Giving t hemselves a "birthday" present by going to the doctor for a physical medical exam is a yearly tradition followed by many Americans. But with household budgets being strained by unemployment or underemployment, spending money on such an exam is an expense that many are choosing to forego especially if there is no insurance plan to cover the cost.
Is this a good idea? Most health professionals will respond with a resounding "no".
Their fear is that, tragically, in the long run, this could lead to higher medical health costs for many patients. While we all dread getting bad news, there are obvious advantages to catching illnesses at their onset when they are less complicated to treat than waiting until they have infested themselves into something more serious. The results could lead to prolonged treatment, an inability to work and early death. It could also wipe out the money you've saved by not going to the doctor.
Even if you are feeling fine, it is important to see a health care professional to check for potential problems especially as we age. The concern is that many conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels do not present symptoms until the disease is advanced. High blood pressure is referred to as the silent killer as in can lead to heart disease and strokes yet all it takes to diagnose is a blood pressure reading.
While many people chose to visit their doctors when they are unwell and need immediate treatment, some of the reasons for having yearly physical exams are to:
- screen for diseases
- assess for risks of future medical problems
- continue to monitor pre-existing conditions
- encourage a healthy lifestyle
- update vaccinations
There is also the simple fact that it is better to maintain a relationship with a regular doctor who has a history of your health and test results and not be searching for a doctor who knows nothing about you if a serious illness should strike.
No one looks forward to it, but it is better to be poked, prodded and jabbed once a year than face the delay in treatment of a serious illness. If the results of skipping these important exams are sicker people and higher debts from medical expenses, this could prove to be a giant step backwards, both medically and economically.
With fears of an H1N1 pandemic, those in poorest health are at the greatest risk of getting more negative outcomes.
