If there’s one piece of medical advice I would give to anyone, it would be to visit your doctor regularly.
Far too many people avoid prioritizing medical consultations until it’s too late.
Whether it’s consulting your doctor for a serious problem or a routine health check, I’d highly encourage you to take the first step and schedule a doctor’s visit as soon as possible.
You don’t need to have a medical problem or disability to visit your doctor. There are many effective and beneficial preventive services that can improve your health.
The Benefits Of Medical Consultations
Prevention is better than cure.
Medical consultations are a cost-effective prevention strategy that reduces your risk for chronic illnesses and diseases.
It is akin to taking charge and maintaining your home, vehicle, or even desktop as a routine best practice.
Regular medical consultations and exams can help with routine health maintenance and spot any medical issues before they progress to an advanced stage.
Why People Avoid Medical Consultations And What To Do About It
Unless it’s a serious medical problem, most people hesitate to visit their doctor.
There’s a deep-rooted bias and hesitation towards preventive medical checkups and exams. It could probably stem from an elderly and healthy relative who boasts of never visiting the clinic or hospital and on no medication.
While some of them do go on to live long lives, for some, there is a stronger possibility of the lack of awareness of their health problems. Hence, they may not be taking necessary medications or receiving critical medical care.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 3 adult Americans who have hypertension are unaware of this condition. Reducing your blood pressure can lower your risk of several chronic conditions such as a heart stroke.
This lack of knowledge could extend to several other illnesses as well.
The most common reasons I hear for avoiding visiting the doctor are anxiety and being too busy.
If you are still uncertain, consider the ideas shared below to address your concerns head on..
Writing down your apprehensions about medical consultations can help you feel less stressed about it.
Research, read reviews, and ask trusted sources for good doctors near you.
If need be, you can ask a trusted family member, friend, or acquaintance to accompany you for your doctor visit so that you feel less stressed.
If time is a constraint, then review your schedule and plan for a routine annual exam to take around an hour or so. Set aside an hour each year for preventive medical consultative services.
The exams and the types of screenings will vary per your age group. It’s advisable to check with your primary care doctor about the additional health screenings you may require.
Being proactive is a necessary quality for staying on top of your health, whether it’s writing down your anxieties or scheduling time for your medical consultations.
Be open and transparent about all your health and lifestyle problems with your doctor. If you’ve noticed any abnormal symptoms, visit your doctor immediately.
How To Ensure A Smooth And Positive Medical Consultation
Schedule your appointment in advance and arrive early at the clinic.
Make a list of questions so you can ask your doctor at the time of consultation.
Take all your medical records, documents, reports, and prescriptions along to make the most of your consultation time.
Make sure to get a clarification and a second opinion on any medication or surgical treatment if needed.
You can get a checkup and evaluation of your weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, sugars, vision and hearing, immunizations, and other vital reports.
Women need special consultation and care during their first menstruation, marriage, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause. For example, the standard recommendations are a “pap smear” test every three years from ages 21-65 years or every five years from 30 years and above when paired with Human papillomavirus or HPV test.
Don’t Wait For Your Medical Consultation
Most people ignore medical appointments. But it is recommended to visit your doctor at least once a year as a preventive health measure, even if you don’t have a serious illness.
If you visit your doctor only when you are sick, you could potentially put your health at risk. Routine exams and screenings can help identify underlying medical problems before they become serious.
The best step you can take for your health is to find a trusted primary care doctor and schedule routine consultations for your optimal health.
Seriously, what are you waiting for?
Book an appointment with Los Gatos Doc for your medical consultation today.
Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article may be drawn up from multiple public health sources, including:
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Medline Plus
- National Institutes of Health
- American Medical Association
- American Association of Family Physicians
- Mayo Clinic
- Family Doctor