Your annual checkup is calling

It’s the start of a new year. For some people, that means making a list of goals for the year. Others may be picking up a new hobby or stopping old habits.

But there’s one thing that should be on everyone’s New Year’s to-do list — scheduling your annual physical exam.

Why are annual exams important?

Routine wellness exams and screenings are your first line of defense against illness or developing a more serious condition.

From checking that children are growing as they should, to keeping adults up-to-date on age-related screenings, to ensuring older adults are given the tools to continue thriving, an annual physical offers a lot of valuable care and insight throughout your lifetime.

The biggest benefits:

• Catching health concerns early — rather than waiting for increased severity or treatment to become more challenging — with consistent blood panels, blood pressure monitoring and/or regular mammograms.
• Preventing illness from keeping you bedridden by staying on top of yearly vaccinations like flu, COVID-19 boosters, shingles, Tdap and pneumonia.
• Better medication monitoring to ensure your dosage best matches your body’s current needs.
• Having the opportunity to address your emotional health and the role it may be playing in your physical health and overall well-being — whether getting a referral or just talking through concerns with your primary care provider.
• Reducing health care costs over time by staying on top of your health and avoiding expensive emergency room visits.

Yes, even young people should get a checkup

Even if you’re young, active and feeling great, you shouldn’t skip your yearly checkup. Some chronic conditions that were thought to only pop up later in life are on the rise in younger age groups.

How well you take care of your health when you’re young is key to long-term well-being.

If you’re between the ages of 20-40, don’t hesitate to ask your primary care provider about:

• Prediabetes — When blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not quite high enough to warrant a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
• High cholesterol — When the fat produced in the liver, which supports several important body functions, becomes elevated and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attacks or stroke.
• Obesity — A medical condition where excess body fat accumulates and may put you at risk for colorectal cancer, metabolic syndrome, joint problems, Type 2 diabetes and gallbladder disease.
• High blood pressure — When the amount of force your blood exerts on the walls of your arteries is consistently too high, it can lead to kidney damage and cardiovascular risks.

Don’t take the back seat in your health

From getting preventive care like vaccines to coming to your annual physical prepared, it’s up to you to take the lead in your long-term health.

• Come prepared — Write down any questions or concerns you may have, as well as any non-prescription medications or supplements you’ve added to your routine.
• Develop your health literacy — Learn how to locate trusted sources and use the information you find to make informed decisions about your health.
• Stay on schedule — Ask your provider which vaccinations you’re due for and which screenings are right for you, then schedule them in advance so you stay on track.

Know your risk — Look at things like family history and lifestyle with free health risk assessments and discuss your results with your primary care provider.

Mark off that first to-do
Schedule your annual exam