Each year people make resolutions for the new year with the hopes of turning over a new leaf. The idea for most is to get in the best physical and mental shape they possibly can. Though improved health is a great goal to want to reach, most do so without having a clear understanding of where their health is presently and what areas they need to work on.
Without this information, people waste a lot of time and money making uninformed decisions on what is best for their health and wellness. That’s why it is recommended that each year (at minimum) that you make appointments with the following medical professionals.
Primary Care Physicians
One of the first medical professionals you should see at the top of the year is your primary care physician. Most people tend to put off going to the doctor until something is wrong. Though they are great for helping you find relief for everything from a runny nose to an infection, that’s not all your primary care physician is there for. Annual checkups or physicals are used to determine the status of patient health.
By measuring your height and weight, recording your blood pressure and blood sugar, testing your breathing, inspecting you for certain cancers, drawing bloodwork, and listening to any symptoms or problems you’ve had throughout the year, they can catch any life-threatening conditions before they get out of hand, and provide you with a baseline from which to set your health and fitness goals on. For instance, if it is determined that you’re overweight, your doctor can advise how much you should lose to reduce your risk of serious conditions. If you’re deficient in certain vitamins or nutrients, your doctor can prescribe you supplements or recommend certain foods to eat.
Eye Doctor
Now here’s a medical professional that most people overlook until something goes wrong – the eye doctor. Vision is something that is often taken for granted but shouldn’t be. You need your vision to function properly throughout the day, and there are so many things that could hinder it. From too much screen time to preexisting health conditions, you could one day wake up unable to see as clearly as you once did.
A simple eye exam in Torrance or wherever you live closest to could prevent a lot of problems in the future. The right eye doctor can get you the medications, prescriptions, or advise lifestyle changes you need to make in order to see clearly every day. If necessary, they can also perform innovative procedures to help reduce or prevent vision impairments from getting worse. That’s why it is important for adults to see the eye doctor at least once every year or two years for an examination.
Dentist
There is this large misconception that as long as you’re brushing and flossing twice a day that you shouldn’t have to worry about seeing a dentist. Then, something goes wrong and the need for emergency oral surgery arises. Your oral health is just as important as your physical health, if you fail to keep up with your teeth and gums, the reality is that it can spill into other parts of your body. Seeing the dentist at least once a year for an x-ray and twice a year for cleanings can help to prevent cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and much more.
Dermatologist
Everyone wants to have flawless, youthful-looking skin, but fail to do the one most important thing to accomplish that – visit a dermatologist. People will spend hundreds of dollars on skincare products and cosmetic procedures without first visiting the skin professionals to get advice on how to treat common and more serious skin conditions.
Your skin is exposed to so much on a daily basis from the ultraviolet rays from the sun to the smog and toxins in the atmosphere that it can be easy to develop breakouts, rashes, fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. An annual visit to the dermatologist, however, can give you insight on the cause of common conditions as well as feasible solutions to improving the look and feel of your skin.
The idea of taking time off from work and/or school to visit the doctor might be a bit frustrating. When you think of the benefits of reaching out to each of the medical professionals described above, however, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. If you’re going to stick to your new health and fitness goals and become a better you this year, start with the experts who have your best interest at heart. Then, you can develop a more concise plan to improve your health.
