If you’re someone in generally good health, it can be easy to cancel the doctor’s appointment you’ve had scheduled for three months because plans with friends came up, your son needs help with a science project, or you just don’t feel like going. If you’re not having any active health problems then it’s natural to put off preventative health appointments. However, just because you’re not having any symptoms, doesn’t mean it’s not just as important, if not more important, to go to that check-up.
Regular health screenings are essential to ensure you’re in good health and address potential issues before they become a bigger problem. If you are already in good health, maintaining appropriate care can help you stay healthy. Neglecting regular care can negatively affect not only yourself but those in your life as well.
There are countless reasons why it’s important to attend preventative health appointments. Below are a few examples of why you should regularly schedule and make it to your screenings.
The Importance of Attending Preventative Health Appointments
Early Detection of Health Issues
Check-ups provide an opportunity to identify any early-stage health problems. While a lot of times you’ll leave an appointment with the validation that you’re in good health, there’s always that chance that something may be detected. If a condition does happen to be detected, attending preventative health screenings allows physicians to find the problem early on when the issue is more treatable. This allows for a greater amount of time to take action and treat the health problem before it advances.
Disease Prevention
By regularly attending health appointments, patients are able to stay up to date on their vaccines so they can maintain immunity against certain diseases. Staying up to date on vaccines also benefits the public health and safety of the population as it contributes to the eradication of these diseases.
Improved Quality of Life
A huge part of preventative care is helping you to engage in healthy lifestyle choices. As part of your regular check-up, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from your doctor about any behavior changes you may need to make based on your overall health. As part of this, you’ll also gain valuable tips on nutrition and exercise that are specifically tailored to you by your doctor.
Cost-Savings
Preventative care appointments are usually covered in one’s health plan. If a health problem does happen to be discovered during a regular screening, treating the disease is often less expensive than the cost of treating a disease that has progressed. Your health plan is more likely to cover the costs of an earlier staged illness compared to one that’s more advanced.
While it may seem like a no-brainer why preventative care is so important, we often put it on the back burner. Life can get busy, but prioritizing your health should be at the top of your to-do list.
There are a number of providers seeking new patients that accept a variety of health plans. Here at Mason Park Medical Clinic, we want to join you on your preventative care journey so you can remain in good health. Check out our preventative care offerings to see how we can help you.
