Routine checkups can catch early signs of problems such as hypertension, or high blood pressure, and prompt care can make the difference between a treatable heart attack and a fatal one. Unfortunately, people tend to delay routine checkups and ignore serious symptoms. According to the CDC, women more likely to seek routine checkups, but up to a third of adults also delay necessary treatment due to financial concerns, according to a recent Gallup poll.
The costs of delaying necessary care can be both physically and financially astronomical. The searing pain of heartburn may not actually be heartburn, and that crushing headache may be more than a migraine. Permanent heart damage or even death can occur when heart attacks go untreated, and aneurysms and strokes can be fatal. The best outcomes are associated with early diagnosis.
Some health problems may not have such noticeable consequences initially but can worsen over time. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to an enlarged heart and death while untreated diabetes can cause significant damage to virtually every body system. Cancerous moles can be overlooked but can metastasize throughout the body. Prompt diagnosis can increase success rates and improve the likelihood of survival. Routine checkups give you the opportunity to take action before a condition or potential problem deteriorates.
Most checkups include a review of your personal and family medical history and your medications. Your doctor may check your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Urine and blood tests may be performed, and booster shots may be recommended. Additional tests may be suggested if you are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer or STIs or have any chronic conditions.
Men will generally be screened for prostate cancer beginning at 50 and checked for an abdominal aorta between 65 and 75. Women’s checkups may include Pap smears and breast exams. Women may need mammograms beginning at 40, and older women may also need to have bone density tests. Both men and woman should have an annual skin check for signs of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S.
Annual checkups are a regular part of our lives as children, but adults tend to skip tests and screenings. While you may feel nervous or uneasy about a doctor’s appointment, it may save your life. Do not let fear and anxiety interfere with your health. Take a deep breath, find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable and make that call to schedule your next appointment. It might just save your life.