In order to achieve our goals, we need to have a healthy body to keep us going. Unfortunately, we often get too caught up in our responsibilities that we forget, or neglect, taking care of our health properly.
But taking care of our health doesn’t have to consume a lot of time. We can take up a couple of hours every now and then to get periodical checkups, which will save us so much more time and money down the road.
If you feel like you don’t even have a couple of hours, then this is when we tell you that even the busiest of businessmen can find a way to manage their time. In this technological age, you’ll find an alternative solution to everything you’re looking for. Businessmen are now able to place their businesses in the hands of virtual assistants who can help take care of mundane tasks, these trusted experts are able to take your calls, answer any queries from customers and they can even screen calls that are non-essential to your business. With this, you can rest assured that all work related calls will be attended to while you focus on getting your medical check up.
To maximize your time efficiency, it’s important to know exactly how often you would need a medical checkup. This depends on many factors, and here’s a quick brief:
1. Your Age
Depending on your age, the need for a medical checkup will vary. The frequency of your visits depends on your age groups, which can be broken down into the following:
- 19 to 21: This age group is generally very healthy and they should go for a checkup every 2 to 3 years
- 22 - 30: While still generally healthy, their checkups should be every 1 to 3 years
- 30 - 50: As individuals age, their bodies go through a lot of changes. It’s generally a good idea to go for a checkup once a year in this age group.
- 50+: This age usually requires more medical attention. For starters, they should keep up with their annual appointments, and go for extra visits when deemed necessary
2. Medical Checkup by Physician Specialties
While sticking to your age group can give a general outline for the frequency of your medical checkups, sometimes you need to perform regular visits to address different medical concerns.
Here’s a breakdown of the frequency of your visits based on specialty:
A. Primary Care Physician
It’s recommended to pay annual visits to your primary care physician by healthcare professionals. This visit includes a full body checkup to detect any early disease symptoms that could be prevented as early as possible.
B. Gynecologist
It’s also a good idea for women to keep annual checkups with their Gynecologists to follow up on their STI tests and cancer screenings. This visit will be helpful if they have any inquiries about their sexual health as well.
C. Dermatologist
You can start by going to your dermatologist once a year, but it might not always be necessary. While you might not feel the need to do so, screening for skin cancer and getting expert advice will help you make more informed lifestyle decisions.
D. Ophthalmologist
Individuals ranging from 18 to 65 in age can benefit from an eye exam once every two years, or as often as they need. Beyond this age, their visits may need to be annually.
E. Dentist
Most individuals will only need one or two visits to their dentist per year.
F. Psychiatrist
A mental health checkup with a psychiatrist will vary depending on the case. Generally speaking, if you’re not feeling well on a psychological level, you should get a psych consult and follow your doctor’s orders.
3. Other Factors
Other factors that can affect the need for a medical checkup are the following:
A. Feeling Sick
There’s no need to mention this, but you should have a medical checkup right away if you’re not feeling well.
B. Experiencing Any Changes
If you’re feeling changes in any area of your body, your mental function, or your physical performance, then you should get a checkup right away.
C. Traveling
It’s always necessary to go for a checkup before and after traveling to foreign countries. Your doctor might prescribe essential vaccinations, depending on your destination.
D. Major Lifestyle Changes
Major lifestyle changes require medical checkups as well. These changes can come as a result of starting an extreme diet or exercise routine, going through severe emotional distress, or undergoing severe physical stress.
Instead of waiting for the worst to happen, getting a medical checkup can save your life. You’ll be able to detect early signs of any conditions and diseases and taking the right measures to prevent their progression. The frequency of your visits depends on your age and the specialty of the physician you need to seek, but it can also be affected by other urgent factors.
