An annual health check has long been considered a key measure to staying healthy. Once a year, the doctor performs a head-to-toe checkup to check that everything is okay.
If during the year you have had good health habits, you will receive a certificate of good health and you will be able to breathe easier. If something is wrong, the hope is that the professional will identify the problem in the early stages, before it becomes a serious problem.
However, health checks do not prevent you from contracting a disease, but they do help you live longer or improve your quality of life. But that doesn’t mean you should cancel the annual checkup. It’s about setting the right expectations based on age and medical history.
The importance of getting an annual checkup
Science shows that patients who have an established relationship with their GP seem to have better health outcomes. Studies suggest that the doctor-patient relationship has a small but significant positive effect on health outcomes. This means that patients have greater confidence in their healthcare professional, resulting in healthier behaviors, fewer symptoms, a better quality of life, and greater satisfaction with treatment.
If you’ve established a close relationship with your doctor, when something bad happens, they can be a reliable resource. You will not feel isolated, as many people feel in this situation. In addition, you will avoid postponing going to the doctor for a health problem.
Medical check-ups help us to be more receptive to listening to advice if we already have a comfortable and trustworthy relationship. In the event that a problem occurs that worries us, it will be a great relief to contact a well-known doctor who knows how to relate it to our medical history.
How often do you have to go to the doctor?
It must be made clear that we should always call a doctor if we have a health problem. Performing an annual medical examination should never be interpreted as not going to the doctor if we have discomfort. Whenever we experience symptoms, we must make an appointment with a doctor.
But for people who feel good, there is no right answer. It is difficult to determine how often to attend the doctor, but we can guide ourselves through some general guidelines.
Be between 20, 30, 40 or older and be healthy
There are health professionals who recommend doing a physical exam every three years if you are totally healthy. This is enough to develop a casual relationship with the doctor.
However, once you are over 40, doctors recommend going every one or two years. It is more important to build a closer relationship with the doctor as we age. As we reach our 40s, and particularly once we reach our 60s, the incidence of disease begins to increase.
If there is a pre-existing condition
In the case of having a problem, such as high blood pressure, or if we go every six months to renew the contraceptive pills, doctors are not sure if an additional medical review is necessary. You already have a relationship with the doctor, so it is assumed that he should have examined before sending any treatment.
However, if you are seeing a specialist for a health problem (rather than a GP), we should see a primary care doctor as well. It is important to see someone who looks at the big picture.
There is a related family medical history
Some genetic disorders lead to an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease or cancer. However, there is a debate about whether or not family history influences how often we should go to the doctor.
For example, if you have a family history of breast cancer, you should probably get screened at a young age. Regular mammograms may even be recommended. This type of preventive care is very important, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an annual physical exam.
Why is preventive care important?
Even if you want to skip an annual checkup, you need to stay on top of preventive services. For example, women ages 30 to 65 should have cervical cancer screening every three years, and women ages 50 to 75 should have mammograms every two years (unless there is a personal or family history of cancer breast).
This preventive care is important because certain conditions may not make you feel sick at first, but they can be dangerous in the long run. For example, although high blood pressure doesn’t hurt, it can damage the heart, arteries, kidneys, and brain. High cholesterol is also a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, while high blood sugar increases the risk of diabetes.
What is an annual medical checkup?
In an annual physical examination different tests are included, although everything will depend on the doctor, the center where we perform it, age, sex and health. Each person’s physical is different, so the questions asked, the tests of the physical examination performed and whether or not the doctor requests tests will depend on each one.
However, in medical check-ups, the protocols that we explain below are usually carried out.
Complete a questionnaire and have a chat
Typically, a form will be provided to record information about medical history (vaccinations, medical conditions, hospitalizations, and screenings), as well as current symptoms. We may be asked to list the allergies and medications we are taking, including the dosage and the reason we are taking them. There may also be questions about your family medical history.
The conversation with the doctor will usually be related to some of the same topics as the questionnaire. Your healthcare professional may also offer advice on weight loss, exercise, diet, and tobacco use.
You will undress (in private) and have a physical exam
After the health interview, the doctor may leave the office while you remove your clothes, including underwear, and put on a gown (usually open at the back). In this way, they can observe the whole body. Temperature and blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate will also be analyzed.
Your doctor may inspect your ears for signs of an ear infection or earwax buildup. You can even examine the inside of your mouth for injuries or problems related to your teeth or tonsils. He will also look at your eyes, nose, and sinuses.
The lungs and heart may be listened to with a stethoscope for signs of cardiovascular disease. Doctors want to make sure your breathing is clear and that you don’t have a heart murmur or irregular heartbeat. It will also hit and press the stomach, while listening with a stethoscope. It is the way to check for lumps, pain, or abnormal bowel sounds.
Men may receive a genital and prostate exam. Regardless of gender, your doctor may recommend a colorectal cancer screening test, depending on your age and risk factors.
They will draw blood from you
It is also very common for most adults to have a routine blood test recommended. This measures blood sugar, cholesterol, electrolytes, and blood count.
The doctor will look for red flags that indicate diabetes, high cholesterol, or other health problems. The level of vitamins and minerals in the blood can also be determined, so deficiencies may be detected.
