The main goal of primary care is to form an ongoing relationship with a patient that supports the idea of preventive medicine rather than reactive medicine. This means monitoring your health on a regular basis and not only when you’re experiencing any health issues. Now, here comes the question – regularly means how often exactly?
While there is no established answer or timetable for every patient, there are some guidelines based on your personal circumstances that will determine the frequency of doctor visits.
What Are the Benefits of Visiting Your Primary Care Doctor Regularly?
Many of us still think that we don’t need to see a doctor unless we are sick. Unfortunately, doing that may potentially be harmful to your health in the long run.
Some benefits of visiting your primary care physician regularly include:
- Primary care physicians can detect health issues before they become problematic.
- You can obtain early treatment for any illnesses.
- If you have family history of certain conditions, it’s better if it’s caught early on.
- Since illnesses will be caught early on, you will save money on treatment vs waiting for severe conditions or complications.
- Some existing health conditions require regular monitoring of blood work/imaging.
- Staying on top of vaccinations and screening tests like colonoscopy, pap smear or mammogram is important for lifelong health. You will develop a relationship with your doctor based on trust.
- You will discover ways to improve your lifestyle and, therefore, live longer and healthier.
>How Often to See the Primary Care Provider – Basic Guidelines
As we already mentioned, there isn’t any specified timetable you should follow when it comes to visiting your primary care doctor. However, there are some general guidelines you can use to determine how often you should visit your provider.
Your individual timetable should be based on:
- Your age.
- Your potential risk factors for chronic diseases, such as cancer.
- Your current health status.
Generally, if you’re under 50 years old, it is recommended to see your primary care doctor at least every year for a checkup.
If you’re over the age of 50, you should ideally see your provider twice a year to check on your overall health.
If you have any chronic illnesses, like diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease, you should visit your healthcare provider more often, regardless of your age. The frequency of visits should be established by your doctor. Our providers at Chau Medical can help coordinate your care as well as follow-up visits.
What Can You Expect During a Primary Care Doctor’s Visit?
During a general health examination, your primary care physician will check your height, weight, temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure and compare the results with your former visits. These are what we called the vital signs. The provider will also listen to your heart and lungs to detect any potential irregularities.
Apart from the physical examination, your healthcare provider will also ask you several questions regarding your lifestyle, such as the potential issues with alcohol, drugs, or smoking, as well as discuss any new symptoms you may be experiencing.
The Bottom Line
Being healthy, regardless of age, is the most important aspect that can guarantee a happy and peaceful life. That’s why getting regular health checks should be on top of your to-do list when it comes to a healthy lifestyle routine.
At Chau Medical Group, we put health above all else and strongly advise our patients to do the same. We are now accepting new patients in our Orlando and Winter Springs locations, as well as providing Telemedicine services. Get in touch with us today and schedule an appointment.