By Dr. Nicholas Noble, CommonSpirit Health
As a family medicine physician, I've had the privilege of walking alongside countless patients through every stage of their health journey. And if there's one piece of advice I find myself repeating time and again, it's this: don't underestimate the power of your annual check-up.
We often think of doctor visits as something reserved for when we're feeling unwell, but what if I told you that one preventative appointment a year could be your most valuable tool in maintaining long-term health and catching potential issues before they even start? Here are 7 reasons why making time for your yearly check-up is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.
1. Early Detection and Prevention: Identify potential health problems in their early stages, even before symptoms appear, and when they are most treatable. This includes conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers. Your annual appointment also ensure you are up to date on recommended immunizations and screenings, such as cancer screenings (e.g., mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopies) and cholesterol tests.
2. Assessing Overall Health and Establishing a Baseline: These visits provide a comprehensive evaluation of your current health status. By regularly checking vitals, conducting screenings, and reviewing your medical history, your doctor establishes a "health baseline." This allows them to track changes over time and spot unhealthy trends early.
3. Personalized Health Advice and Planning: Based on your individual health status, lifestyle, and risk factors, your healthcare provider can offer tailored advice on diet, exercise, stress management, and other lifestyle changes to promote better health outcomes. Wellness visits specifically focus on creating or updating a personalized prevention plan.
4. Updating Medical Records: A lot can change in a year, and the annual visit is an opportunity to update your medical records with any new medications, allergies, or changes in your social history (like smoking habits or alcohol intake).
5. Building a Strong Patient-Provider Relationship: Regular visits help foster open communication, trust, and a deeper understanding of your health history and concerns with your doctor. This relationship is vital for effective health management. Your doctor wants to be your friend and advocate.
6. Monitoring Chronic Conditions: For individuals with existing chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes, regular follow-up is essential for monitoring and managing these conditions, adjusting medications, and coordinating care with specialists.
7. Addressing Mental Health: Wellness visits often include discussions about emotional and mental health status, and screenings for conditions like depression and anxiety.
Find a CommonSpirit provider near you, and schedule your annual check-up, by visiting commonspirit.org.
Dr. Nicholas Noble, DO, is a family medicine physician at CommonSpirit Primary Care Kaysville in Utah.
