It’s important to do everything you can to take care of your health. One of the most important ways you can do that is to visit your primary care doctor for an annual checkup. Annual checkups are the gateway to enjoying a long and healthy life. Consider these important facts about annual checkups:

They are a great way to identify medical issues early when they can be treated easily. Annual checkups are critical to identifying:

• High blood pressure, to help prevent heart damage
• High cholesterol, to help prevent atherosclerosis
• Elevated blood sugar levels, to help prevent diabetes

Annual checkups are also the perfect opportunity to obtain counseling and information on how to stay healthy. Education from your primary care provider can help you prevent:

• Weight gain, so you can avoid obesity
• Exposure to an allergen, so you can avoid allergy symptoms including breathing issues
• Tobacco use, so you can avoid the health risks associated with tobacco and smoking

When you come in for an annual checkup, your primary care provider will:

• Perform a comprehensive physical examination
• Record your vital signs, height, weight, and other information to use as a baseline for future visits
• Order blood tests and lab work to check cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Order imaging studies if necessary, to check for skeletal abnormalities and other issues

Another important part of the annual exam is treatment of identified potential health concerns. Your primary care provider may recommend:

• Medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and other factors
• Vaccinations to protect from flu, pneumonia, shingles, COVID, and more
• Dietary modifications to provide the right amount of nutrients and vitamins
• Exercises to keep you fit, active, and strong
• Stress reduction techniques to relax your mind and body

The annual visit is important to keep you healthy, so you can enjoy good health and live life well. To find out more about the importance of annual checkups and how they can protect your long-term health, call your primary care doctor today.