The Cardiologist's Wife

Do You Need An Annual Physical?

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on October 18, 2012 ][ In For new Mom's, Medical and Health Information ]

For decades, doctors have recommended an annual physical as the best way to detect certain diseases earlier enough to cure.  Prevention is touted as the key to better health.  However, Dr. Richard Besser was on GMA this morning to discuss a newly released study which says otherwise.  This global study covers 50 years of data and shows that visiting a doctor every year does not reduce your chances of dying from heart disease and certain other diseases.  So what does this mean?  Should you stop going to see your doctor unless you are very sick?

 

Hardly.  You should get your flu shot every year.  Have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked every two years.  Children should still have regular wellness visits as they are still growing, may need certain vaccinations or need to be evaluated for childhood obesity.  Certainly you should have regular checkups if you already are diagnosed with diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease among others as your doctor needs to evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment.  You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you notice something new like a lump in your breast or get sick.  You should still visit your dentist at least once a year.

 

Women over 40 should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years, depending on family history and their risk assessment.  Women over 21 should still get a pap test at least every 2 years to look for cervical cancers.  If you have a daughter between the age of 9 and 26, they should get the Gardasil shot which helps prevent cervical cancers and genital warts.  Gardasil is given in a series of three shots over several months.

 

Dr. Besser recommended that instead of a barrage of tests that you should spend more time discussing your smoking habits, level of stress, sleep problems and exercise with your doctor.  As I have said over and over, your health is largely in your own hands.  We all know by now that smoking causes a host of problems and that exercise helps you feel better and live longer.  You surely know by now that obesity also wrecks your health and that you need to eat more fruits, vegetables and lean protein.

 

I am interested to know how many of my readers actually have an annual physical of some sort.  Please leave a brief description of how often and who you regularly see whether it is your dentist, family doctor or a specialist in the comment box below.  I see my dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups.  I see my gynecologist every year but I only visit other doctors if necessary.  I get a flu shot at the pharmacy.  I also visit my eye doctor once a year as I have had visual changes over the years and required different prescriptions.  My children regularly see the dentist as well and the eye doctor as they both wear contacts.  I have not taken them for regular checkups since they were toddlers and they are blessed with good health.  My husband and children get the flu shot every year but my husband doesn’t get a physical every year either.  He does occasionally check his blood pressure and cholesterol and he did get a colonoscopy at 50.

 

Upadated on October 18, 2012