The seemingly endless questions, and all of the poking and prodding that comes with having to endure a physical checkup is no fun at all. We make excuses for putting it off, claiming we don’t have time, and we wonder why we should even go at all if there’s nothing wrong. But there are some good reasons why you should visit your doctor.
Unfortunately, there are many dangerous conditions for which there are no overt symptoms, but that doesn’t make them any less perilous to our health.
A complete physical examination takes about two hours and, considering all of the benefits associated with regular checkups, it’s definitely worth the time. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should see your doctor regularly.
1. Stay Ahead of the Game
One of the primary reasons to see your doctor regularly is because the focus of general medicine is on prevention. Just because we can’t feel something happening doesn’t mean we aren’t at risk. For example, when we have regular tests done to check our weight, as well as our cholesterol and blood pressure levels, our doctors will be able to identify the silent conditions and developing patterns that can have a detrimental impact on our health. The earlier those conditions are caught, the better chance they can be treated and reversed without any long term damage.
2. It’s Good for Your Heart
Regular checkups will help keep your heart strong. High blood pressure (HBP) is called the silent killer, because it often has no warning signs. However, HBP is a leading cause of strokes, kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and heart attacks. HBP is a primary or contributing cause in about 1,000 deaths every day [1] in the U.S. It’s also quite prevalent, affecting about 1 in 3 adults in the United States [2], according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Regular checkups can help prevent the onset of deadly conditions and diseases associated with HBP.