Time for a Checkup?
April is a great time to check in with your health. Talk to your doctor about maintenance checks, screening tests and vaccinations to be sure you are up to date!
Women: See your doctor for routine “maintenance” checks at midlife and beyond. Good health is increasingly dependent on good collaborations with your doctors. Since you are likely to be making more medical visits, find a primary care physician that you feel comfortable with. Work with your doctor to devise a schedule for screening tests and clinical exams.
Men: See your doctor for routine “maintenance” checks. Men are less likely than women to get routine physical exams and screenings. A survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians found that 55% of men surveyed had not seen their doctor for a physical exam in the previous year, even though 40% of them had at least one chronic condition (high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, or cancer). Nearly one-fifth of men ages 55 and over said they had never undergone screening for colon cancer, and almost 30% said they “wait as long as possible” to seek medical attention when they are feeling sick or in pain.
