Make the New Year your primary priority

Now that the New Year is under way and you’ve turned the calendar for a fresh start, why not resolve to make 2023 the year you get up to date on necessary annual adult medical screenings?

To begin with, establish yourself with a primary care provider if you don’t have one already. Family practitioners and internal medicine doctors are the medical specialists to search within on health system websites. Most insurance plans encourage selection of a primary care provider (some even require it), and it’s helpful in case you are acutely ill and need to be evaluated or have ongoing prescriptions that need to be managed.

Getting to know an individual as your point person for medical care means someone is familiar with your personal and family medical history and your health goals. He or she is a resource if you need medical advice and can serve as a consultant if you are hospitalized or need a referral for specialty care.

A primary care provider doesn’t have to be a doctor–you can choose an advanced practice provider (physician assistant or nurse practitioner) in New York State. These types of medical providers maintain their own patient rosters. Be sure to check with your insurance carrier to verify that the provider you’d like is covered by your plan.

Whether you already have a primary care provider or are establishing care with someone new, there are several items all adults should have checked annually. Many insurance plans cover an annual physical at no charge, so the appointment may not cost anything but your time. Patients who are proactive and come to see a provider once a year tend to be in better health--they are paying attention to what’s going on, and working in partnership with their provider, enabling them to stay on top of any concerns or changes. It’s much easier to manage an acute or chronic illness if it is identified early.

Adults should have an annual blood pressure check–high or low blood pressure is often a first indicator of other issues, or it can be a condition in and of itself. It can sometimes be managed with diet and lifestyle changes, or with medication if necessary.

Those with diabetes or at risk for diabetes should add an annual A1c test to their list. This test measures average blood glucose over time, and is more accurate than a rapid finger-stick test, which may show high fasting blood sugar even if overall blood sugar is normal. Individuals with diabetes should also have a comprehensive foot exam–poor circulation and nerve damage can be part of the disease process. Both make it harder to feel cuts or bruises on your feet, which can lead to skin and tissue damage and, in the extreme, the need for wound care, surgery or toe or foot amputation.

As part of your physical, your primary care provider may order some basic bloodwork, which can identify early signs of kidney disease, diabetes or other issues. Be sure to ask ahead of time if the blood work will be done the same day as your physical and, if so, if fasting is required or you may eat normally throughout the day before your visit.

When you go to your appointment, bring along all the medications you’re currently taking, whether they are taken daily, weekly or at some other interval. Talk with your provider about what you’re taking and why, especially if you have concerns about changes in any condition or are having trouble affording medication. In many cases, financial assistance programs are available–tell your provider if you need help paying for necessary prescriptions.

Adults should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an eye exam at least every two years. A different interval may be recommended if you have a condition that affects the eyes, such as diabetes, glaucoma or macular issues. Age-related eye changes become common over age 40, even if you’ve never worn glasses. The eye’s lens thickens and becomes less flexible, changing how the eye focuses images. Floaters, dry eye or, conversely, excessive tear production can also be consequences of getting older. Eyeglass prescriptions can change rapidly in your 40s and beyond, so regular eye exams mean the glasses you need can be made, or the ones you have can be updated.

At age 50, the American College of Gastroenterology advises you get your first colonoscopy–your primary care provider can write the order for the exam and recommend a specialist and facility where you can make the appointment. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, your provider may recommend colonoscopy starting at a younger age–be sure to discuss it at your visit. A colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years for people at average risk, up until age 85.

Women have one more thing to check off the screening list: an annual mammogram starting at 40. After age 75, talk with your primary care provider about whether this procedure still benefits you. Today, many primary care offices have mammography suites in the building, so you may be able to schedule this appointment for the same day as your physical to get it all done at once.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a UHS primary care provider, click here.