A few weeks ago, I had my annual physical. Younger people may not know this, but once you are over 40, you may start to dread doctor’s visits. You suspect the doctor will recommend you lose weight, exercise, and eat healthier. You wonder what your labs would show, especially if you have had abnormal lab results previously. In your twenties and thirties, you hardly visit your doctor. And if you do, you expect everything to be a breeze, and it usually is. But older people may dread doctor’s visits because the older we get, the more likely something becomes abnormal. So, sometimes, we skip our annual physicals for fear of finding out something is wrong.
Why else do we skip our annual physicals?
There are many other reasons we skip our annual physicals. We may feel defensive that we are being judged, especially if we struggle to maintain a healthy weight or have blood pressure or blood sugar that is not well controlled. Some people experience shame at being overweight or guilt about their food choices, and the last thing they want is for the doctor to make them feel even worse.
Also, studies show that lack of insurance, medical care costs, time, and access to health care are reasons people may skip doctor’s visits.
Can a healthy lifestyle reduce the need for annual physicals?
One of the reasons we promote a healthy lifestyle is that we need more maintenance as we get older. Chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc., usually come knocking at our doors in our forties. For example, driving an older car, you may notice some knocking and pinging sounds from the engine. When this happens, car experts recommend filling your car tank with high-quality premium fuel. In addition, if you don’t drive your old car regularly and let it sit for a long time, it will start to deteriorate. The vehicle will develop rust, corrosion, a dead battery, and a fuel pump breakdown.
Similarly, what we put in our bodies is important as we age. Eating healthy keeps us in tip-top shape and enables us to function optimally. And moving our bodies and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle prevents our bodies from deteriorating. If you want to learn more about practicing a healthy lifestyle, check out “Exercise: A Path to Better Health for Women Over Forty.”
Is your annual physical really necessary?
You may not need to see the doctor yearly if you are healthy and have no chronic conditions or symptoms. In fact, only 1 out of 5 U.S. adults get an annual physical. What’s more? Studies show that general health checks are unlikely to be beneficial and do not reduce rates of diseases or death from these diseases. Therefore, some medical bodies no longer recommend annual physicals for healthy people who are not sick.
Why annual physicals may be necessary
Although controversial, many people continue to get their annual physicals. Indeed, if you are healthy with no chronic medical conditions, your annual physical does not have to happen annually. However, even if it happens every few years, your annual physical is a time to discuss a healthy lifestyle and how to prevent diseases with your healthcare provider. Furthermore, your doctor can assess your risks for future medical problems and get familiar with you and your medical history. Finally, your doctor can perform the necessary screening for diseases based on your age.
Why screen for diseases?
Let’s face it; we may eat healthy and exercise all we want but still develop some chronic diseases. That is because genetics also plays a role, as does our environment. Granted, even if you have chronic health conditions, practicing a healthy lifestyle will help you manage them. For example, you may only need a lower dose of medication to lower your blood pressure or control your blood sugar. So, because we cannot always prevent diseases, even with our best efforts, screening is important to catch diseases early and start treatment early to avoid future complications.
Recommended screenings for women over 40
So, what screenings should you get as you get older? At the basic minimum, women 40 years and older should get these screenings regularly:
1) Blood pressure check.
2) Cholesterol check.
3) Diabetes screening.
4) Pap smear for early detection of cancer of the cervix.
5) Mammogram annually from age 45.
6) Colon cancer screening from age 45.
7) Eye exam.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive. You may need some other health screenings depending on your personal risk factors. Also, your doctor may recommend screening for some diseases early if you are especially at risk for these diseases.
Final thoughts
My hemoglobin A1C was slightly elevated at my annual physical a few years ago. My doctor circled this on my lab report and wrote, “Watch the sweets.” So, when it came time to get screened again this year, I feared the worst since my eating pattern did not change between the last blood draw and now. If you’ve ever heard that doctors are the worst patients, it’s probably true. I am one, and I am married to one!
As a matter of fact, in the few days between having my blood drawn and getting back my results, I confess I binged on the foods I might miss should I need to tighten up my diet a little more. Fortunately, my lab tests were fine, and I don’t have to be on a strict diet. However, I absolutely know I have to eat healthy daily as part of a healthy lifestyle, and I am working on it, like most people.
So, to the person who is afraid of seeing their doctor so they don’t get judged, please remember that doctors are patients too, and they experience the same fears, guilt, and shame, just as you! Yes, doctors have the knowledge and are trained to tell you what to do to stay healthy. So, professionally, we inform you of what we know to be true and effective. But more often than not, we have the same struggles.
Therefore, if you have not seen your doctor in a while, I hope you can ditch the self-consciousness, fear, and guilt and schedule your annual physical and screenings. Remember, they can keep you healthy and save your life!
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Yours in health and fitness,
Doctor Abi.
