{"id":20467,"date":"2023-05-08T07:51:07","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20467"},"modified":"2023-07-19T11:22:39","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T16:22:39","slug":"yearly-preventative-care-checklist-for-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/yearly-preventative-care-checklist-for-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Yearly Preventative Care Checklist for Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preventative care is a key part of medical treatment, it allows doctors to catch problems early on and give patients advice on preventing issues. Think about a visit to your dentist as an example. Your dental hygienist can prevent cavities with deep cleanings and treat issues before they cause severe levels of pain. This is easier than waiting until your pain is so bad you have to have your tooth removed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Preventative care can also save money because you won\u2019t need expensive treatments or miss work due to recovery time. One report by the National Institute of Health found that <\/span>preventative care saves patients $7 billion<\/span><\/a> on an annual basis. What does preventative care involve? Here\u2019s what you need to know about keeping up a preventative care schedule to keep your health in check.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What Is Preventative Care?<\/h2>\n

Preventative care<\/span><\/a> serves two purposes: it evaluates a patient\u2019s current health and it helps them take steps to prevent disease. If you brushed your teeth today, you took part in preventative care. When you visit a general practitioner for an annual check-up, you are investing in preventative care for your overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preventative care is often done through regular health appointments and screenings. Doctors can identify any risk factors or warning signs that there might be something wrong with your health. If they can catch problems early on, your doctor can treat these issues before they become severe enough to impact your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cancer screenings are a great example of preventative care. Mammograms (which check for abnormalities in female breasts) <\/span>prevent 12,000 deaths each year<\/span><\/a>. Regular dermatologist appointments allow doctors to identify signs of skin cancer before it becomes serious. In both cases, the doctors might remove the cancerous cells before they start to spread and affect the patient\u2019s overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preventative care is particularly important if you have been <\/span>diagnosed with a chronic illness<\/span><\/a>. Your doctors can track any changes in your illness and identify new symptoms that could be signs of another disease or condition that you don\u2019t want to ignore.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Types of Appointments Should Adults Get?<\/h2>\n

The types of exams and screenings that doctors recommend vary by age, gender, and risk factors like family medical history. For example, a doctor will check a tween for scoliosis because this curvature of the spine often <\/span>develops between the ages of 10-15<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is good news for patients who aren\u2019t sure if they have the time and ability to keep up with their preventative care; many appointments can be scheduled online through the field of telemedicine. You might only need to make one or two in-person appointments per year to keep up with your health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Use this checklist to make sure you are following the best practices for preventative care.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Physicals<\/h2>\n

Annual physicals<\/span><\/a> provide an opportunity for your doctor to check your full body and ask about any problems you are experiencing. Your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs, check your blood pressure, and order a series of tests to benchmark your health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During this appointment, feel free to bring up any bodily concerns you have. These can range from digestive discomfort to back soreness or allergy symptoms. You can also talk about major life changes (like trying for a pregnancy) and how they affect your health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mental Health Checkups<\/h2>\n

Preventative maintenance doesn\u2019t just relate to physical health, it also has to do with your mental well-being. When you <\/span>meet with a doctor for mental health issues<\/span><\/a>, they can check in on your health and potential stressors in your life. They might ask about your work, family, friends, and other parts of your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These check-ups can help health professionals identify signs of anxiety or depression before they interfere with your life. Some employers might require these checks (known as <\/span>fitness-for-duty examinations<\/span><\/a>) for particularly stressful jobs that can wear out employees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eye Exams<\/h2>\n

Even if you don\u2019t need new glasses and you have enough contacts, it is still important to get an <\/span>annual eye exam<\/span><\/a>. Your doctor wants to look for changes in your vision and potential problems with your eyes. Catching problems like glaucoma early on can help you seek treatment before your vision becomes noticeably bad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing Tests<\/h2>\n

Hearing tests<\/span><\/a> are important for aging Americans, people who work in loud environments, and other patients who have risk factors for hearing problems. If you work at a loud construction site or at a concert venue, you might sustain hearing damage. Even patients <\/span>who wear headphones throughout the day<\/span><\/a> to listen to music can benefit from regular hearing tests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can receive a hearing test annually from an audiologist or ask your general practitioner if they can conduct the test during your regular check-up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dental Checkups<\/h2>\n

Dental checkups are an important part of preventing gum disease or cavities. Oftentimes, tooth problems form before you notice them. A cavity might grow in your mouth unnoticed until it is so severe it hits a nerve \u2014 and then you will feel the pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most dentists<\/span><\/a> offer prevention programs that you can sign up for annually. These include a set of deep cleanings (either twice a year or quarterly) and yearly X-rays to look for potential tooth wear. Your dentist or dental hygienist will also check your gums and your throat to make sure your entire mouth is healthy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Choose a Provider<\/h2>\n

Many people work with the same doctor every year. The doctor is able to track improvements in the patient\u2019s health and highlight any potential issues that could develop into serious conditions. This means it is worth your time to choose a doctor you can trust. Here are a few things to consider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n