Every person, regardless of age or health, should be getting an annual wellness exam from their primary care physician every year. Annual wellness exams are an important aspect of being proactive about your health and wellbeing. A lot of people only visit their primary care physicians when they get sick. This is wrong! You should be getting annual wellness exams – regardless of whether you are sick or not.
There are many benefits of getting annual wellness exams. Here are some examples:
Disease Prevention
Your annual wellness exam focuses on disease prevention. It will begin with your doctor checking some basic things such your height, weight, temperature, and blood pressure.
During the exam, you will have a lengthy discussion with your doctor regarding your health history, history of injuries, behavioral issues, and symptoms you may be experiencing. Your doctor may also ask you about your family health history to aid in creating of an effective wellness plan.
With all things considered, the doctor will come up with a personalized disease prevention plan specifically for you. This will include any lifestyle changes you may need, any tests or exams you should get done (for any symptoms you are experiencing), and referrals to specialists, if necessary.
Medication and Supplements Management
During an annual wellness visit, your doctor will review all the medications and supplements you take. This is a critical step in managing your long-term health and wellbeing. Sometimes, medications can interact with each other. Your doctor will review everything you’re prescribed to ensure you are taking the right medications for your health issues and to determine if any of them need to be adjusted or changed. The goal is to have you take the right medications. Annual wellness exams help your doctor assess whether you are on the right medication plan.
Get Recommended Screenings and Vaccinations
Vaccinations are not just for children. Annual wellness exams are a great opportunity for your doctor to recommend vaccinations that are appropriate for your age. This can help keep you safe from a variety of illnesses. Annual wellness exams are also a good opportunity for your doctor to assess whether you need disease screenings. This can help you get early diagnoses for dangerous diseases, such as breast or colon cancer.
Chronic Disease Management
Patients with chronic diseases can benefit from annual wellness exams because they are an opportunity for your doctor to evaluate your health and wellbeing as well as recommend measures you can take to manage the condition. For example, if you are on blood pressure medicine but your blood pressure is still high, your doctor may adjust your dosage. Chronic disease management requires frequent check-ins with your doctor – and annual wellness exams give you the opportunity to do so.
Annual Wellness Exams in Irmo, South Carolina
At SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation, our experts routinely perform annual wellness exams for patients of all ages. It’s always better to prevent a disease than it is to treat it. Annual wellness exams make you proactive about your health. Come see our experts and get one today.
To schedule your appointment, call (803) 749-1111. You can also send an appointment request. We look forward to serving you.
