Think You're Healthy? 5 Reasons You Should See Your Doctor Anyway

Young adults are viewed so often as pictures of health and wellness in our society that insurance companies have coined the term “young invincible s” to describe them. To an extent, the name is accurate: Young adults (as a collective) experience fewer chronic medical conditions than older adults, and approximately 30 percent of young adults have not seen a doctor in the past 12 months.It's never too early to take control of your health by making regular visits to the doctor a habit.

 Reasons Why You Need to See Your Doctor

1. General Health Maintenance

Although not fun or sexy, keeping up to date with recommended vaccinations and screenings is a fundamental part of good health. Many people faithfully go to the dentist every six months for a cleaning and exam, and the doctor should be considered in the same light. Regular medical checkups are akin to changing the oil in a car, rotating the tires, or getting a 50,000-mile tune-up.

Vaccinations not only prevent some serious diseases, such as polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and even cervical cancer, but also provide “herd immunity” to those who cannot get vaccinated or who have weakened immune systems. Screenings can lead to early identification and treatment of underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer. Early detection is important because it not only improves the overall prognosis of the disease, but also provides the best opportunity for a cure.

2. Knowing Your Numbers

Do you know what your blood pressure or cholesterol are? many people have never had their cholesterol checked. Adults have elevated “bad” cholesterol, and that having high total cholesterol approximately doubles the risk of heart disease, it's important to get a jump on these numbers. Meanwhile, people  has high blood pressure, which is a known risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.

Getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked provides a baseline to compare to over time, so it's valuable to obtain these numbers while you're still considered young and healthy. If nothing else, you can print out the numbers and use them as motivation to be healthier and beat them next year.

3. Creating Your Medical Record

Annual visits to the doctor are a chance to update your personal medical record. Most hospitals and clinics utilize an electronic medical record (EMR) to store health information. These records are important because they are readily available to affiliated hospitals in the event of an emergency (unaffiliated institutions will still have to request records).

No one plans for a car accident, loss of consciousness, or an emergency room visit. However, should these issues occur, previously documented health information is accessible to Emergency Department physicians. This can reduce unnecessary testing and prevent allergic reactions, and generally help to ensure that you receive the best level of care possible.

4. Establishing a Trusting Doctor-Patient Relationship

One of the most sacred parts of medicine is the doctor-patient relationship. This relationship is not built overnight, but requires multiple interactions to allow the doctor to really understand the patient. This is particularly important because it can affect the treatment that is prescribed.
 It is not until a physician understands a patient’s history and values that he or she can help to the best of their abilities.

5. (Virtually) Free Prevention!

Even the most basic insurance typically covers the cost of an annual preventive care visit, including necessary lab tests. A physician will meet one-on-one to discuss your personal health needs.
Even if you don't have health insurance, there are countless community clinics, facilities, and even hospitals across the country that provide reduced cost or free health care, depending on income status, to those without insurance.
 Feeling indestructible can lead young adults to overlook important components of health and wellness. Taking the time up-front to build a health portfolio with a physician acts as a safety net and helps to ensure that patients are able to accrue the benefits of wellness across a lifetime.




Source: //greatist.com/health