5 Types of Medical Appointments You Need for Optimal Health
Your health is your biggest asset. This means you must look after yourself better for a healthy and fulfilling life. However, many factors go into ensuring optimal health. While eating a well-balanced diet, working out, and having a fixed routine are important, so is ensuring you go for types of regular medical checkups or appointments. On the surface, you may look like you’re doing well, but internally, you may be dealing with complications you don’t know about. Moreover, a health checkups also helps you keep track of areas of your well-being that need improvement.
Take your teeth, for example. Even though you may brush them daily and floss them when you can, you may still have an impacted tooth you know nothing about. In such cases, you need a reliable orthodontist to inspect your mouth and identify your problem areas.
Across Virginia, there are about 793 orthodontists. Hence, pick wisely, book your appointment, and get your teeth evaluated. Taking this example forward, here are other types of medical appointments you should look into:
1.  Dental Checkups
Dental checkups allow the dentist to inspect your teeth and ensure you’re not suffering from any gum disease, impacted tooth, or have a condition like crowded teeth. In the latter two, you may be referred to an orthodontist. In places like Suffolk, Virginia, extensive treatment like dental braces costs around $3,000 to $7,000, depending on your case.
Make sure you get your money’s worth by working with a reliable Orthodontist in Suffolk, VA, and follow their instructions to the T. You should know how healthy your teeth and gums are. Since dental health is directly linked to your overall health, it makes all the more sense to double down on your oral hygiene and dental visits. In fact, it is highly recommended you get your teeth cleaned every six months to prevent plaque and tartar from building up.
2.  Go for a Skin Checkup
Like other parts of your body, your skin is an organ and needs adequate attention. According to the American Cancer Society, you must check your skin monthly for moles, freckles, and patches. You should see a dermatologist immediately if you see any unusual changes like sudden pigmentation or discoloration.
Going for an early checkup can inform you about your skin’s condition and get the necessary treatment to prevent the situation from escalating.
3.  Get an Annual Physical Exam
You should schedule an annual physical examination. This allows the doctor to look at you from head to toe and ensure you’re healthy. This yearly physical exam aims to check your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. Your doctor will also discuss your family history to rule out any possible conditions you can develop. If you test borderline for conditions like diabetes, you may need further testing, including complete blood work. When checking for your vital signs, here are some factors your doctor will keep an eye out for:
- Blood Pressure: Across the board, less than 120 over less than 80 is considered normal blood pressure. You may have hypertension if your blood pressure is 130 over 80 or higher.
- Respiration Rate: For healthy adults, twelve to sixteen breaths per minute is considered normal. If you’re breathing more than 20 times per minute, you may have a heart or lung problem.
- Temperature: Your resting temperature should be around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This is generally seen as the average, but if it is way higher or lower than this, you may need immediate help.
4.  Check-in with a Gynecologist
Once biological females cross twenty-one, they need to start seeing a gynecologist. This is another yearly exam you will need to schedule. During your gynecological exam, your doctor will examine your breasts, conduct a pelvic exam, and, if necessary, do a pap smear. Depending on your age, you may need to get a pap smear every three to five years since this test allows doctors to swab for cancer or any abnormalities.
Your doctor may also test for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and yeast infections to ensure your reproductive health is in good shape. If you plan on starting birth control, use this opportunity to discuss your options. Your doctor will examine your overall health and rule out your allergies before prescribing the most suitable birth control for you.
5.  Schedule an Eyesight Exam
If you wear glasses or contacts, you must see your eye doctor yearly. Your vision fluctuates, so you need to stay on top of these appointments. Not wearing the right glasses can strain your eyes and give you immense headaches, so to avoid this situation, make sure you get your eyes checked. If you don’t wear glasses, you will still need to check your eyes for cataracts and glaucoma, especially once you turn 40.
During a complete eye exam, your doctor will examine your eye closely and conduct several tests. These help determine the problems with your vision and if you need corrective lenses. Other tests will evaluate your eye health and check if your eye has any diseases like conjunctivitis. Generally, most eye exams don’t hurt, but they can be slightly uncomfortable. But try to power through these exams for healthy eyes.
Read More: Signs You Might Benefits from Laser Eye Surgery
Final Thoughts
Looking after yourself is hard work. Setting a routine that keeps you on track requires immense discipline, courage, and motivation. But more is needed to ensure optimal health. This is why, apart from being vigilant about your well-being, you must also become proactive about your medical checkups. Consider getting an appointment for your eyes, skin, and teeth when you can. Remember to include your gynecological and annual checkups too. Scheduling these checkups can give you an insight into how you’re doing and what parts of your health need improvement. So, for your well-being, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor.
