Patients are encouraged to be proactive

Prevention is always a better option than treatment.

Annual check-ups are key in maintaining health and taking proactive measures to prevent diseases that might be common in your family or age range. The annual visit to your primary care physician can include a battery of tests and screenings, depending on the unique circumstances for each individual patient. Maintaining that communication with one’s doctor, however, is important for staying in control of one’s overall health.

“It is important to visit your family or primary care physician annually for a physical to check your blood pressure, weight, vision and other things depending on your age, gender and level of activity,” Dr. Donna Wyatt, with CHRISTUS Primary Care Associates, said. “[It is important to do] for screenings to detect depression, risk for falling and other problems, and to obtain recommendations for other wellness services and healthy lifestyle changes.”

There’s no secret that having a family history of illness and disease puts you at a higher risk for developing those issues, but regularly visiting with your doctor could mean the world of difference for a prognosis and treatment. For those with particular family histories of diseases, it could be recommended to make the office visit more than once a year.

“Those with family history of medical problems such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes or early heart disease – like heart attack – and certain cancers such breast and colon cancers, may need more frequent or extensive testing than others without family risk factors,” Wyatt said.

There are a variety of factors that can play into how often a patient needs to have a check-up with their doctor, what tests and screenings they will need done and even what the game plan will be following. However, there are also very common and routine procedures and exams that many patients get while at their physician’s office.

“Annual tests vary based on age, risk factors and previous medical history but include tests conducted on physical exams like blood pressure, weight or [body mass index] or vision screen,” Wyatt said. “[There are also] blood tests to check cholesterol and blood sugar, and other tests such as a mammogram, pap smear, prostate check, [which] includes a [prostate-specific antigen] blood test, colonoscopy or DEXA bone density scan.

“There are some general recommendations for tests based on age, but most are specific to a person’s history and risk factors,” Wyatt said. “Cholesterol and blood sugar screenings can start as early as 10 years old based on risk factors like family history, weight and symptoms.”

Other physical exams and tests are recommended with several years in between each procedure depending on the circumstances of the patient.

“A colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years starting at age 50 – if no family or personal risk factors exist,” she said. “Prostate checks may be recommended at age 55 after discussing risks and benefits with your physician and if there are no indications for testing earlier based on family history, race or other risk factors. DEXA bone scans are recommended at age 65 in women without specific risk factors present like prior fracture, early menopause or family history of osteoporosis but may be indicated in men with risk factors present.”

For women, Wyatt said mammograms are usually recommended annually starting at the age of 40, but the starting age and frequency could vary based on family and previous medical history. For pap smears, the starting age is significantly younger with the recommended age beginning at age 21 every three years and then every three to five years after the age of 30 if there is no history of abnormal test results and no other risk factors present.

To prepare for a check-up with a primary care physician, there is certain information to be aware of so that your medical team can have a comprehensive background to provide the best care.

“Patients should be aware of any diseases in their immediate family members including cancer, heart disease – like heart attacks, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure – and also the age at onset of these diseases,” Wyatt said. ”They should have dates of when their previous health tests were performed and the results of those tests. I recommend bringing a copy of these tests with them to their appointment especially if their doctor did not get a copy when the test was performed.”

In addition to a list of medications they are currently taking, including the frequency and dose in which they are taking them, Wyatt said patients should take control of their health and be involved by bringing a list of questions about their health and tests that will be performed. This way, the patient is able to have a full understanding of their health and the ways to maintain it.