valuable to obtain these numbers while you’re still considered young and healthy. If nothing else, you can print out the numbers and use them as motivation to be healthier and beat them next year.
3. Creating Your Medical Record
Annual visits to the doctor are a chance to update your personal medical record. Most hospitals and clinics utilize an electronic medical record (EMR) to store health information. These records are important because they are readily available to affiliated hospitals in the event of an emergency (unaffiliated institutions will still have to request records).
No one plans for a car accident, loss of consciousness, or an emergency room visit. However, should these issues occur, previously documented health information is accessible to Emergency Department physicians. This can reduce unnecessary testing and prevent allergic reactions, and generally help to ensure that you receive the best level of care possible.
4. Establishing a Trusting Doctor-Patient Relationship
One of the most sacred parts of medicine is the doctor-patient relationship. This relationship is not built overnight, but requires multiple interactions to allow the doctor to really understand the patient. This is particularly important because it can affect the treatment that is prescribed.
It is not until a physician understands a patient’s history and values that he or she can help to the best of their abilities.
For example, if a physician knows that a given patient does not desire to have surgery, then he or she can work to find effective alternative therapies. Similarly, if a patient despises medications, physicians can seek out additional options. It is not until a physician understands a patient’s history and values that he or she can help to the best of their abilities. Another major benefit of being an established patient is that most practices have 24/7 call lines; so when it’s Sunday night with no one around and nothing open, patients still have access to a knowledgeable physician whom they can call for help.
5. (Virtually) Free Prevention!
Even the most basic insurance typically covers the cost of an annual preventive care visit, including necessary lab tests. There may be small co-pay at the time of the visit, but this is usually no more than $25. For roughly the same price as a round of shots at the bar, a physician will meet one-on-one to discuss your personal health needs and concerns. Talk about bang for your buck!
For roughly the same price as a round of shots at the bar, a physician will meet one-on-one to discuss your personal health needs.
Even if you don’t have health insurance, there are countless community clinics, facilities, and even hospitals across the country that provide reduced cost or free health care, depending on income status, to those without insurance.
The Takeaway
Feeling indestructible can lead young adults to overlook important components of health and wellness. Taking the time up-front to build a health portfolio with a physician acts as a safety net and helps to ensure that patients are able to accrue the benefits of wellness across a lifetime.
