Let’s talk about preventive care. “Preventive” means you get the medical care you need before you have a problem—makes sense, right? It’s easier to carefully place a glass on a shelf than it is to clean up broken pieces after it crashes to the floor. Your body is the same way. If you get your health in order ahead of time, you can save yourself a lot of pain and work down the road.
That’s why we have annual physical checkups. It’s important to get one even when you’re feeling healthy. Here are just a few ways your doctor checks to make sure you are as healthy as you feel—and that you stay that way.
- Medical History: Your doctor will talk to you about your lifestyle and any known medical issues. They will ask about your family medical history and any concerns about your health.
- Vital Signs: Your doctor will check your breathing, temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.
- Head and neck exam: Say “ah.” Your doctor will examine your throat, nose and ears as well as your teeth and gums.
- Other exams: Your doctor may check your stomach, reflexes, eyes, or skin. There are also specific tests that the doctor will perform for men and women, depending on their age. These tests are very important to find issues before they are a problem.
Every doctor is a little different. You probably will not be checked for everything at every visit. It’s important to have an ongoing relationship with your doctor. If you do, they will be more able to help you spot problems and prevent or control them.
If you want help scheduling your annual checkup, just give us a call at 1-800-440-1561 (TTY users, dial 7-1-1).