The importance of regular check-ups and health screenings

Danielle Giddins, MD

Contributing Author

& Article Expert

Oct. 17, 2023

1 min read

Danielle Giddins, MD has been a member of the TidalHealth family since 2008 and is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical Coll...

Be proactive with your healthcare

No matter your age, it is important to be proactive with your healthcare. There are many potential diseases and conditions that if detected early will lead to better outcomes. This requires you to have a primary care provider to work with you to not only address your concerns, but to also determine the necessary screenings recommended. An annual physical appointment is vital to ensuring you are up to date with any needed testing and vaccinations. This visit focuses on preventive care and provides guidance for you to have as healthy a life as possible.

Screening and early detection is key

For women, breast and cervical cancer screening should be considered based on your age, risk factors, and past medical history. Additional cancers that can be screened for at the appropriate time are prostate cancer in men and colon cancer in everyone. Routine lab work is useful to look for underlying medical conditions such as high cholesterol, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, as well as blood disorders. Many of these conditions can have little to no symptoms early on, which is why testing is helpful for early detection and possible treatment.

Your primary care provider is your health partner

Also, during this visit, vital signs are taken to include your heart and respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, height and weight, along with blood oxygen levels. These numbers provide valuable information to your provider to identify medical problems such as obesity, hypertension, heart and lung conditions. In addition, vaccines are used to reduce your risk of certain infections that can cause serious disability as well as possible death. There are many medical conditions that affect the immune system and can increase your susceptibility to developing severe reactions to these mostly contagious diseases. It is important to work with your provider to determine your risk of these conditions and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

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