Visiting the doctor’s office is something that is postponed until it becomes an emergency for many men. A typical scenario-a full and busy life with little time to worry about health problems. Maybe there is a little bit of anxiety about whatever diagnosis may be out there, or just a straightforward fear of hearing something he does not want to hear. There is a truth: putting off those routine visits with your Primary Care Physician is the biggest gamble you can ever take with your health. Knowing that an annual check can be one of the best decisions for one’s health is just an added advantage.
Dr. Matthew Reetz, a Primary Care Physician at Bayhealth’s Blue Hen location, opines, “Regular visits to your PCP are, beyond a doubt, an absolute necessity for maintaining a long and healthy life.” “While it’s natural to feel some fear about seeing a doctor, by empowering yourself with information, you will be equipping yourself to make the best decisions for yourself.” Let’s take a moment to discuss why men need their PCP and why making time for regular health checkups is so important.
1) One Visit, One Full Checkup
Think of your annual checkup as the ultimate in health convenience. Regular checkups are made to pick up any problems early before it becomes worse. If you admit seeing the doctor only when ill, with some delays somewhere in his calendar, he may have spent that time running from one specialist to another, taking tests, and having needless stress.
Visit your PCP annually for a holistic treatment of your health. Your PCP will check your vital signs, ask for any of your concerns, and check your physical and mental assessment. It also is the time to sort any health issues that may snowball into larger concerns. Keeping ahead with your health helps you with time and avoids difficulties when trying to manage several appointments with different doctors.
Prostate Cancer: Early Detection is Key
Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death among men, sadly is rarely diagnosed until significantly advanced in the disease process. The treatment of prostate cancer, however, brings about a favorable prognosis when diagnosed early on. The annual visit to your PCP provides an opportunity to review risk factors, symptoms (or lack thereof), and screening options.
Potential problems may be detected by a blood test. It is important to remember that signs almost never appear in the initial stages. This means that proactive screenings could be the difference between an early discovery and advanced disease. Talking with your PCP and obtaining preventive screening is one of the best steps you can take toward your health.
3) Colon Cancer: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Colon cancer becomes a potential disease after 45 years of age, and it does not always manifest early. Colon cancer can progress without obvious symptoms, which is why screening is essential for getting ahead of it. The earlier colon cancer is detected, the greater the chances of successful treatment.
Your PCP will guide you through personal risk factors, when to begin screening, and how often they should be done depending on your individual medical history. Some people find the word “colonoscopy” uncomfortable or even scary; however, the procedure itself is rather quick and somehow keeps all that fear far away. It could save your life. Getting screened in a timely manner is one of the most important prevention strategies for colon cancer.
4) Vaccines: Prevention is Better Than Cure
Vaccines not only protect children; they help maintain the health of adults. Important considerations about vaccination are often overlooked by men, but it is their PCPs who best understand their individual needs for preventive care. Whether it’s the flu shot, the shingles vaccine, or the COVID-19 vaccine, your PCP will ensure you are coordinated to be up-to-date with the vaccinations appropriate to your age and health profile.
Vaccination primarily prevents a person from falling sick and averts complications that an infectious disease may carry. The right vaccines at the right time help strengthen the protection, which is an asset in later years of life.
5) Your PCP Does See You as More Than a Patient
Being in a long-term relationship with a PCP means just that: a long-term relationship. Compared to urgent-care or specialty clinics, where you’re just another name on the schedule, your PCP knows you as a person. They know your history, your family’s history, and your unique worries.
Your PCP is not merely available when something goes wrong; he or she will work with you on wellness, difficult medical decisions, and care that allows you to enjoy your fullest life. Therefore, this partnership that is there for your health possible only because you have gone to see the provider regularly.
Dr. Reetz knows the significance of regular checkups, not merely from the vantage of a physician’s knowledge but through personal experience as well. His father received a diagnosis of prostate cancer at a very young age, giving him acute perception of how crucial it is to stay ahead of one’s health. Early detection certainly made a difference in his father’s prognosis. Therefore, Dr. Reetz is passionate about helping men take charge of their health through preventive care.
Take Charge of Your Health Begins with a Small Step
The thought of seeing a doc may seem terrifying; however, the truth is that avoiding this visit will only put on unnecessary health complications later on. It is when you finally make that appointment. Taking charge of your health does not imply big changes; rather, it refers to that very small step: an appointment for a checkup.
If you have not seen a medical doctor for an annual checkup in some time, now is the moment to encourage yourself to focus on your health. Your future self will truly appreciate it.
If you wish to learn more about getting a PCP to guide you back to good health, head to Bayhealth.org/Find-A-Doc. Don’t wait until an emergency to start diverting toward a healthy life.
