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By Dr. Ronald Charles, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Buckeye Community Health Plan

Understanding our body’s true health can be tricky. There are times when our bodies will tell you something’s wrong, like when you twist your ankle playing basketball and it swells and starts to hurt. But there are other health conditions your body isn’t going to tell you about, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, neither of which causes symptoms.  Those “hidden” conditions are just two reasons why annual checkups are so important to schedule with your doctor.
 
Every adult and child should have certain screenings on a regular basis. Here are the basic recommendations for adults, but be sure to talk to your doctor about when and how often you should have your routine screenings. 

Adult General Checkup

--Blood pressure measurement. At least every two years, to monitor your risk of heart disease.

--Cholesterol test. Regularly starting at age 35, or sooner if you have other health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure that can increase your risk of heart disease.

--Flu shot.  The shot is given usually between November and March.

--Pneumonia Vaccination. This vaccination helps protect against a certain type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia. It is recommended for those 65 years of age and older and also recommended for those younger than age 65 if they have COPD, asthma or are immunocompromised.

--Tetanus/diphtheria (Td). A Td booster shot should be given every 10 years.

--Body mass index (BMI) measurement. Regularly screen for obesity by calculating your BMI, which is a measure of body fat based on height and weight; your doctor can check BMI or you can find calculators online.

Children and adolescents need regular checkups too.  Even if your child is healthy it is important to bring him or her to the doctor for regular well-child checkups.

At a well-child checkup the doctor checks your child’s height, weight and growth since the doctor wants to make sure your son or daughter is developing properly. He or she will also test your child’s vision and hearing and will make sure your child’s heart and lungs are working well. The doctor might also give your children shots they need. 

If you have questions about your child’s eating or sleeping habits, behavior or activity level, just ask. The checkup is the perfect time for your child’s doctor can answer your questions. He or she can also tell you how often your kids should have well-child visits. Well-child visits, or checkups, let the doctor check your child for health problems before they get serious.
It’s never too late to start making positive changes in anyone’s life. And a great way to get started is to visit your doctor for a checkup. For more information, you can visit this federal government website, too: http://www.healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/doctor-visits. 

Use your doctor’s support to continue to kick off a healthy, happy new year.