Preventative care is a key part of medical treatment, it allows doctors to catch problems early on and give patients advice on preventing issues. Think about a visit to your dentist as an example. Your dental hygienist can prevent cavities with deep cleanings and treat issues before they cause severe levels of pain. This is easier than waiting until your pain is so bad you have to have your tooth removed.
Preventative care can also save money because you won’t need expensive treatments or miss work due to recovery time. One report by the National Institute of Health found that preventative care saves patients $7 billion on an annual basis. What does preventative care involve? Here’s what you need to know about keeping up a preventative care schedule to keep your health in check.
What Is Preventative Care?
Preventative care serves two purposes: it evaluates a patient’s current health and it helps them take steps to prevent disease. If you brushed your teeth today, you took part in preventative care. When you visit a general practitioner for an annual check-up, you are investing in preventative care for your overall health.
Preventative care is often done through regular health appointments and screenings. Doctors can identify any risk factors or warning signs that there might be something wrong with your health. If they can catch problems early on, your doctor can treat these issues before they become severe enough to impact your life.
Cancer screenings are a great example of preventative care. Mammograms (which check for abnormalities in female breasts) prevent 12,000 deaths each year. Regular dermatologist appointments allow doctors to identify signs of skin cancer before it becomes serious. In both cases, the doctors might remove the cancerous cells before they start to spread and affect the patient’s overall health.
Preventative care is particularly important if you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness. Your doctors can track any changes in your illness and identify new symptoms that could be signs of another disease or condition that you don’t want to ignore.
What Types of Appointments Should Adults Get?
The types of exams and screenings that doctors recommend vary by age, gender, and risk factors like family medical history. For example, a doctor will check a tween for scoliosis because this curvature of the spine often develops between the ages of 10-15.
There is good news for patients who aren’t sure if they have the time and ability to keep up with their preventative care; many appointments can be scheduled online through the field of telemedicine. You might only need to make one or two in-person appointments per year to keep up with your health.
Use this checklist to make sure you are following the best practices for preventative care.
Physicals
Annual physicals provide an opportunity for your doctor to check your full body and ask about any problems you are experiencing. Your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs, check your blood pressure, and order a series of tests to benchmark your health.
During this appointment, feel free to bring up any bodily concerns you have. These can range from digestive discomfort to back soreness or allergy symptoms. You can also talk about major life changes (like trying for a pregnancy) and how they affect your health.
Mental Health Checkups
Preventative maintenance doesn’t just relate to physical health, it also has to do with your mental well-being. When you meet with a doctor for mental health issues, they can check in on your health and potential stressors in your life. They might ask about your work, family, friends, and other parts of your life.
These check-ups can help health professionals identify signs of anxiety or depression before they interfere with your life. Some employers might require these checks (known as fitness-for-duty examinations) for particularly stressful jobs that can wear out employees.
Eye Exams
Even if you don’t need new glasses and you have enough contacts, it is still important to get an annual eye exam. Your doctor wants to look for changes in your vision and potential problems with your eyes. Catching problems like glaucoma early on can help you seek treatment before your vision becomes noticeably bad.
Hearing Tests
Hearing tests are important for aging Americans, people who work in loud environments, and other patients who have risk factors for hearing problems. If you work at a loud construction site or at a concert venue, you might sustain hearing damage. Even patients who wear headphones throughout the day to listen to music can benefit from regular hearing tests.
You can receive a hearing test annually from an audiologist or ask your general practitioner if they can conduct the test during your regular check-up.
Dental Checkups
Dental checkups are an important part of preventing gum disease or cavities. Oftentimes, tooth problems form before you notice them. A cavity might grow in your mouth unnoticed until it is so severe it hits a nerve — and then you will feel the pain.
Most dentists offer prevention programs that you can sign up for annually. These include a set of deep cleanings (either twice a year or quarterly) and yearly X-rays to look for potential tooth wear. Your dentist or dental hygienist will also check your gums and your throat to make sure your entire mouth is healthy.
How to Choose a Provider
Many people work with the same doctor every year. The doctor is able to track improvements in the patient’s health and highlight any potential issues that could develop into serious conditions. This means it is worth your time to choose a doctor you can trust. Here are a few things to consider.
- Does the doctor accept your insurance? You can use the Zocdoc Insurance Checker to see before you schedule an appointment.
- Where is the doctor located? You are more likely to schedule annual appointments if you can easily get to the doctor’s office.
- How much do appointments cost? It’s okay to shop around and find a fair price.
- What are the doctor’s qualifications? Where did they go to school and what do they specialize in?
You also might decide to visit multiple providers to decide on the right one for you. Look for a doctor who makes you feel safe and comfortable. Make sure you feel heard and respected. Some people also look for specific demographics in their healthcare providers. For example, a woman might feel more comfortable talking about sensitive issues with a female doctor.
Questions to Ask at Each Appointment
Annual exams aren’t for your doctors — they are for you. This is your opportunity to meet with a trained health professional and answer every question you have about your body. Before each appointment, draft a list of questions and concerns that you want these health professionals to address. No problem is too small.
Here are a few sample questions and requests to get started as you prepare for your annual physical.
- Are there any specific screenings you recommend for someone my age and gender?
- Do you see anything in my health information that concerns you?
- Please explain my test results — including what would be considered a good and bad test range.
- Are the symptoms that I am experiencing normal?
- What can I do to improve my health and prevent potential diseases?
Your doctor should never rush you through your exam. Right down any questions you have and make sure you feel like they are answered fully. You can also bring up any health concerns you have. Even if you have a small mole that is an odd color or a seemingly minor issue with your joints, it is worth mentioning the problem to your doctor.
Addressing health concerns and potentially receiving diagnoses can be scary. However, it is better to catch problems early on so they can be treated easily. Don’t hide from your health. Keep up with your annual preventative care so you can live life at your best.