Doctor’s appointments are too often scheduled before work or after an unexpected bug, but experts say scheduling a few important visits can protect your long-term health.
In fact, it may be more important to see a doctor before you get sick than to see one when you are already sick.
From your annual physical exam to screening for sexually transmitted diseases and an eye exam, here’s a guide to the doctor appointments you should make each year.
When it comes to your health, seeing a doctor before you get sick can be even more important than seeing one when you’re already sick
Physical exam
An annual check-up or physical examination can be performed by a general practitioner or general practitioner.
Dr. Richard Wender of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania told Yahoo Life: “One of the single most important ways to ensure you receive truly good medical care, including preventative care, is to have a trusted source of primary care.”
During an annual exam, your doctor will ask you questions about your lifestyle, diet, exercise habits, and sexual history.
They will then perform a physical examination, which may include listening to your lungs, taking your pulse, and examining your ears, eyes, chest, abdomen, and throat.
Your doctor will also perform routine tests for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, treat any health problems and refer you to a specialist if necessary.
Some annual appointments may include blood tests, a urinalysis, or an echocardiogram to check your heart function.
During this appointment, you can also let your doctor know about any new health problems you may have experienced, discuss your family history, and receive routine vaccinations.
It is also an opportunity to discuss whether preventive screenings, such as a colonoscopy or mammography, are necessary.
Both men and women should undergo a physical examination, and the tests will vary slightly for each patient. Men will likely undergo a prostate exam, a testicular exam, a hernia exam, and a genital exam.
A woman’s annual checkup may include testing and an exam for reproductive and vaginal health, although this is sometimes performed during a separate woman’s checkup.
Although younger people may have a primary care visit once every two years, it’s important to see your doctor every year after you turn 50 or if you have a chronic illness.
Good women’s exam
In addition to a physical exam, some women may receive a specific “well-woman” doctor’s visit with a gynecologist — also called an OB-GYN.
Gynecologists are specially trained physicians who treat and treat conditions related to the female reproductive system, including unexplained vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy.
These doctors examine the vulva, vagina, cervix and uterus. They may counsel patients on contraception, sexual or gynecological dysfunction, fertility, pregnancy and childbirth, and postpartum health.
During visits, some women may undergo a pelvic examination during which the doctor will check the external and internal structure of the female reproductive system.
They can perform tests for sexually transmitted diseases, provide contraception and perform a Pap smear, which screens for cervical cancer.
They also examine the breasts to screen for breast cancer.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women see a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15.
After an initial appointment – and barring any health problems – women should visit a gynecologist at least once a year.
Screening for sexually transmitted infections
While some women undergo an STD test during their annual gynecological exam, others may opt for a separate screening.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all sexually active women be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea – the most common and second most common – STDs in the US.
Other STD screenings include tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C.
Sexually transmitted diseases can be tested through blood draws and vaginal swabs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once.
Pregnant women should be tested for all infections early in their pregnancy.
All sexually active homosexuals, bisexuals and men who have sex with men must be tested at least once a year for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
The USPSTF says there is currently “insufficient” evidence to suggest that men who have sex only with women are screened for infections.
Many STDs have no symptoms, so regular testing is important to detect and treat any infections – which are at a record high in the US – early before they worsen and cause serious health problems.
It is important to get STD screening at least once a year as the number of STD cases in the US has recently reached record highs
Dental check-up
The saying goes, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” To ensure that your pearly white teeth shine, it is important that you do not miss your annual or bi-annual dental appointment.
Although many people visit their dentist after developing a toothache, the American Dental Association recommends that people visit the dentist “regularly.”
This can vary from person to person, but a majority of dentists agree that people should have their teeth checked and professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
Even if you floss and brush the recommended twice a day and have good oral hygiene, experts say you should still visit the dentist. These highly skilled professionals can spot something that your untrained eye might have missed.
Although most people will recognize the pain associated with the need for a root canal, it can happen that a cavity develops without anyone noticing. But if a dentist detects it early, you can avoid major dental work and a high dental bill.
And the work of a dentist goes beyond fillings. They can also check the health of your gums and perform a screening for oral cancer.
Health insurer Delta Dental says: ‘The truth is that many dental problems such as cavities, gum disease and oral cancer do not become apparent or cause pain until they are in a more advanced stage, making treatment and follow-up all the more important. more comprehensive.’
Skin check
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and doctors emphasize the importance of taking special care of it.
A full body skin check is recommended to examine moles, freckles and skin tags.
A dermatologist will examine your entire body, from the scalp to the bottoms of the feet, looking for suspicious growths, including moles and freckles that are raised, large, discolored, or misshapen.
The purpose of the body scan, which only takes 10 to 15 minutes, is to check for melanoma or other forms of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people perform self-checks at home to find and monitor any new spots and blemishes and observe how they change over time.
For any growths, it is important to visit a dermatologist immediately: the sooner skin cancer is detected, the higher the survival rate.
If the doctor notices an abnormal spot, he or she may remove it and perform a biopsy to check for cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that people ages 20 to 40 get a skin check every three years, but says people can start earlier and go more often if they have very fair skin.
After the age of 40, the advice is once a year.
However, some health experts recommend that every adult get a professional checkup once a year. Talking to your doctor can help you create a care plan that’s right for you.
Eye exam
Millions of people visit an ophthalmologist every year because of vision deterioration. They find themselves squinting and end up in an optometrist’s or ophthalmologist’s office trying to read letters across the room, eventually discovering that they need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly .
Although visits to an ophthalmologist are common for people with vision problems, they are not the only ones who need to make an appointment.
Dr. Alice Lorch, a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Mass Eye and Ear, told Yahoo Life, “A comprehensive eye exam is necessary to identify any underlying eye pathologies that a patient may not be aware of.”
There is much more than meets the eye when it comes to eye health.
Optometrists or ophthalmologists can also check for eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration. Some conditions, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.
If you don’t have vision problems or are not at high risk for eye diseases, such as a history of conditions or diabetes, the American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines for ophthalmologist appointments vary.
For people under 40, you should visit a doctor every five to 10 years.
Forty to fifty year olds should make an appointment every two to four years.
People ages 55 to 60 should see an ophthalmologist every one to three years, and people ages 65 and older need an eye exam every one to two years.