With all the stresses of day to day life, getting medical checkups sometimes goes to the bottom of the list. If you feel fine, and you don’t feel the need to go to the doctor, it is very tempting to skip a checkup. Or two. Or three. 

Medical checkups are designed not to scare us, but to inform us of any lifestyle changes we could be implementing that will best serve us at our age. As we become older, and our bodies naturally change, our doctors can recommend ways to improve how we live, or even medications or procedures that can help. 

Here are 3 reasons to get your health checked more often. Let’s get started!

You will catch problems early.

If you do have any health problems looming, a health checkup every six months or so can catch these easily. This doesn’t have to be anything sinister, but even changes in your digestion, muscle strength, skin health or blood pressure can be noticed early and therefore dealt with before they get worse.

In rarer occasions, when a person has cancer, tumors or other serious illnesses, a simple checkup can flag this and therefore give you a much better chance of working through the illness. A regular checkup can literally save your life, so it is essential you don’t put it off, even if you think you’re fine.

You’ll make minor adjustments that have huge benefits.

Getting regular checkups on your weight, blood pressure, and any other general health aspects can greatly improve the way you live. Small changes recommended by your doctor, such as more exercise, a lower-sugar diet, stretching for mobility or getting a hearing aid repair can greatly benefit your health, not just now but also in the future. 

If you regularly visit your doctor for a checkup and follow their advice, it’s guaranteed that you will reap the rewards throughout your life. 

You can prevent serious illness.

Not only can a regular checkup spot the signs of a serious illness in its early stages, but it can also prevent serious illnesses too. By seeing how your health is going on a regular basis, you can make adjustments that prevent diseases such as diabetes, lung disease, arthritis and other preventable illnesses by changing your lifestyle.

If you wait until you are already sick to address these things, you will be selling yourself short. You can prevent illnesses from occurring, therefore greatly improving your quality of life as you get older. 

How to get a checkup

If you are concerned about asking for a regular checkup, it’s important that you have an honest conversation with your doctor. Telling them that you are invested in your health, that you are on their team and want to work with them to create a better life for yourself, will make your doctor realise that you are serious about your health.

Call your local doctor’s office to book your checkup today, and you’ll find yourself taking positive steps towards a healthier, happier life for years to come.