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Nothing painful for a health workup other than getting your blood taken and that is no big deal.
It is a very smart idea to get a physical at this point. It is also smart to get a primary care doc so if you do have a problem they have your records. Generally you need a primary doctor for getting referrals for specialists as well.
As far as I can see there is no downside to getting a health work up now, and a huge one if you don't.
THIS!
Good advice! And I might add, getting all the bio feedback info while you feel good, will give your healthcare provider a good baseline to refer to when one day something changes or you have new symptoms.
“Annual physical” is a normal reason to go into the doctor. You don’t need to have a complaint. It is just to check to make sure everything is fine. The doctor usually listens to your heart, lungs, checks your blood pressure, and then will order labs like a lipid panel and probably a few other tests since you haven’t had any for a while. You can still have issues like high BP and cholesterol, especially at age 40. Both have somewhat of a genetic component, so if you have a family history of heart disease, it is worth getting checked.
Good idea and especially if one has Good health insurance...otherwise expect a hefty charge.
“Annual physical” is a normal reason to go into the doctor. You don’t need to have a complaint. It is just to check to make sure everything is fine. The doctor usually listens to your heart, lungs, checks your blood pressure, and then will order labs like a lipid panel and probably a few other tests since you haven’t had any for a while. You can still have issues like high BP and cholesterol, especially at age 40. Both have somewhat of a genetic component, so if you have a family history of heart disease, it is worth getting checked.
Thank you for the clarification. I thought you'd only go with a specific complaint. If it's like as you describe it, doesn't sound anything special.
No heart disease in my family as far as I know. Only my dad has rather difficult prostate issues.
if you go the doctor be prepared for a laundry list of testing and the fact that the doctor will 100% find something "wrong" with you.
That's what annual checkups do. They are to bring people into the medical industry for profit. Via more testing, prescription drugs or surgery. And followup after followup after followup visit.
40 can be a turning point, especially for men. A general physical could rule out any major potential problems. If your cholesterol, heart, lungs, and other labwork check out then you can feel pretty good. Otherwise, 40 is soon enough to turn something around.
Good points.
Quote:
Originally Posted by newtovenice
if you go the doctor be prepared for a laundry list of testing and the fact that the doctor will 100% find something "wrong" with you.
That's what annual checkups do. They are to bring people into the medical industry for profit. Via more testing, prescription drugs or surgery. And followup after followup after followup visit.
Be prepared for that.
I disagree.
Sometimes a doctor needs to "list a problem" because some insurance companies will not pay for "wellness checks". I have had that happen a couple of times (for example when I thought that I had a UTI but I didn't).
Or, sometimes a person who hasn't been to a doctor in a while will have a bunch of suspicion things to check out. Heck, the OP hasn't seen a doctor in 20 plus years. The doctor may find nothing, but I wouldn't be surprised if the doctor finds something.
if you go the doctor be prepared for a laundry list of testing and the fact that the doctor will 100% find something "wrong" with you.
That's what annual checkups do. They are to bring people into the medical industry for profit. Via more testing, prescription drugs or surgery. And followup after followup after followup visit.
Be prepared for that.
I concur. Another Patient!!! And listen to many and you'll find you have many health conditions!!!! Not.
A lot of fear mongering around here to put fearful thoughts in one's mind...
Last edited by jaminhealth; 11-17-2019 at 01:27 PM..
Of course you should go in for a physical exam. You have no idea if you have hypertension, because it has no symptoms. You don't know if your thyroid is normal. You don't know if you have a heart murmur or other heart defect. You don't even know if you have diabetes or not. You "think" you're healthy, but you don't actually know.
You're not a kid anymore. Start keeping an eye on your health now before it goes south without you even knowing anything is wrong.
I'm 40 and I think I'm healthy. I go the gym 4/5 times a week, never smoked in my life, have a social drink every now and then. I try to have a good diet - I don't eat fried food, avoid dairy and pork meat and sugary drinks - but I'm not paranoid about it. I don't deny myself junk food once every few weeks.
I got all vaccines when I was young but that was it. I've never been to a doctor in my entire life after that. I've come down with the flu and food poisoning a couple of times but obviously treated those at home.
I was having dinner with friends the other day and someone mentioned something about blood pressure. I was amazed that everyone knew what their normal blood pressure is and a number of other indicators. I was standing there in the middle of the conversation with "???" written all over my face.
Is any of this unusual?
Best bet: avoid doctors. Unless you break something. My husband, he is 70, never goes to doctors as well. He is very healthy. We take our blood pressure at home, his is always great, mine needs improvement. He avoids salt like the plague. Probably why his readings are so low. Just buy a blood pressure monitor to use at home if you want to check yours. Or go to most any drugstore, you can check it for free if they have it there.
All of those "preventative tests" doctors want to do to everyone turns you into a life long patient. You can take care of yourself just fine.
if you go the doctor be prepared for a laundry list of testing and the fact that the doctor will 100% find something "wrong" with you.
That's what annual checkups do. They are to bring people into the medical industry for profit. Via more testing, prescription drugs or surgery. And followup after followup after followup visit.
Be prepared for that.
That has never been my experience with annual checkup visits.
There are "silent killers" that may not show symptoms until they are deadly. Many cancers. Been there done that. Ever hear about supposedly healthy men your age who simply drop dead from massive heart attacks? Something a simple blood test might have prevented? What about detecting a non-symptomatic but deadly mole on your back that you can't see yourself? Wouldn't you rather detect prostate or colon cancer before you need extensive life-altering surgery?
I am NOT suggesting this will happen to someone who just never went to a doctor. I AM suggesting that a general physical exam can tell you a lot about this supposedly healthy body you are walking around in. The exam may and probably will find nothing at all. OTOH, an exam could give you early warning of something you can nip in the bud with some minor tweaks to your lifestyle. Things to pay more attention to over time. Approach this as a source of information.
Even if the exam does find some minor issue nothing is forcing you do do anything about it. That's YOUR decision, not the doctor's. You have a brain. Use it. Despite what some members on this forum love to claim, going to a doctor for a routine checkup doesn't mean you will automatically end up being a victim of the medical profession.
Last edited by Parnassia; 11-17-2019 at 02:24 PM..
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