The older you get, the more time you will spend seeking healthcare–no matter how ‘healthy’ you think you lived. There is one way to reduce your future need for healthcare however, and it isn’t through any of the methods you are currently thinking of.

There is no “secret” to living longer, no magic potion, no special workout routine. The simple fact is that the more preventive care you seek, the more early testing you invest in, the longer you will live. Read on to learn more about the benefits of regular check-ups and preventive healthcare.

The 5 Benefits of Preventive Healthcare

1. Your Doctor Knows You

Unfortunately, as you age, you will likely have far more urgent appointments with your doctor than you did when you were younger. During these urgent appointments, it can be difficult for your doctor to gauge how sick you really are–especially if you’ve only seen them on rare occasions every decade.

Seeing your doctor for regular check-ups allows them to create a baseline of your health. Maybe your temperature always runs a bit higher than normal. Maybe your blood pressure is always low. These are statements a doctor can consider in an emergency, only if you have seen them frequently enough to establish these baselines. 

2. You Catch Serious Conditions Early

Everyone always says those who survive cancer do so because they caught it early. And you can only catch serious conditions early when you visit the doctor frequently for established check-ups. 

Perhaps this is the most famous benefit of regular health appointments, and yet, still people shrug off yearly check-ups and screenings when they are literally gambling with their life. 

3. You Know What To Watch For

Beyond just having your doctor regularly run tests, routine health visits can increase your education on your body and conditions you may face in the future. This can help you to notice changes that may require more frequent appointments or maybe even alert you to when an urgent appointment is necessary.

Although the internet is a free resource, you shouldn’t be googling every symptom. Instead, devote your time to visiting the doctor, building that rapport, and learning about what you need to be on the lookout for.

4. Your Vaccinations Will Be Up to Date

You may not realize it, but many of the vaccines you received during your childhood may be out of date. Not only that, but there are some additional vaccines to consider as you age.

First and foremost, there is the yearly Flu vaccine, which becomes increasingly more important as you age. You should also inquire about the shingles vaccine, even if you didn’t have chicken pox as a kid. Some other vaccines that can save your life include the RSV vaccine as well as the whooping cough vaccine–both of which need to be refreshed in your later years, especially if you spend time with grandkids. 

5. Saving Money

If you aren’t convinced yet, the final benefit of regular check-ups is that you will save money long term. This is because your doctor will likely catch serious issues (which are huge wallet-drains) early, saving you health costs later. Not only that, but chronic conditions can be managed and treated before you find yourself seeking emergency care.

Plus, getting a vaccine now can save you a whole headache of a hospital stay when you reach those later years. 

How Often Should You See a Doctor?

While recommendations vary by country and insurance, generally, you should plan to visit the doctor’s every year on an annual basis after you turn 50. Before the age of 50, we recommend women see the doctor each year (due to potential reproductive issues and osteoporosis) but men can go bi-annually until their 50th birthday.

Remember to use these appointments to ask questions, request vaccines, and complete preventative screenings. A full list of all of the cancer screenings you should be participating in are listed in the section below.

What Preventive Screening Should You Engage In?

While exact recommendations will vary by doctor and your own family history, below are the tests we recommend all individuals receive, as well as the frequency of re-testing.

• Pap-smears for cervical cancer (Females only, annually after the age of 21)
• Blood pressure monitoring (everyone, annually or biannually)
• Cholesterol screening (everyone, biannually)
• Blood glucose tests (everyone, biannually)
• Mammograms for breast cancer (females only, annually after age 40)
• Colonoscopies for colo-rectal cancer (everyone, start age 45, repeat test every 5-10 years)
• Bone density tests for osteoporosis (females after menopause, men after 65, repeat annually)
• Screening of cognitive function: Alzheimer’s or Dementia (everyone, annually after 65)
• Prostate exam for prostate cancer (males only, starting after 50, repeat annually)

While this may sound like a lot, know that most insurances cover all of these exams, and most are done in a regular doctor’s office. Some exams, namely a mammogram, must be carried out with special machinery, though many doctors’ offices are starting to have their own machines due to the increase in cancer rates in recent generations. 

Additional Information About Regular Health Check-Ups

Oftentimes, individuals in their 40s receive several years of glowing check-ups during their annual visit, and as a result, think they no longer need a doctor. This is never the case. Though you may choose to skip a yearly exam once or twice during your 40s, all individuals should be seeing a doctor on a regular, annual basis in their 50s.

These check-ups shouldn’t just be used for testing and vaccines. You should treat them as times to confer with your doctor about your lifestyle, and listen to their recommendations for a healthier one. Below are a few of the topics you can discuss during regular check-ups.

• Your diet
• Your exercise routine
• Your living environment
• Ways you can improve your quality of life
• Travel plans, and health tips for these journeys

Overall, if you find yourself bored at the doctor’s, you are probably doing it wrong. Remember, no matter how old you are, preventive care is for everyone–even those who may currently feel healthy–because you never know when that might change.