Annual health exams are a tradition among healthcare-having Americans, but whether theyre necessary is up for debate.
So, is this annual tradition really a necessity?
It boils down to three simple questions.
If you have pre-existing conditions or already visit your doctor regularly, continue doing what youre doing.
That means no major prior illnesses, no obvious health ailments, or anything other obvious health visits.
Otherwise, it’s possible for you to ask yourself three questions.
If you answer no to any of these, its time to book your first appointment.
I spoke with primary care physician Dr. Dan Weiswasser to get to the heart of these questions.
Have I Been Seen in My Doctor Office Before?
Regardless of your age, this is a good time to make an appointment for a wellness exam.
This exam provides the baseline for any potential future problems.
Am I Caught Up on My Screenings and Vaccinations?
A big aspect of going to the doctor is preventative screenings.
First upis this app fromtheAgency for Healthcare Research and Qualitybuilt for theU.S.
Preventive Services Task Force(USPSTF).
So if you do go in and your doctor wants to do some additional tests, dont be surprised.
Simply take the quiz and youll see a list of suggestions for what immunizations to ask your doctor about.
This isnt as obvious as you might think.
For example, one question asks about international travel.
If you are up-to-date on all your screenings and vaccinations, you should be good to go.
In a way, this comes back to the wellness exam we discussed earlier.
The tests in a wellness exam help your doctor guide you to a healthier lifestyle.
Perhaps youre healthy, but slightly over (or under) weight.
Or maybe your blood pressure is great right now, but its on the line to potentially get worse.
Dont just schedule a doctors visit because you feel like youre supposed to.
Illustration by Sam Wooley.
