Good for your heart & your wallet
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin
Even if you are feeling healthy, it is important to visit your health care provider’s office on an annual basis to keep up with your health maintenance. There are many stages of disease that may go unnoticed until they’ve to a point at which treatment may be invasive and expensive to your livelihood and your pocketbook. Discussing your physical, mental, social health and family history can help your health care provider recommend strategies to reduce your risk for different diseases. These recommendations could save suffering and costly health care for you and your family.
There are 4 ways annual physicals can help your heart and your wallet.
#1 Health Maintenance
At the minimum, its recommended that blood pressure is checked at least every year. Hypertension is called “the silent killer” in the medical community. It often has no symptoms but can create problems with the heart, blood vessels and kidneys putting you at risk of heart attack, stroke or kidney failure – all of which can create disability or death and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to manage. If lifestyle habits are not enough to control your blood pressure, most blood pressure medication costs only a few dollars per month.
Depending on your age and health history there may be lab work that can be done to assess diabetes, cholesterol, communicable diseases and address other health concerns.
#2 Preventive Care
We have come a long way in eliminating diseases that used to reduce quality and quantity of life with vaccines. Your primary care provider can discuss which vaccines are appropriate for you based on your risk factors. Many vaccines are not only effective at reducing or eliminating certain illnesses but can prevent some cancers as well! Gardasil (the HPV vaccine) reduces the risk of cervical cancer by 90-100% in vaccinated individuals. Hepatitis B vaccination nearly eliminates your risk of chronic hepatitis B that can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
We know that smoking and drinking more than 2 drinks per day can raise your risk of poor health outcomes. Poor diet and lack of exercise also comes at a big price to your health. A partner in health can help you adjust lifestyle habits to help you feel your best.
#3 Cancer Screenings
Depending on your age, smoking status, and family history, your primary care provider can discuss which cancer screenings are right for you!
Have you been smoking for more than 20 years and over the age of 50? A low dose chest CT would be recommended for lung cancer surveillance.
Are you over the age of 45? There are multiple ways to screen for colon cancer including colonoscopy, Cologuard or other tests.
Are you a woman over the age of 21? Pap smears are recommended at least every 5 years until age 65.
Are you a woman over the age of 40? Your nurse or doctor can discuss when it’s time to start mammograms.
Are you a man over 40 years old? Your nurse or doctor can discuss the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screenings.
Screenings help identify health concerns before they are advanced and complicated which often leads to a less invasive, less costly treatment, less time off work and most importantly, better health outcomes!
#4 Disease Management
It’s hard to predict when we may get sick; in the event of an illness, having an established health care provider helps ensure that you get care in a timely manner with someone who knows you. Your primary care provider can manage most issues and can recommend specialists when appropriate.
We want to be your partner in health to keep you (and your wallet) happy!
