Wouldn’t it be great if an apple a day really did keep the doctor away? Sadly, that’s not how it works. If you really want to safeguard your health, it’s important not to avoid seeing your physician, regardless of how healthy you feel you are. Here are six reasons why you need to make regular visits to your doctor.
Building a Doctor-Patient Relationship
Among the most important reasons to make regular doctor visits is to forge a strong doctor-patient relationship. The more familiar you are with your doctor, the easier it will be to talk with them about potentially embarrassing medical concerns. The better they know you, the more capable they will be of better understanding your unique issues and situation. This can lead to better treatment overall for you.
Keeping Tabs on Your Physical Health
Regular visits to your doctor will make it much easier for them to notice any detrimental changes in your physical well-being. “[Visiting regularly] will allow us to quickly diagnose and treat a small problem before it becomes a larger or even more painful condition,” says a General Physician at Clovis, CA Urgent Care. Issues like high blood pressure, increased weight and even changes in your breathing patterns may indicate burgeoning health problems and can crop up between one visit and the next. The more frequently your doctor sees you, the more likely they are to catch these changes and act accordingly.
Keeping Tabs on Your Mental Health
Although general practitioners aren’t psychiatrists, they can and do keep an eye out for mental health issues. Regular visits can help them become more aware of common mental health problems like depression, anxiety and cognitive decline. If they find cause for concern, they can refer you to a qualified specialist.
Gynecological Exams
For women, it’s extremely important to stay on top of pelvic and other gynecological exams. A regular checkup can reveal hidden problems like STDs, vaginal infections and pre-cancerous cervical conditions. Frequent visits are particularly essential if you want to start a family as many conditions can interfere with fertility.
Breathing Easy
If you’ve ever gone online to research health problems, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the seemingly endless things that can go wrong with your body. Indeed, it’s easy to start attributing certain symptoms to having a serious disease when it may not be anything at all. By making regular appointments, your doctor can determine whether you truly have anything to worry about.
Preventative Medicine
One of the key points of visiting your physician regularly is for preventative measures. General medicine places a strong focus on testing, examination and routine vaccinations that can help you avoid a lot of trouble later on in your life.
There are many possible reasons to make regular appointments to see your doctor, but these are the most essential. This way, your doctor can keep a better eye on your overall health, help you avoid problems and catch developing issues early.