Doctor Recommends No Annual Checkup

Annual checkups are not necessary even though we are told by our doctors to get annual checkups every year to maintain good health. However, this is deceiving. In a recent report by Archives of Internal Medicine, it is unnecessary to have an annual checkup for those with no symptoms. Prevention is the key to eliminating health problems, and unless a patient is experiencing difficulties, the annual checkups should be bypassed.

Almost 8 billion dollars was spent last year on annual checkups. Visiting a doctor yearly, brings a feeling of well-being to patients, but according to The American College of Physicians and other medical groups, every one to five years an annual checkup is recommended, depending on the medical profile, age, sex, and other factors.

The traditional annual checkup usually consists of a comprehensive exam, with a string of tests that is not necessary for those without symptoms. These tests add to the rising cost of health care, adding to the realism that insurance carriers becoming less willing, if not all together, to cover the costs.

Cut the Cost of your Medical Bills: According to Dr. Kathleen Miller, a family physician in Decatur Illinois, "Frankly, there are people who feel that I wasn't doing my job if I didn't put my hands on them." The next time you visit your doctor for an annual checkup, ask if the comprehensive tests necessary if you aren't having symptoms.

Preventive Care: Dr. Carol Wilhoit who works with of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, "The issue is [doing] the types of preventive care that makes a difference." Instead, doctors need to decide which patients need to come in regularly and which ones can rely on preventive medicine. There are interventions that help such as smoking cessation, eating healthier, and exercising. These things prevent a lot of potential health problems.

Talk openly with your doctor: Develop a strong, open relationship with your doctor, so he may be able to give his full attention to you. Sometimes things may be embarrassing to talk about with your doctor, or there are habits that you are afraid to share that have an effect on your overall health. Speak to your doctor on a personal level, and open up to him. His undivided attention will show you that he doesn't necessary need to do comprehensive tests if he can communicate with you.

With this recent study, many doctors, who have been in the profession many years, find it difficult to stop recommending annual checkups. However, they are now coming to accept and recommend annual exams to patients 50 or older. Many patients ask for certain exams or tests that family or friends heard about. Doctors go by guidelines, and if you are 40 years old asking for a bone-density test, doctors should tell you that this test isn't necessary until your 60. Unnecessary tests lead to high out of pocket costs because many insurance carriers go by the same guidelines.

An annual checkup may be necessary for school age children or the elderly, but unless you are experiencing symptoms, then a trip to the doctor for annual checkups, will only lead to a host of exams and tests that are pointless.